Scottish football could end Saturday 3pm blackout in major broadcasting shake-up

The SPFL is open to ending Scotland's Saturday 3pm TV blackout from 2029 if fewer than 50% of fixtures are scheduled for that time slot.

The Scottish Professional Football League has signalled it would be willing to end the Saturday 3pm television blackout in Scotland from the 2029-30 season onwards, according to the Press Association.

The 3pm blackout has been a UK-wide broadcasting restriction since the 1960s, originally introduced to protect live match attendances. It has survived thanks to UEFA's Article 48, which allows leagues to impose broadcasting restrictions if 50% or more of professional matches are scheduled for that kick-off time.

As the SPFL prepares for its next broadcast rights cycle starting in 2029, it has indicated flexibility to potential bidders and invited them to bid for more games than currently available. Should the sale result in fewer than 50% of Saturday fixtures kicking off at 3pm, UEFA's Article 48 would no longer apply, allowing Scotland to lift the blackout. Such a move could prompt other domestic leagues, including the Premier League and EFL, to pursue similar changes to their broadcasting restrictions.