The Premier League have decided they will not change the ruling around a 3pm television blackout for football matches until at least the end of the 2024/25 season, according to a report from the Athletic. The news comes shortly after the Daily Mail claimed that the EFL could be set to scrap the blackout to make all matches available for viewers in the UK.
That would come into effect in the 2024/25 season, which is when their current deal with broadcasters Sky Sports comes to an end. The EFL put out a statement on Wednesday morning in search of potential bidders for the TV rights: "The broadcast rights will be available from the beginning of season 2024/25 when the current five-year agreement with Sky Sports expires.
"Rights for all 1,891 matches across the League, EFL Cup, EFL Trophy and all end of season Play-Off matches are available for prospective bidders. The League is taking a fresh and new approach to this latest rights cycle, inviting proposals that embrace innovation and offer contemporary solutions that cater for changing audience habits."
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Should all those matches become available, it could put an end to the domestic blackout that has been in place since the 1960s, with the main purpose of protecting attendances through the football pyramid. However, with broadcast income having much larger potential than that of attendances, there is an ongoing crisis English football faces in battling for both streams of revenue.
The Premier League could follow suit the following season, though it remains to be seen if that is the case once their current domestic deal comes to an end. For the top flight it could promise the potential of more income too through the inclusion of every game available to broadcast.
For the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham, it could represent a huge financial boost while allowing their huge UK fanbase to watch the games when attendances are already high. However, it remains to be seen if they make this move once they look to find new bidders for a deal in a few years.
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