Scottish football could pave way for 3pm TV blackout to end

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Games currently cannot be shown live between 2:45pm and 5:15pm on a Saturday

The first tentative steps to end the 3pm television blackout have been taken by Scottish football as it seeks offers for the next broadcast cycle.

The SPFL has said that it is “flexible about the number of games” that will form part of the new deal, which will kick in from the 2029-30 season.

BBC Sport understands this includes the possibility that broadcasters could bid to show all matches live – including those shown on a Saturday afternoon.

The SPFL has created a tender with the greatest flexibility on the basis that the broadcaster does not seek to impose Article 48 of the Uefa Statutes.

Article 48 allows leagues to set specific times when matches are banned from being shown live on television. It can only be enforced when 50% of matches in a country’s top two divisions are played at the same time.

While other parts of Europe have experimented with a blackout, it is now only present in the UK between 2:45pm and 5:15pm on a Saturday.

Other leagues now tend to stagger kick-off times so the top divisions do not all play at the same time, meaning the blackout could not be applied.

In the UK, 3pm remains the traditional, default kick-off time for all leagues from the very top down through non-league.

It was introduced due to fears that televised games at 3pm could affect attendances, not just at the clubs involved but at those down the divisions too.

But as streaming has grown in popularity, critics have argued that it hinders the ability of clubs to exploit this revenue stream.

This is especially the case in the lower levels, which have had to adhere to the blackout and not show any of their games online.

The Cymru Premier, the top division of football in Wales which has a mixture of professional and semi-professional clubs, removed the blackout in the summer in favour of a streaming model for all matches.

In August, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters indicated the direction of travel was to end the blackout, but any decision would be 18 months away and taken in consultation with the EFL and the FA.

The upcoming broadcast cycle provides a unique opportunity for all leagues to come together and reach a consensus, as the rights deals for the Premier League, EFL and SPFL all end in 2028-29.

While the possibility to take all games is on the table in Scotland, it is by no means certain the option will be taken up.

Under the current terms, Sky Sports can show up to 60 Premiership matches a season, with Premier Sports showing up to 22.

In total, there are 228 games in the top flight, meaning only 36% of matches are shown live under the current broadcast deal.

The tender allows broadcasters to present any proposition for live coverage they see fit.

Any decision would then be up to the Premiership’s 12 member clubs, with eight votes required to approve a deal.

Clubs could potentially opt to reject an offer which would include the Saturday 3pm games.

Scotland ending the 3pm blackout would not automatically mean English, Welsh and Northern Irish football follows suit.

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