TV Live Forum

Interesting news item today

https://twitter.com/broadcast_sport/stat...9320157186

Not the EFL’s decision though is it? The request under Article 48.2 UEFA Statute is from the FA to UEFA (it now appears to be the only association availing of the provision). While no doubt a combined EFL and PL proposal would be hard to oppose, surely due regard would had to be had to the views of the lower leagues that the rule is meant to protect? Otherwise the question might be asked as to what the point of the rule was in the first place, if it is abandoned as soon as the pro clubs demand?

Fundamentally the rise of illegal streams have meant most people that would stay at home and watch a match now do so anyway. The 12.30 and 17.30 kickoffs also effectively take people‘s attention.

If the EFL say it’s no longer reasonable to hold out, minor leagues wouldn’t have a real possibility to allow the 3pm blackout to continue.

One variant that might be worth exploring is a limited continuation allowing broadcast in Aug, Sep, Apr and May when the season starts and reaches a conclusion, but implementing the blackout from Oct - Mar, affording some protection.

Another possible change could be that only Premier League matches are barred, allowing other tiers to benefit from TV revenue from the 3pm slot. The value of the 3pm slot to both Broadcasters and Rights Holders would increase accordingly.

The restrictions on covering non UK leagues at 3pm really would end with any, even minor concession.

Feels like this is about allowing EFL clubs to market streams of matches rather than striking a TV deal. EFL already allows streaming of midweek evening kick-offs.

If the EFL signed a Saturday 3pm TV deal, they'd get blown out of the water by the Premier League doing the same.

BcastCornwall post_id=46726 time= user_id=950 Wrote:If the EFL say it’s no longer reasonable to hold out, minor leagues wouldn’t have a real possibility to allow the 3pm blackout to continue.

One variant that might be worth exploring is a limited continuation allowing broadcast in Aug, Sep, Apr and May when the season starts and reaches a conclusion, but implementing the blackout from Oct - Mar, affording some protection.

Another possible change could be that only Premier League matches are barred, allowing other tiers to benefit from TV revenue from the 3pm slot. The value of the 3pm slot to both Broadcasters and Rights Holders would increase accordingly.

The restrictions on covering non UK leagues at 3pm really would end with any, even minor concession.

PL clubs have also lost money due to streaming of games that could be sold which I imagine they won’t be happy if only they are banned.

I’m also not sure if UEFA would even allow banning only some leagues or if it’s got to be all or nothing.

Newshound47 post_id=46740 time= user_id=1854 Wrote:I’m also not sure if UEFA would even allow banning only some leagues or if it’s got to be all or nothing.

The consequences of even having non-PL football streamed at 3pm on Saturday could still reverberate down the leagues.

Clubs in the top five tiers will all be able to sustain some kind of streaming service. That probably applies to most of the sixth tier too. But once you go below that, into the regional and local leagues, with village sides getting 30 spectators per match, they're going to face some competition.

Let's say you're a Millwall fan. When Millwall are away, you might go to Fisher FC, who are a mile up the road and play in the ninth tier. They get about 150 per match - higher when their larger neighbours are away/not playing.

If Millwall were to start offering streams of Saturday 3pm away matches, that could become a loss to Fisher - particularly if Millwall start doing well.

Obviously people have different motivations for going to football and they aren't all about watching sport - it's a social occasion, precious time with a family member, a trip out with the kids, a day out on the beers or just a chance to get out of the house for a couple of hours. But even just the EFL offering streams could make a big dent in some of those clubs further down the chain who benefit from casual support like I described above. It'd be interesting to see what the FA make of it all.

Newshound47 post_id=46740 time= user_id=1854 Wrote:

BcastCornwall post_id=46726 time= user_id=950 Wrote:If the EFL say it’s no longer reasonable to hold out, minor leagues wouldn’t have a real possibility to allow the 3pm blackout to continue.

One variant that might be worth exploring is a limited continuation allowing broadcast in Aug, Sep, Apr and May when the season starts and reaches a conclusion, but implementing the blackout from Oct - Mar, affording some protection.

Another possible change could be that only Premier League matches are barred, allowing other tiers to benefit from TV revenue from the 3pm slot. The value of the 3pm slot to both Broadcasters and Rights Holders would increase accordingly.

The restrictions on covering non UK leagues at 3pm really would end with any, even minor concession.

PL clubs have also lost money due to streaming of games that could be sold which I imagine they won’t be happy if only they are banned.

I’m also not sure if UEFA would even allow banning only some leagues or if it’s got to be all or nothing.

The article and the Regulations don’t appear to envisage that the top league only would be banned or that one league would be banned and others wouldn’t be. The premise is that any football on TV would detract from attendances at domestic football games. Mind you there are exemptions, the main one being if the senior national team is playing.
https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/88494.pdf

Worth remembering too the English pyramid goes deeper than many of the other European leagues where only the top two divisions might be covered by such a blackout.

I can see the logic in this, especially for League 1 & 2, but only if it doesn't open the doors for the Premier League to follow suit. That said even if they did I think it would still be quite rare for the big Premier League games to kick off at 3pm on a Saturday - it kind of works too way and just as the leagues don't want people watching matches on TV rather than being at the grounds they also won't want their big games on air when most supporters are watching games live in person.

Brekkie post_id=46768 time=1634137930 user_id=976 Wrote:Worth remembering too the English pyramid goes deeper than many of the other European leagues where only the top two divisions might be covered by such a blackout.

I can see the logic in this, especially for League 1 & 2, but only if it doesn't open the doors for the Premier League to follow suit. That said even if they did I think it would still be quite rare for the big Premier League games to kick off at 3pm on a Saturday - it kind of works too way and just as the leagues don't want people watching matches on TV rather than being at the grounds they also won't want their big games on air when most supporters are watching games live in person.

The Premier League could try and move all games away from 3pm but to where would be the issue.

Newshound47 post_id=46787 time= user_id=1854 Wrote:

Brekkie post_id=46768 time=1634137930 user_id=976 Wrote:Worth remembering too the English pyramid goes deeper than many of the other European leagues where only the top two divisions might be covered by such a blackout.

I can see the logic in this, especially for League 1 & 2, but only if it doesn't open the doors for the Premier League to follow suit. That said even if they did I think it would still be quite rare for the big Premier League games to kick off at 3pm on a Saturday - it kind of works too way and just as the leagues don't want people watching matches on TV rather than being at the grounds they also won't want their big games on air when most supporters are watching games live in person.

The Premier League could try and move all games away from 3pm but to where would be the issue.

That would be a good idea. What they should do, for weekend games, is to use a "Noah's Ark" method, i.e. have 2 games per timeslot. So when the 5 games chosen for live coverage by Sky and BT have been announced, then they should allocate another fixture from that weekend's programme to go alongside the live UK-televised game for each timeslot.

The whole idea of 3PM blackouts has always struck me as ludicrous and illegal streaming has just made it an irrelevance.

One suggestion is to make "Match Of The Day" an actual match whilst keeping the highlights for Saturday night.

Humphrey Hacker post_id=46887 time= user_id=1128 Wrote:One suggestion is to make "Match Of The Day" an actual match whilst keeping the highlights for Saturday night.

Well making Match of the Day an actual match that is free to air would be the worse possible thing for attendances.

Newshound47 post_id=46787 time= user_id=1854 Wrote:The Premier League could try and move all games away from 3pm but to where would be the issue.

If you're doing that it just becomes the most token gesture. I know the big clubs don't play there very often, but I don't think you'd get much of a response if you tell fans of the likes of Palace and Burnley that they will now regularly play at 11am on Sunday or 6pm on Monday, but never at 3pm on Saturday.

Saturday 3pm hasn't become the standard kick-off by accident, it is the most convenient time to play and watch football.

Jon post_id=46889 time= user_id=1050 Wrote:

Humphrey Hacker post_id=46887 time= user_id=1128 Wrote:One suggestion is to make "Match Of The Day" an actual match whilst keeping the highlights for Saturday night.

Well making Match of the Day an actual match that is free to air would be the worse possible thing for attendances.

Well it doesn't have to be every week. Maybe a special event once per month. As I said its just a suggestion.