A HOST of Premier League giants are pushing to have the Saturday 3pm games TV blackout AXED when the next round of rights are up for grabs in 2022.
All of the top-flight’s ‘Big Six’ have pushed for the ban to be cancelled in a huge boost for fans.
Saturday 3pm games could return to our screens with clubs pushing for changeCredit: PA:Press Association
In the absence of live televised games, fans are forced to keep tabs on the action on dedicated studio shows such as Sky Sports Soccer Saturday or BT Sport Score.
At present no live Saturday action can be shown between 2.45pm and 5.15pm – with that even including the smallest of highlights packages.
No goal is allowed to be shared online or on TV between those hours under Article 48 of the Uefa Statutes.
But that could now change with Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal amongst those pushing to lift the embargo, according to the Mail.
The Premier League top dogs are firmly of the belief the 3pm ban will be pushed into oblivion thanks to the emergence of online giants.
Amazon Prime have already broadcast a host of top-flight games in recent seasons, including a bumper Boxing Day package this season.
Netflix, Google and Facebook have also expressed an interest in the live streaming of Premier League matches.
History of the 3pm blackout
IN the 1960s, Burnley chairman Bob Lord claimed televising live matches woudl have a negative effect on stadium attendances – thus hitting clubs in the pocket.
He successfully lobbied to have games taken off the air.
Ever since, the FA, Footall League and Premier League have forbidden Saturday 3pm games to be shown on air.
But the ban extends to games played across the globe.
However, football chiefs are being clever in getting around the ban.
For example, the final day of the Premier League season is now always played on a Sunday, withn all ten games kicking off at 3pm.
This ensures fans can watch the key moments of the biggest day of the season.
The FA Cup final has also been pushed back to an evening kick-off in recent years to cirumvent the ban, but still remain on a Saturday.
And with the next round of TV rights – for the years 2022 to 2025 – up for grabs soon, change could well be on the way.
The current deal was sold for a staggering £4.5BILLION in 2018, for the years of 2019-2022.
That was a slight dip on the previous, record-breaking package of £5.14bn, agreed in 2015 for the years up until the start of this season.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
