EFL release statement on 3pm blackout Lifting the Saturday

EFL release statement on 3pm blackout

Lifting the Saturday 3pm blackout is one option the English Football League could consider in the sale of its next television and media rights.

The league confirmed on Wednesday it had issued a Request For Proposal (RFP), inviting interested broadcasters and media companies to come forward and suggest new ways of presenting the league on television and streaming platforms from the 2024-25 season, when its current deal with Sky Sports expires.

Lifting the ban on screening any matches live between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on a Saturday is an option being considered, the PA news agency understands, but ultimately nothing is off the table as the EFL seeks to find solutions which cater for changing viewer habits.

"Whilst the appetite for EFL football remains stronger than ever, we want to grow this audience further," the EFL's chief commercial officer Ben Wright said.

"We are inviting proposals from organisations that can enhance and develop the league's offering, taking a new and innovative approach to how people consume EFL content.

"Alongside the EFL's rich tradition and distinguished history there is a desire to evolve, grow and innovate in order to grow our audience further and we're looking for a partner or partners who share that vision."

That'll kill away travelling fans sky not bothered they will just take the money.

That'll kill away travelling fans sky not bothered they will just take the money.

It's a new world and with it comes a new type of potential fan that has been brought up on convenience, social media and entertainment at their fingertips.

We may lose the terrace culture but with the right marketing clubs may make more money. I'm pretty sure some owners see real crowds as a bit of a pain, especially if the fan expenditure does not outweigh the cost of running the ground for the day.

I am playing total devils advocate here but the ease for a (new style) away fan to watch a game in their living room may see an increase in virtual bums on seats.

If all the streaming ticket sales go to the home team and the cost of putting on the games decreases, clubs may make more money.

The obvious downside is atmosphere but you will always get those fans that want to be there in person even if through the coming years those numbers may dwindle.

That'll kill away travelling fans sky not bothered they will just take the money.

It's not about sky it's about all the other outlets like Amazon who can bid for packages like the premier league overseas packages and its the advertising market also.... it's about time efl got act together they have sold the clubs down the river to often... but I'm not sure if div 1 &2 will want play ball unless get a bigger slice of cake than they're getting now

Wayne s

Football was devised for the working man to have somewhere to go and a sat during depressing winter months not for sitting at home shouting at a tv
or a few gathered together in a pub
i live in mid wales and present climate can not afford to go to every game
so this new thing would help me watch my club at home but i would much prefer to go to a stadium with an atmosphere so its a big no for me
even though i don't live in cardiff i would prefer to listen on radio if i cannot attend
But when i can i would prefer to be amongest a load of happy fans in an atmosphere
not an empty stadium.

A lot of people got Dodgy boxes these days so the trend has started.

I hope they don't do this

I hope they don't do this

It's not upto efl it as to go to a vote of the 72 clubs... efl can just negotiate new tv deal then ask clubs if want it? Suspect div 1 & 2 clubs wont be keen unless they get bigger slice of cake than they get now

The EFL were highly criticised for the last TV deal of £595m with Sky Sports for five years in 2018, with many saying it wasn't enough money.

In reality, to get more money from TV they'll have to include 3pm Saturday games in those to be shown live. They simply won't bring in more money if they restrict it to lunchtime/evening kick offs and weekend games.

The likes of Netflix, Amazon etc are said to be interested for big money but only if they can show a high number of games - including those at 3pm on Saturday. It would benefit the Championship clubs financially but, crucially, it would see more League One and League Two games being shown live which would significantly increase the income for the teams whose games are shown live in those divisions.

I get why people are opposed to it. But the simple matter is that the clubs can accept these terms or carry on struggling with their finances, particularly those in League One and League Two.

The EFL only need 37 of the 72 teams to agree for it to go through and I think it will.

Wayne s

Football was devised for the working man to have somewhere to go and a sat during depressing winter months not for sitting at home shouting at a tv
or a few gathered together in a pub
i live in mid wales and present climate can not afford to go to every game
so this new thing would help me watch my club at home but i would much prefer to go to a stadium with an atmosphere so its a big no for me
even though i don't live in cardiff i would prefer to listen on radio if i cannot attend
But when i can i would prefer to be amongest a load of happy fans in an atmosphere
not an empty stadium.

Times have changed. Football is no longer a game for the "working man". Just look at ticket prices.

Like it or not, things are going to have to change. As I say, clubs will have to accept these terms or carry on being in financial difficulties - in fact, their financial circumstances will even get worse for many clubs if they don't agree to this.

Not saying I'm a supporter of the idea, far from it, but if the clubs want more money from the TV companies then they have to accept they'll have to make this sacrifice. They'll make more extra money out of the TV deal than from the extra amount of supporters they could see come to games less.

Like I put in my other post, I can see this going through.

I hope they don't do this

Why?

The EFL were highly criticised for the last TV deal of £595m with Sky Sports for five years in 2018, with many saying it wasn't enough money.

In reality, to get more money from TV they'll have to include 3pm Saturday games in those to be shown live. They simply won't bring in more money if they restrict it to lunchtime/evening kick offs and weekend games.

The likes of Netflix, Amazon etc are said to be interested for big money but only if they can show a high number of games - including those at 3pm on Saturday. It would benefit the Championship clubs financially but, crucially, it would see more League One and League Two games being shown live which would significantly increase the income for the teams whose games are shown live in those divisions.

I get why people are opposed to it. But the simple matter is that the clubs can accept these terms or carry on struggling with their finances, particularly those in League One and League Two.

The EFL only need 37 of the 72 teams to agree for it to go through and I think it will.

Ned this should have happened years ago... the premier league have screwed the efl ever since its inception ... whilst not totally in agreement with this in long run it could help div 1 & 2 ,clubs prosper... as for championship well it will level the playing field with parachute payments giving clubs a very big advantage now... but I heared that this was going anyway... tbh it wont stop people going to live games it may make fans more choosy in games they see live.

I'm in favour of this if it increases the revenue for all clubs.

I'm a ST holder, but living afar I can only get to a certain number of home games, probably less than half.

If I could then also support our club by paying for live stream games that I cannot attend it has got to be a good thing in my eyes.

I'm in favour of this if it increases the revenue for all clubs.

I'm a ST holder, but living afar I can only get to a certain number of home games, probably less than half.

If I could then also support our club by paying for live stream games that I cannot attend it has got to be a good thing in my eyes.

Not sure you can watch your club live on a Saturday... it's more to do with sky ect being able to show 3pm games... guess the devil is in the detail

The EFL were highly criticised for the last TV deal of £595m with Sky Sports for five years in 2018, with many saying it wasn't enough money.

In reality, to get more money from TV they'll have to include 3pm Saturday games in those to be shown live. They simply won't bring in more money if they restrict it to lunchtime/evening kick offs and weekend games.

The likes of Netflix, Amazon etc are said to be interested for big money but only if they can show a high number of games - including those at 3pm on Saturday. It would benefit the Championship clubs financially but, crucially, it would see more League One and League Two games being shown live which would significantly increase the income for the teams whose games are shown live in those divisions.

I get why people are opposed to it. But the simple matter is that the clubs can accept these terms or carry on struggling with their finances, particularly those in League One and League Two.

The EFL only need 37 of the 72 teams to agree for it to go through and I think it will.

Ned this should have happened years ago... the premier league have screwed the efl ever since its inception ... whilst not totally in agreement with this in long run it could help div 1 & 2 ,clubs prosper... as for championship well it will level the playing field with parachute payments giving clubs a very big advantage now... but I heared that this was going anyway... tbh it wont stop people going to live games it may make fans more choosy in games they see live.

Totally agree Allan.

For those supporters who go regularly, I don't think it will change how often they go to games. Certainly won't make me go to less games.

As you say, those who don't buy season tickets every year, may pick and choose but it won't have a huge impact on attendances.

The EFL were highly criticised for the last TV deal of £595m with Sky Sports for five years in 2018, with many saying it wasn't enough money.

In reality, to get more money from TV they'll have to include 3pm Saturday games in those to be shown live. They simply won't bring in more money if they restrict it to lunchtime/evening kick offs and weekend games.

The likes of Netflix, Amazon etc are said to be interested for big money but only if they can show a high number of games - including those at 3pm on Saturday. It would benefit the Championship clubs financially but, crucially, it would see more League One and League Two games being shown live which would significantly increase the income for the teams whose games are shown live in those divisions.

I get why people are opposed to it. But the simple matter is that the clubs can accept these terms or carry on struggling with their finances, particularly those in League One and League Two.

The EFL only need 37 of the 72 teams to agree for it to go through and I think it will.

Ned this should have happened years ago... the premier league have screwed the efl ever since its inception ... whilst not totally in agreement with this in long run it could help div 1 & 2 ,clubs prosper... as for championship well it will level the playing field with parachute payments giving clubs a very big advantage now... but I heared that this was going anyway... tbh it wont stop people going to live games it may make fans more choosy in games they see live.

Totally agree Allan.

For those supporters who go regularly, I don't think it will change how often they go to games. Certainly won't make me go to less games.

As you say, those who don't buy season tickets every year, may pick and choose but it won't have a huge impact on attendances.

Ned think the idea is that this turns out a bit like premier league and the tv money this is more important than attendances ... what it will do for clubs is anyones guess