Sky's managing director suggests eliminating the 3pm blackout to combat football piracy
In the world of Premier League football, the ongoing debate about the Saturday 3pm blackout has taken a new turn, with Sky Sports' managing director, Jonathan Licht, calling for the long-standing restriction to be lifted. Licht's comments, made to The Times, highlight concerns over the impact of the blackout on illegal streaming and the normalization of piracy in the market.
Licht described piracy as a "very serious issue" and linked it to organized crime. He underlined the need for tech companies to "step up" in addressing this problem, emphasizing that they want to be part of the future of rights and sports relationships.
The 3pm blackout, originally aimed to encourage fans to attend lower league matches, has been in place since the 1960s. However, Licht believes that the era of streaming has changed the landscape, and the blackout may no longer serve its intended purpose. He thinks that broadcasters are starting to engage with "big tech" about the issue of piracy.
The new broadcast deal for Premier League football matches begins tomorrow, and Sky Sports is preparing for the kick-off with new features like Multiview and vertical highlights. Despite the ongoing discussions, the 3pm blackout remains in Sky's new broadcast deal for the next four years.
While the blackout remains in place by law for the 2025/2026 season, the debate continues. Proponents argue that lifting the blackout could reduce the widespread illegal streaming of these fixtures, making it easier for fans to watch games legally. Opponents, however, emphasize preserving the traditional match-day atmosphere and attendance, which the blackout aims to protect.
As the Premier League season gets underway, the question of the 3pm blackout and its role in the era of streaming remains a hot topic, with Licht's comments adding fuel to the ongoing discussion.
- The ongoing debate about the 3pm blackout in the Premier League has expanded to include concerns about the impact of the restriction on illegal streaming and the normalization of piracy in the market, as highlighted by Sky Sports' managing director, Jonathan Licht.
- Licht, in his comments to The Times, described piracy as a "very serious issue" and linked it to organized crime, emphasizing the need for tech companies to "step up" in addressing this problem, and expressing Sky Sports' interest in being part of the future of rights and sports relationships.
- As the Premier League season progresses, the question of the 3pm blackout and its role in the era of streaming remains a hot topic, with discussions revolving around its potential to reduce the widespread illegal streaming of fixtures and preserve traditional match-day atmosphere and attendance.
