The long-standing football TV blackout on Saturday afternoons may soon come to an end after more than 60 years.

At present, live broadcasts of 3pm matches in the Prem and EFL are prohibited, with specific exceptions. It is noteworthy that the UK is the only country in Europe that still enforces this restriction.

The new Premier League TV deal will see up to 270 matches per season shown live

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The new Premier League TV agreement will allow up to 270 matches per season to be broadcast liveCredit: Getty
No other country still has a 3pm blackout in place

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No other country currently enforces a 3pm blackoutCredit: Alamy

Sources from Sun Sport indicate that league officials are increasingly recognizing this rule as outdated and are considering revisions within the next five years.

The upcoming four-year broadcasting agreement for the Premier League, allowing up to 270 of the 380 matches to be aired live, will start next season and extend through to the end of the 2028-29 season.

Sky’s £935 million five-year EFL deal, which includes the broadcast of over 1,000 games each season, will also conclude at that time, leading to significant reconsideration by the governing bodies.

While the FA, which has upheld the blackout since its establishment to safeguard match attendance in the 1960s, previously showed resistance to lifting the rule, the current viewpoints of the leagues may prompt a shift in their stance.

This blackout has fueled the rise of illegal streaming, as viewers resort to decoder boxes to access international broadcasts in the UK.

Recent evaluations by the EFL suggest that even with an increase in Saturday lunchtime broadcasts, there has not been a significant drop in matchday attendance.

Starting next season, European football involving seven, possibly eight, top-flight teams will further shift matches from Saturdays to Sundays to accommodate television coverage.

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In a recent unanimous agreement, Premier League club executives decided to end their 20-year partnership with media giant IMG and create their in-house production facility.

This development paves the way for a potential future “Premflix” direct-to-consumer service, presenting Saturday 3pm matches as a lucrative opportunity for clubs to generate additional revenue.