
<p>The Football Association (FA) is thinking about getting rid of the 3 PM UK time Saturday blackouts for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/fa-cup-tv-schedule/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FA Cup</a> fixtures. England’s governing body of the sport would, however, not officially make the move for a few more years. The <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11921395/The-FA-considering-DROPPING-3pm-blackout-FA-Cup-fixtures-2025.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Daily Mail</em></a> reports that if the decision is confirmed, the blackouts would not be lifted until the 2025/26 season.</p>



<p>Blackouts are currently in place to help protect stadium attendance at games. Organizers claim that if every match was available to watch on television, stadium attendance would suffer. These blackout rules have in place in the United Kingdom for decades. </p>



<h2>EFL, Premier League blackouts also being mulled</h2>



<p>There has been plenty of recent discussions on the Saturday blackouts in English soccer. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-to-keep-uk-blackouts-efl-wants-to-scrap-them-20230303-WST-422003.html">News surfaced</a> last month that English Football League (EFL) officials are willing to end the 3 PM Saturday blackouts. However, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a> organizers want them to remain in place.</p>



<p>“We’ve been proponents of Article 48 for the entire period of the Premier League and I don’t see that changing in the near term,”&nbsp;English top flight chief executive Richard Masters <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-to-keep-uk-blackouts-efl-wants-to-scrap-them-20230303-WST-422003.html">recently said</a> of the blackout rules.</p>



<h2>Ending blackouts would help increase broadcasting revenue</h2>



<p>Nevertheless, the FA is considering ending the 3 PM Saturday blackouts in an attempt to boost broadcasting revenue. Putting an end to the blackouts would obviously allow the organization to sell more matches to broadcasters. This would help generate significantly more revenue for the parties involved.</p>



<p>Broadcasting negotiations for FA Cup matches are expected to begin this summer. The FA is apparently hopeful that allowing more matches to be aired will attract more streaming services. More potential buyers could very well make for a bidding war. A possible bidding war between broadcasters would theoretically mean more money.</p>



<p>It is thought that lower level clubs are supportive of the idea. These teams from lower tiers of the EFL pyramid believe that the current setup favors big Premier League teams. Removing the blackouts to generate more revenue would surely benefit the smaller clubs. These teams are historically more reliant on cup prize money compared to the big boys.</p>



<p><em>Photo: IMAGO / Pro Sports Images</em></p>


The English FA is considering ending 3 PM Saturday blackouts for future FA Cup matches across England and Wales.

English FA considers ending 3PM UK blackout for FA Cup - World Soccer Talk

English FA considers ending 3PM UK blackout for FA Cup


<p>Premier League television blackouts look set to stay in the UK. The English top flight has blacked out 3 p.m. local time games on Saturday afternoons for decades. Despite the English Football League (EFL) looking to scrap the blackouts, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a> chief executive Richard Masters has confirmed that they will remain.</p>



<p>“We’ve been proponents of Article 48 for the entire period of the Premier League and I don’t see that changing in the near term,” Masters <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11812979/Premier-League-rules-scrapping-3pm-blackout-despite-EFL-considering-ditch-rule.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a> of the blackout rules.</p>



<h2>UK Premier League blackouts meant to protect stadium attendance</h2>



<p>Article 48 of UEFA’s rulebook allows participating nations to ban matches on TV during certain time slots. The United Kingdom, Scotland, and Montenegro are the only areas that adhere to this particular rule. There are 53 member nations that are currently part of UEFA.</p>



<p>Blackouts inside the United Kingdom were put in place to help protect stadium attendance at matches. However, media rights deals have forced soccer fans in the UK to buy multiple TV subscriptions. Premier League fans need access to BT Sport, Sky Sports and Amazon Prime Video to watch live Premier League matches.</p>



<p>While blackouts are firmly in place in the UK, viewers in many foreign countries can catch all Premier League games. Here in the United States, soccer fans can stream every English top flight match via access to the USA network and Peacock Premium.</p>



<h5>EFL currently negotiating next TV deal</h5>



<p>The EFL has entered negotiations for their next media rights deal. Traditional networks like Sky Sports and modern services such as Facebook, Netflix, Google, Apple or Amazon are all <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11812979/Premier-League-rules-scrapping-3pm-blackout-despite-EFL-considering-ditch-rule.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly</a> in the running to secure a potential deal. Sky currently holds EFL television rights in the UK for about $142 million per season. A new suitor will have to possibly <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/english-football-league-rights-expected-to-double-in-value-in-uk-20230224-WST-421167.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">double this amount</a> for the next deal.</p>



<p>ESPN+ currently streams <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/championship-tv-schedule/">EFL Championship</a> games regularly here in the United States. </p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Sebastian Frej</em></p>


Saturday afternoon Premier League blackouts look to be staying in the UK. These blackouts could, be lifted for EFL games in the near future.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Blackouts"

FA

English FA considers ending 3PM UK blackout for FA Cup

Leagues: EPL

Premier League to keep UK blackouts; EFL wants to scrap them