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Streaming Services Challenge English Soccer's Traditional Saturday Afternoon TV Blackout

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Of all the ways we thought online streaming would disrupt sports broadcasting, the challenge to the traditional television blackout on Saturday afternoons was not high on the agenda.

The blackout has been in effect since the early 1960s and forbids any live soccer match from being shown in the U.K. between 14:45 and 17:15 so that attendances at Premier League and Football League matches are not affected.

While Premier League matches are shown live around the world during this period, British viewers are restricted to watching former players describe the game in a studio, listen to radio commentary or finding other less legal ways of watching the action.

Blackout

The restriction affects foreign matches too. Many high-profile La Liga matches kick off during the blackout – including El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid – meaning they cannot be shown live, or if they kick off at 17:00, the first 15 minutes cannot be shown.

The blackout is supported by both the Premier League, the Football Association (FA) and European soccer governing body UEFA’s Article 48.2.

It has caused some discontent among broadcasters. Virgin Media – which has no live soccer rights – says every single Premier League match should be shown live with U.S.-style regional blackouts to safeguard attendances. This means that should a club not be able to fill a proportion of their stadium, the game will not be shown live on television.

It believes that by only making a certain percentage of games available for broadcast, the Premier League is keeping prices high and limiting consumer choice.

But soccer fans who attend matches are in favor of the blackout.

“The Saturday 3pm blackout is part of the tradition of English soccer and maintaining that is crucial to the economic survival of many clubs lower down the soccer pyramid,” says the Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF).

"Almost eight and a half thousand fans completed the FSF's National Supporters Survey in the summer of 2017 with 72.7% voting in favor of the 3pm blackout.

“Supporters largely back the blackout as they see it as a tool to protect lower league clubs.”

However, the blackout does not apply on International weekends, meaning clubs outside the Premier League and EFL Championship were able to show their matches live. Accrington Stanley majority shareholder said he was “dismayed” at the decision to permit this loophole.

Eleven Sports

Despite this support from governing bodies and from fans, a battle with broadcasters and online streamers is looming. Ever since Eleven Sports entered the U.K. market offering live Italian and Spanish soccer on its streaming platform, it has complained about the restrictions.

And now it is taking action.

Over the past two weekends, it has disobeyed the restrictions by showing live La Liga matches during the blackout and says it will continue doing so. It has the support of the Spanish soccer authorities and now wants to do the same with Serie A games too.

Eleven Sports had not responded to my requests for comment at the time of publication, but owner Andrea Radrizzani, who also owns Leeds United, told The Times: “The rule should be reconsidered. There are betting websites which are showing the game live while we legitimately paid for the rights but cannot show it, according to law 48. Also, there are many illegal sites and pirates that we should fight against. So I would love to open a conversation, in a friendly way, to find a solution.

“I would also like to understand why this is competing with ticket sales in U.K. stadiums. Why not the Tour de France or other events that happen at the same time live on TV?”

Next steps

It’s unclear what happens now. Although Eleven Sport says it would like to find an amicable resolution, it is unclear what steps it is taking to achieve this, and many will view its flouting of broadcast rules as a hostile act rather then the start of a "friendly" conversation.

Meanwhile, UEFA has confirmed to me that it is in contact with the FA, which has been approached by the Premier League, but no official complaint has been made so far.

Some might consider the blackout anachronistic, while others believe it is an essential measure to protect the English game at all levels. Whatever your view, it’s clear that technology is creating a conflict with tradition.

 

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