The 3pm blackout should be scrapped.
We believe it is time to scrap this archaic restriction. You should have a legal way to watch your club when you cannot attend. Football can provide that choice and put a funded plan in place to support smaller clubs.
This is our view on how football could change. The current broadcast rules still apply.
What is the 3pm rule?
On protected Saturdays, live football broadcasts are restricted during the afternoon window, normally 2.45pm to 5.15pm UK time. UEFA publishes each association’s blocked dates and exceptions. Its 2026/27 schedule lists England, Scotland and Northern Ireland separately. Check UEFA’s blocked-hours schedule.
The policy dates to the 1960s and sought to protect attendance at lower-league grounds. BBC Sport explains its origins.
The restriction does not apply every Saturday, so the relevant association’s dates are a useful starting point. Even when a Saturday is exempt, coverage still depends on whether a broadcaster has selected your match.
Supporters need a legal choice
You may miss a game because you are working, caring for someone, unable to travel or unable to get a ticket. Blocking a broadcast does not solve any of those problems.
We think your options should include an authorised stream at a clear price. That would give you a way to pay for a match that the current system can leave unavailable.
Broadcasters already provide extensive coverage. Sky’s Premier League package includes at least 215 matches per season and TNT’s includes 52. Source: Premier League rights announcement. Extending access to protected Saturday games would be a practical next step.
Protect clubs with a funded plan
Any change needs to take smaller clubs’ ticket income seriously. We would support a trial that measures gate receipts, attendance and broadcast income before a permanent change.
Any agreement should reserve a defined share of extra rights income for lower-league and grassroots football. Publishing those amounts and tracking matchday revenue would help clubs assess the impact. If the evidence shows losses, the payments should adjust to reflect them.
Clubs should still be able to play at 3pm on Saturdays, with supporters free to choose between attending and watching. Removing the blackout should not require another round of inconvenient fixture moves.
Is change coming?
The Guardian reported planned Premier League and EFL talks about ending the blackout. Read the report from 25 December 2025.
Those talks do not mean an end to the rule has been agreed. UEFA still lists protected dates for 2026/27. See the current schedule. We have not confirmed an end date.
There is a workable route forward: test legal access, measure the effect on clubs and share the proceeds. We want football to take that opportunity. An old restriction should not be permanent simply because changing it requires agreement.
What can you watch now?
You can find confirmed UK coverage in the fixture guide. Our rights guide explains the channel packages. Before choosing a subscription, it helps to check your club’s individual listings, as a package may not include its Saturday matches.