The EFL will ask clubs if they want to scrap the 3pm Saturday blackout rule this summer.
i understands the blackout will be discussed as an agenda item at the EFL’s AGM in June – with the league canvassing opinion from clubs about changing the rules to allow Saturday 3pm games to be shown over the iFollow service.
Many clubs in League One and League Two believe that move would open up additional revenue streams to them – although opponents say it would reduce ticket sales and break the “habit forming” tradition of attending matches.
While EFL sources say “nothing is set in stone” and specifics are yet to be discussed, the league are open to the idea of loosening the rules if enough clubs are keen. They would need to apply to Uefa to change the current blackout period, which runs from 2.45pm to 5.15pm on a Saturday.
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An EFL spokesman told i: “The issues around the 3pm blackout will be discussed again in the summer and we wouldn’t rule anything out at this stage. All options would be on the table for the clubs to discuss.”
A big change in approach is that the EFL is open to discussing different ways to ease the 3pm blackout rule rather than just scrapping it entirely.
One possibility is scrapping the blanket ban to allow clubs to negotiate with each other about showing Saturday 3pm games. That way reluctant clubs could opt out.
Another is to replicate the rules used during the pandemic when income from the first 500 iFollow passes sold to the away team is distributed to the team playing at home to mitigate any impact on away ticket sales.
Bradford City CEO Ryan Sparks told i he was fully supportive of the 3pm blackout being scrapped.
He said: “During the pandemic we saw the power of technology when iFollow replaces matchday for fans and in my opinion that technology has to be improved to open up new revenue streams for clubs in the EFL.
“I know there’s opposition and people asking: ‘Will away fans still come?’ It’s a fear for League One or League Two clubs but they are two different markets. People who want to go to away games will still go to away games – the numbers don’t change when we have midweek games that are on iFollow.
“What you do get is a not inconsiderable extra revenue stream from those who wouldn’t go to the game but buy an iFollow pass. It is about opening up that new revenue stream.”
Others are not so keen. The Football Supporters Association are historically opposed to the blackout being lifted and chair Malcolm Clarke said earlier this season he saw “no reason to change it”.
Tranmere chairman Mark Palios told i earlier this year that any lifting of the 3pm blackout would “absolutely” hit attendances at his club.
The 3pm blackout has been in place since the 1960s and prohibits live football from being shown through the football pyramid. It is protected via Article 48 of the Uefa statutes and any move to loosen the blackout would need to go through the European football ruling body.
One executive told i that any change would likely be for the 2023-24 season and interestingly, the EFL’s next TV deal is due to start in 2024.
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