Explained: Why does the 3pm football blackout law still exist?

To people living in Europe, America and the rest of the world, the idea of not being able to legally watch Premier League games on a Saturday at 3pm in Britain can seem bizarre.

To people in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, a complete blackout of live football on TV on Saturday at 3pm is causing a more visible frustration with fans left unable to watch potentially vital games in their team's season.

The law, known as the "3pm blackout law", is an agreement between UEFA (under Article 48.2) and the major football associations of the United Kingdom, which imposes a ban on all television broadcasts of football matches between 14:45 and 17:15 each Saturday.

The unintended consequence of this restriction has caused a massive increase in piracy, where people are turning to streams or Amazon Fire Sticks to watch Premier League games that have been scheduled for the Saturday blackout slot.

We explore where the football blackout law originated, why it was introduced, and what is happening now.

What do televisions have to do with the Saturday 3pm football blackout law?

In 1960s England, there was a relatively new technology emerging in people's homes, the television set.

Television, like most technological innovations, changed the lives and habits of families in the 1960s.

Whilst televisions had been around some time before 1960, it was in this decade that television sales increased dramatically due to rising wages, economic recovery from World War II, and the affordability of TVs.

Over 10 million television sets were sold in the 1960s, and it is thought that 75% of households in Britain owned a TV, up from 4% in the 1950s.

Why was the Saturday 3pm football blackout law introduced?

This regulation, unique to the UK, has been in force since the 1960s, long before the Premier League was established in 1992.

The sudden shift in societal norms caused by the increase in popularity of televisions shocked the football associations of Britain into action, with a fear that live televised football could harm local teams who rely heavily on fans attending matches.

The blackout was introduced to protect the financial health of lower-league clubs. In the 1960s, Bob Lord, then-chairman of Burnley, convinced the Football League that broadcasting top-tier matches on Saturday afternoons would lead to reduced attendances at lower-league games.

This was a period when gate receipts were the primary revenue source for clubs. The idea was that fans would be less likely to attend local matches if they could watch top-flight games on television instead.

The 3pm blackout prohibits live TV broadcasts of football matches in the UK on Saturdays between 2:45pm and 5:15pm to encourage fans to attend local football matches instead of staying at home watching televised football.

It remains in place until at least 2029 UK is the only country in the world to have such a rule.

Does the 3pm football blackout law work?

Even though the rule was introduced in the 1960s to protect lower-league match attendance, its impact has never been quantified, with various research papers conflicted on whether or not the blackout works.

With the global availability of sports content and easy access to pirated streams, many fans bypass the blackout by watching matches illegally.

Younger fans (18-34) are accustomed to free, illegal streams, making it difficult to convert them to paying customers later, with 75% admitting to using a stream to illegitimately watch football.

What would happen if the 3pm blackout was lifted?

The biggest argument for lifting the blackout is that it could unlock new broadcast revenues, especially from streaming platforms.

If fans want more access to live content, then meeting this demand could reduce reliance on illegal streams and make it more convenient for fans to watch matches in one place.

In Europe, the Premier League is typically licensed to one provider per country, meaning that a subscriber in Portugal can pay DAZN, the current license holder to the Premier League in the country, to stream all Premier League games live, including 3pm matches.

However, in the UK, the Premier League generates more broadcast revenue by licensing individual games to various broadcasters.

Fans already pay substantial amounts to access all televised Premier League matches (around £80 per month for Sky Sports, BT Sport, and Amazon Prime).

Allowing broadcasts of international matches (like La Liga or Serie A) during the blackout period may not significantly affect lower-league attendance but would almost certainly reduce piracy.

What would happen if the 3pm blackout was lifted?

Some lower-league clubs near Premier League teams benefit from fans attending their matches when top-flight games are not televised.

Data shows that live broadcasts of midweek EFL matches have led to an 8.8% decline in attendance, suggesting a potential similar impact for Saturday matches.

However, the argument to counter this is that the availability and ease of illegal streams have been around for more than a decade, and have not impacted the attendance of local football matches

Are there any exceptions to the 3pm blackout?

The 3pm blackout is generally rigid, but there have been exceptions. The most notable was the FA Cup Final, traditionally played at 3pm on a Saturday, with full-day TV coverage. However, since 2012, the FA Cup Final has been moved to a 5pm kick-off, aligning with modern broadcasting schedules.

Final day fixtures of the Premier League season, which can determine the title winner or relegated teams, are scheduled on Sundays to comply with the blackout rule.

When was the first live TV broadcast of a football match in England?

The BBC started its television service in 1936, although it was nearly a year before the very first televised match of football was screened – a specially arranged friendly match between Arsenal and Arsenal Reserves at Highbury on 16 September 1937.

Does the blackout affect all forms of media?

No, the 3pm blackout applies exclusively to televised broadcasts. Radio stations can still provide live commentary of the matches, allowing fans to follow the action even when they cannot watch it live on TV.

Is the 3pm blackout observed in other countries?

The UK is the only country that enforces this rule. Major European leagues in France, Spain, Germany, and Italy do not have similar restrictions and allow live broadcasts of all matches, including those played at 3pm on Saturdays. Consequently, international viewers can watch Premier League matches that are not available live in the UK.

Will the 3pm blackout continue?

There have been discussions about lifting the 3pm blackout, especially as the landscape of sports broadcasting evolves with new technologies and streaming services. In October 2022, the English Football League (EFL) hinted at reconsidering the blackout for future TV rights deals starting from the 2024-25 season.

When was the first live TV broadcast of a football match in England?

The BBC started its television service in 1936, although it was nearly a year before the very first televised match of football was screened – a specially arranged friendly match between Arsenal and Arsenal Reserves at Highbury on 16 September 1937.

Who has the rights to the Premier League in the United Kingdom?

The latest TV contracts awarded significant broadcasting rights to Sky Sports and TNT Sports.

Sky Sports secured the majority, with up to 215 matches per season, including the key Super Sunday 4:30pm slot and all 10 final-day matches for the first time.

TNT Sports obtained rights to 52 matches per season. Notably, Amazon Prime did not secure any rights for the new cycle, although it currently broadcasts 20 matches per season.

Sky's new deal means it will broadcast significantly more matches, reinforcing its dominance in Premier League coverage while adhering to the blackout rule.

This rule's preservation underscores its perceived importance in maintaining the financial stability of lower-league football in the UK.

If you want more in-depth football analysis and exclusive newsletters like this, consider becoming a part of our growing community of cultured football fans with our free and paid memberships.

Your support is vital to our ability to grow and improve our independent football newsroom.