Why is there a 3pm TV blackout rule in British football and when could it end?

In place since the 1960s, the 3pm TV blackout rule in British football has long been contentious.

We take a look at the origins of the ruling and when we could see it being phased out in the UK.

British football 3pm TV blackout rule

First introduced during the 1960s in the UK, the primary justification for the 3pm TV blackout rule was to protect Football League clubs whose main source of income was overwhelmingly their gate receipts.

There was a shared notion that televising top-tier matches could threaten attendances throughout the Football League.

The rule officially states that in the UK, no football is allowed to be broadcast on live television on any Saturday between 2.45pm and 5.15pm.

This means that currently, TV broadcasted football matches on Saturdays in the UK typically take place either around midday, dinner time or night time, avoiding this period between 2.45pm and 5.15pm.

The only exception to this rule has been the FA Cup Final, which up until 2012 was always broadcast live on British television at 3pm.

The UK remains the only country to observe this kind of ruling for football, with other territories able to broadcast British matches at 3pm live with no restrictions.

When could British football 3pm TV blackout rule end?

There are suggestions that the existing 3pm TV blackout rule could be brought to an end during negotiations for the next broadcasting rights deal brokered to screen Premier League and EFL matches.

A fresh TV broadcasting deal is scheduled to begin next season and will will run for four years up until the culmination of the 2028/29 campaign.

Once broadcasters begin plotting their attempts to win the broadcasting rights from 2029/30 onwards, the possibility of removing the 3pm blackout rule could be raised.

James Wilson

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