Premier League CEO signals 3pm Saturday blackout could end before 2030 TV deal

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has revealed that a decision on ending the 3pm Saturday blackout — the rule preventing live domestic broadcast of top-flight matches between 2.45pm and 5.15pm — could be reached within 18 months, ahead of the next TV rights cycle.

The blackout, enshrined in what is known as Article 48, dates back to the 1960s when the FA introduced it at the EFL’s request to protect lower-league attendances. It remains one of English football’s most debated broadcasting conventions, and Masters’ comments represent the clearest signal yet that its days may be numbered.

“Yes, but it’s not just us involved in the decision about Article 48. It’s us, the EFL and the FA,” Masters told talkSPORT. “We’ve got to take that decision at some point in the future about whether things are going to change. It’s not a decision for now. It’s a decision we’ve got to make before the next set of domestic processes that the EFL and the Premier League are going to do. I’d say in about 18 months’ time we’ll come back to that decision about whether Article 48 should remain or not.”

The current domestic rights deal runs until the end of the 2028/29 season, meaning any removal of the blackout could not practically take effect until the 2029/30 campaign at the earliest. Masters acknowledged the timeline, but framed the forthcoming trilateral talks between the Premier League, EFL and FA as a meaningful step toward resolution.

The comments arrive as the Premier League has launched a streaming service in Singapore — branded ‘Premier League +’ — which is set to broadcast all 380 matches live alongside 24/7 coverage. The venture is widely regarded as a testing ground for a potential future direct-to-consumer streaming model in the United Kingdom, a concept that has gained traction in broadcasting discussions in recent years.