" Should the 3pm Saturday TV blackout end? "

Move to end EFL Saturday 3pm TV blackout as DAZN launch bid to stream every match

The move would signal the end of English football's 3pm blackout after six decades



By Tom Coleman

Wednesday 29th March


Sports streaming giant DAZN has reportedly launched a ground-breaking bid to stream every single EFL fixture, in a move that will likely signal the end of English football's 3pm blackout.

According to iNews, the company, which has 20 million subscribers around the world, is set to make a 'significant' offer for the global rights for EFL games from the 2024-25 season as part of a substantial overhaul of coverage for the league.

Should they be successful, the move would likely mark the end of the 3pm blackout, which prevents broadcasters showing any games between 2.45pm and 5.15pm every Saturday. The measure has existed for 60 years and aims to protect clubs from losing match-going fans and subsequent revenue. However, there's an increasing feeling that in the age of swelling TV coverage and increased use of illegal streaming services, the current set-up is not fit for purpose.

Cardiff City and Swansea City fans have certainly felt the effects of the current measures in recent years. The upcoming South Wales derby, the biggest club game in Welsh football, has not been selected for live television coverage this season, meaning thousands of fans face the prospect of missing out on the action.

It's believed DAZN firmly believes Saturday crowds wouldn't be negatively affected by matches being available to stream, and that the increased coverage would actually help give the league the further exposure needed to close the gap on the financial juggernaut that is the Premier League.

The views of Cardiff and Swansea on the 3pm blackout aren't clear, but the measures certainly have some support among EFL clubs.

But reports suggest DAZN are nevertheless confident their proposals can capture the imagination, with proposed features set to include behind-the-scenes footage, watch-alongs, and live stats.

Absolutely yes. I don’t believe it will effect crowds to much. Those who want to go will always go for us it’s about the experience of a live match. And will also allow access to fans for what ever reason can’t get to all or the games.

Can only be a good thing for the clubs and football as a whole.

It's a no from me...

I think the idea is loaded in favour of the media companies, who will start charging in an already overloaded 'subscription' market and will see attendances potentially effected. Furthermore, it will give the Premier League another 'excuse' not to filter more of their money down through the leagues (EFL and others)

The 'real' supporters will still attend, whilst many will be even more 'choosy' than they are already, as we'll see on Saturday

Crowds would drop dramatically look at the red button games in the week cardiff stadium looks more than half empty
Even though it would benefit me as a cardiff fan in newtown i would be dead against it
i cannot make midweek games and red button has helped
but i would make the effort on a saturday or listen to radio commentry from rob Philips and natham Blake.

Crowds would drop dramatically look at the red button games in the week cardiff stadium looks more than half empty
Even though it would benefit me as a cardiff fan in newtown i would be dead against it
i cannot make midweek games and red button has helped
but i would make the effort on a saturday or listen to radio commentry from rob Philips and natham Blake.

Monty - I know you can't get to games at the moment, if you've got a firestick or an android phone or device you should use the IPTV app several of us use, you'll never miss a City game or anyyhing else for that matter. Happy to put you in contact if of interest.

It's a no from me...

I think the idea is loaded in favour of the media companies, who will start charging in an already overloaded 'subscription' market and will see attendances potentially effected. Furthermore, it will give the Premier League another 'excuse' not to filter more of their money down through the leagues (EFL and others)

The 'real' supporters will still attend, whilst many will be even more 'choosy' than they are already, as we'll see on Saturday

Well summarised Chris. The only winners would be the usual media firms whose 'Sky High' prices have caused inflated prices to real fans and whose media money funds the eye watering wages in the PL. It's the real fans that suffer because of this, it's how inflation works.

And as you say, fans who are choosy for whatever reason will be even more choosy if they can watch on the screen.

It may of course motivate some to attend but I think they'd still only do that if we were actually challenging or promotes, as we saw in the two PL seasons and respective run ups. Not being judgemental but it seems to me that's just how it is and we're not exclusive with that as some other clubs have that too.

I think It'll slowly destroy the match day experience.

I have over 100 mile round trip to game I am sure i would go less as i get older if games were on TV at 3pm I have had a season ticket for over 40 years but i may just not renew it if more games on tv and then pick games I attend I have attended over 1000 city games over the years

ABERGAVENNY

Away days would also die off slowly much to the local polices delight we would all become armchair fans
The atmosphere at home games would be affected badly less people would attend because of the lack of any atmosphere
we have struggled this season with attendances and i hear a lot of people saying there' s no atmosphere and that is putting them off going even though they are contributung to that by not attending themselves

ABERGAVENNY

Away days would also die off slowly much to the local polices delight we would all become armchair fans
The atmosphere at home games would be affected badly less people would attend because of the lack of any atmosphere
we have struggled this season with attendances and i hear a lot of people saying there' s no atmosphere and that is putting them off going even though they are contributung to that by not attending themselves

For the top teams it will just be more revenue and will no affect the crowds For smaller clubs I can’t not see any long term benefit at all I agree with you away trips will be massively affected

It's a no from me...

I think the idea is loaded in favour of the media companies, who will start charging in an already overloaded 'subscription' market and will see attendances potentially effected. Furthermore, it will give the Premier League another 'excuse' not to filter more of their money down through the leagues (EFL and others)

The 'real' supporters will still attend, whilst many will be even more 'choosy' than they are already, as we'll see on Saturday

Well summarised Chris. The only winners would be the usual media firms whose 'Sky High' prices have caused inflated prices to real fans and whose media money funds the eye watering wages in the PL. It's the real fans that suffer because of this, it's how inflation works.

And as you say, fans who are choosy for whatever reason will be even more choosy if they can watch on the screen.

It may of course motivate some to attend but I think they'd still only do that if we were actually challenging or promotes, as we saw in the two PL seasons and respective run ups. Not being judgemental but it seems to me that's just how it is and we're not exclusive with that as some other clubs have that too.

Interesting comments on this topic and I agree with both of you.

I have a season ticket and travel 80 miles to every home game it is logistically possible for me to get to. I don't drive so train strikes have unfortunately reduced the number of games I have been able to get to this season. Looks like that dispute will end over the next few weeks with all the latest strikes being cancelled so I'll be at all 23 home games next season. I'll always get to every home game I logistically can.

But others who support this club - or any club - but live far away will ultimately decide to pick and choose home games if they can watch every game from their sofa for a subscription fee. Not having a go at these people, each to their own.

DAZN apparently think this wouldn't negatively impact attendances but it would.

As you've both rightly pointed out the only people benefitting from this would be what I call "armchair supporters" and the rich media companies. Whether it's Sky, BT, DAZN, Amazon or others (Netflix and Apple also supposedly interested) they have no interest in stadiums being full if they can make more money.

But sadly I can see this happening over the next few years. Whether it will be 2024/25 when the new rights deal starts I don't know, but certainly in the next 5-10 years.

There are negatives to it for sure but a lot of positives as well. For example my dad and uncles now at an age where getting to games together is near impossible hard enough one by one, so they miss most games but get to see the odd few on iPlayer which is great for them they all get together get to watch card and have a great afternoon together, that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. So they fee has contributed to the club which wouldn’t have happened otherwise. And if every game’s available to them then that’s a whole season they get to see plus whole extra income for the club.

The family that would love to go to a game but can’t because of the sheer cost of the match will have the chance to watch they team play and become more associated with the club.

There’s many other positives as well, it’s the way forward everything evolves and yes change is scary but I think it’s the best thing for the club and it’s supporters.

Im more in mind of a halfway house solution here.

Yes, end the blackout, but only via official club streaming services. That way any and all revenue stays within the club and more fans can watch games from home if needed.. eg disabled / ill etc. I know my father in law who cannot go to games anymore would love an official ccfc tv digital season ticket, knowing he can watch and still support the club in an ifficial and helpful capacity.

Otherwise, no, dont end it to sell it out to streaming services who will exploit it for thier own gains

It's a no from me...

I think the idea is loaded in favour of the media companies, who will start charging in an already overloaded 'subscription' market and will see attendances potentially effected. Furthermore, it will give the Premier League another 'excuse' not to filter more of their money down through the leagues (EFL and others)

The 'real' supporters will still attend, whilst many will be even more 'choosy' than they are already, as we'll see on Saturday

Well summarised Chris. The only winners would be the usual media firms whose 'Sky High' prices have caused inflated prices to real fans and whose media money funds the eye watering wages in the PL. It's the real fans that suffer because of this, it's how inflation works.

And as you say, fans who are choosy for whatever reason will be even more choosy if they can watch on the screen.

It may of course motivate some to attend but I think they'd still only do that if we were actually challenging or promotes, as we saw in the two PL seasons and respective run ups. Not being judgemental but it seems to me that's just how it is and we're not exclusive with that as some other clubs have that too.

Yet you recommend the use of iptv. Which the club definitely doesn’t get any money from.
So my question how is that better for criminals to gain financially from supporters and not pay any to the clubs or in taxes over a legit streaming service do it all legal and above board. Piracy is not just getting one over on the media companies it’s a lot deeper than that and effects normal peoples jobs and security imagine if everyone used iptv. Commentators won’t get paid clubs lose out on sponsorship cameramen won’t have a job so it then couldn’t be broadcast anywhere. Until iptv goes legit and we back to square one just a different day but same shit.