SPFL Broadcast Tender Opens Up Saturday 3pm Slot for 2029-30 Season
Under the current broadcast deal, Sky Sports shows up to 60 Premiership matches a season, while Premier Sports shows up to 22, according to bbc.com. Out of 228 total top-flight games, that leaves 36% of matches shown live. The Scottish Professional Football League has now taken initial steps to end the traditional Saturday 3pm television blackout by inviting broadcasters to bid for full live match packages starting from the 2029-30 season.
The SPFL stated that it is flexible about the number of games included in the new cycle. BBC Sport reported that this flexibility encompasses the possibility for broadcasters to bid for every single match live, including those played during the traditional Saturday afternoon window.
UK Maintains Saturday Blackout Under Uefa Rules
The tender operates on the basis that winning broadcasters do not seek to impose Article 48 of the Uefa Statutes. Article 48 permits national leagues to designate specific times when live television broadcasts are prohibited. Enforcement requires that 50% of matches in a country’s top two divisions kick off at the same time.
Some big Scottish Football TV news this morning.The SPFL have officially gone out to tender for live Scottish Premiership broadcast rights from 2029 onwards.The League have been “that it is flexible about the number of games that it shows live in future and the [tender]… pic.twitter.com/IA1NOXosWA”
While other European countries have tested blackouts, the UK remains the primary region enforcing one between 2:45pm and 5:15pm on Saturdays. Continental leagues frequently stagger kick-off times to prevent overlapping schedules, rendering the traditional blackout rule inapplicable.
Historical Background of Traditional Saturday Afternoon Kick-Offs
The 3.00 pm slot serves as the default kick-off time across British football, stretching from the top tier down to non-league levels. Football authorities originally introduced the blackout to protect match attendances across professional and lower-division clubs alike. Critics of the rule argue that the rise of digital streaming severely limits the revenue potential of clubs that remain banned from broadcasting matches online.
Lower-tier clubs continue to absorb the financial impact of the blackout restrictions without online streaming alternatives. In contrast, the Cymru Premier in Wales abandoned the blackout over the summer to adopt a full streaming model across all matches.
Rights Deals Expire as Leagues Weigh Blackout Changes
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters indicated in August that the trajectory points toward ending the blackout, though any formal resolution remains 18 months away following necessary consultations with the English Football League and The Football Association, as reported by bbc.com. The concurrent expiration of television rights deals for the Premier League, the EFL, and the SPFL in the 2028-29 season creates a rare window for a unified approach across UK leagues.
Despite the wide scope of the Scottish tender, final selection remains uncertain. Premiership clubs hold the ultimate authority, with eight out of 12 member clubs required to vote in favor of any proposed broadcast package. Clubs retain the option to reject any media rights offer that includes live Saturday afternoon matches.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Proposed Blackout Changes
Does ending the blackout in Scotland apply to English football?
No. Scottish football altering its broadcast arrangement does not automatically alter the rules for English, Welsh, or Northern Irish leagues.
🚨 SPFL opens door to more live matches as TV rights go to tender- SPFL has officially put Scottish Premiership TV rights out to tender- It's issued an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for live UK broadcast rights from 2029-30- League says it expects "strong interest" from… pic.twitter.com/Ede0Z7V5kO
How many Premiership matches are currently broadcast live?
Sky Sports broadcasts up to 60 matches and Premier Sports shows up to 22 games, covering 36% of the 228 total top-flight fixtures.
What threshold is required for Scottish clubs to approve the new deal?
The 12 member clubs of the Scottish Premiership require an eight-vote majority to approve any incoming broadcast package.
BREAKING! Premiership 3pm TV blackout could be SCRAPPED as SPFL ‘offer’ broadcasters chance to snap up all top flight fixtures 🚨📺https://t.co/rFYwGXl6Gq pic.twitter.com/HKXz5x1cqh
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