Covid-19/United Kingdom: Saturday afternoon broadcast blackout to be lifted if the leagues resume

The FA and the Scottish Football Association have requested and obtained the lifting of the TV blackout (ban on broadcasting live matches on Saturdays between 14:45 and 17:15 GMT) for the end of the 2019-20 season in order to prepare for a possible resumption of competitions (Premier League, Emirates FA Cup, Ladbrokes Premiership) behind closed doors, according to information revealed by the British media on 03/04/2020.

European laws allow each EU country to set time slots during which live television broadcasts of football matches (played at home or abroad) are banned in order to protect stadium attendance. This is set out in detail in Article 48 of the UEFA Statutes. Only the English, Scottish and Montenegrin associations apply this rule.

The pay-TV broadcasters Sky and BT Sport will therefore be able to broadcast live matches (if the season is resumed) for which they do not have the live broadcasting rights (see below) according to the British media.

2019-2022 Premier League TV rights: 200 out of the 380 matches per season broadcast live (128 on Sky Sports, 52 on BT Sport, 20 on…