The UK remains the last country in Europe to invoke Article 48, which allows associations to stipulate a period during which matches cannot be televised live in their territory. While other parts of Europe have experimented with a blackout, it is now only present in the UK between 2:45pm and 5:15pm on a Saturday.
Other European leagues now tend to stagger kick-off times so the top divisions do not all play at the same time, meaning the blackout could not be applied there. This impact is especially felt in the lower levels, which have had to adhere to the blackout and not show any of their games online.
The move challenges the long-standing rule that prevents UK broadcasters from showing live football between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on Saturdays when 50% of games in the top two divisions take place during that period. This provision currently means 3pm kick-offs can be broadcast on FA Cup weekends and on weekend bank holidays over Christmas.
Discussing the timeline and future of the restriction, officials noted that Article 48 allows leagues to set specific times when matches are banned from being shown live on television, with one assessment indicating that in about 18 months’ time the sport will return to the decision about whether Article 48 should remain or not.
In total, there are 228 games in the top flight of Scottish football, meaning only 36% of matches are shown live under the current broadcast deal. Scottish football has taken the first tentative steps to end the 3pm television blackout in the UK as the sport seeks offers for its next broadcast cycle.