3pm blackout to be scrapped?! Premier League clubs pushing for 'inevitable' move ahead of 2027 TV rights negotiations

The Daily Mail have reported that there is once again a growing wave of Premier League clubs that are pushing for the Saturday, 3pm blackout to be scrapped going forward in a bid to improve their financial gains from broadcasting rights, with TV negotiations set for 2027. The push is also coming after the EFL announced that all of their opening matchday games for next season would be broadcast including the Saturday, 3pm fixtures.

It is said that clubs with a majority American ownership are pushing for this change in an attempt to attract more revenue. They are reportedly interested in broadcasting 3pm kickoffs as mid-morning games would be highly appealing to US viewers during a period when there aren't any live sports occurring in the country.

The football blackout is the policy that prohibits live television broadcasts of Premier League, Football League, or FA Cup matches on Saturdays between 2:45 and 5:15 p.m. While games can take place on that day and at that hour, they cannot be aired. On Saturdays, kickoffs for televised matches typically take place at 12:30pm or 5:30p.m.

The blackout is the responsibility of the Football Association (FA) and if it is to be scrapped, the FA will have to apply for the rule change to UEFA before the revision can be brought into effect.