Scottish Football Explores Ending 3 PM TV Blackout
The SPFL is seeking broadcast offers that could allow for all matches to be shown live, potentially signaling a shift away from traditional blackout rules.
The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has begun exploring the possibility of ending the long-standing 3 p.m. television blackout for matches as it solicits bids for its next broadcast cycle, starting in the 2029-30 season. The league has indicated flexibility regarding the number of games included in new deals, opening the door for broadcasters to potentially bid for the rights to show all matches live, including those traditionally blacked out on Saturday afternoons.
This potential shift is contingent on broadcasters not seeking to enforce Article 48 of UEFA Statutes. This rule allows leagues to designate specific times when matches cannot be shown live on television, applicable when 50% of matches in a country's top two divisions coincide. While many European leagues have moved away from such restrictions by staggering kick-off times, the UK still maintains a blackout between 2:45 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. on Saturdays.
The traditional rationale for the blackout was to protect match attendances. However, with the rise of streaming services, critics argue that the blackout hinders clubs, particularly those in lower divisions, from capitalizing on this revenue stream. The Cymru Premier, Wales' top football division, removed its blackout earlier this year to adopt a streaming model for all its games.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has previously suggested a move towards ending the blackout, though any decision for English football would require extensive consultation and is not expected for at least another 18 months. The upcoming broadcast rights deals for the Premier League, English Football League (EFL), and SPFL all conclude in 2028-29, presenting a unified opportunity for all leagues to potentially reach a consensus.
Under the current SPFL broadcast agreements, Sky Sports can show up to 60 Premiership matches and Premier Sports up to 22, leaving a significant portion of the 228 league games unaired live. The tender process allows broadcasters to propose various coverage options. Any decision on a new broadcast deal would ultimately rest with the SPFL's 12 member clubs, requiring eight votes for approval. It remains possible that clubs could reject offers that include the live broadcast of Saturday 3 p.m. games. A change in Scotland would not automatically compel English, Welsh, or Northern Irish football to follow suit.