Ever wondered why some football matches air live on TV at 3pm, despite a long-standing ban? It’s a rule that’s been puzzling fans for decades, but this weekend’s Dundee United vs. Dundee derby is breaking the mold. Here’s the lowdown on why this game—and a few others—get a pass from the infamous 3pm TV blackout.
Since the 1960s, UK football enthusiasts have grown accustomed to the 3pm blackout rule, a tradition designed to keep fans flocking to stadiums instead of staying home to watch on screen. This rule, enforced by UEFA’s Article 48, typically bans live broadcasts of matches during this prime Saturday slot. For the 2025-2026 season, it’s in full effect from August 23 to April 25, leaving fans with no choice but to attend games in person—or so it seems.
But here’s where it gets interesting: UEFA isn’t entirely rigid. There are exceptions to this rule, and they’re more common than you might think. For instance, days not marked as ‘blocked hours’ by UEFA are fair game for live broadcasts. You can find the full list of these exempt days on UEFA’s website, but the reasoning behind some of these exceptions might surprise you.
Take the festive period, for example. With a jam-packed schedule of matches and limited TV slots, UEFA relaxes the rules to accommodate the overflow. Last December, the Scottish Premiership clash between Livingston and Celtic aired live at 3pm on the 27th, even though most other fixtures kicked off simultaneously—a scenario that would normally trigger the blackout. That weekend was on UEFA’s exempt list, though the English Premier League chose not to broadcast its games during that slot.
And this is the part most people miss: The blackout is also lifted on specific dates like January 3, which is why the Dundee derby is getting the green light for live coverage. However, the Premier League has once again opted out of broadcasting its matches at this time, leaving fans scratching their heads.
Exemptions aren’t limited to the holidays, though. International breaks and major cup fixtures, such as the FA Cup quarter-finals on April 4, also get a pass. Interestingly, while England enjoys this exemption, Scotland doesn’t—a detail that’s sure to spark debate among fans.
Even early rounds of Scotland’s Premier Sports Cup have aired live on Saturday afternoons in the past, simply because they take place before the blocked hours kick in at the end of August. It’s a loophole that highlights the complexity of scheduling and broadcasting rules in football.
But here’s the controversial bit: Is the 3pm blackout still relevant in today’s digital age? With streaming services and on-demand viewing becoming the norm, does this decades-old rule still serve its purpose, or is it time for a rethink? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
This article is part of BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything series, where we tackle your burning questions about the world of sports. Got a query? We’ve got answers!
