Scottish football has taken the first steps toward ending the traditional Saturday 3pm television blackout in the UK by offering broadcasters greater flexibility in its upcoming rights cycle. Ahead of the 2029-30 campaign, the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) confirmed it is "flexible about the number of games" included in its next package. This tender creates the possibility for networks to bid for live coverage of every single Scottish Premiership match, including fixtures played during the Saturday afternoon window currently restricted between 2:45pm and 5:15pm.
The SPFL's flexible tender depends on broadcasters agreeing not to seek the enforcement of Article 48 of the Uefa Statutes. That rule permits leagues to bar live television broadcasts during set windows, provided at least 50% of matches in a nation's top two divisions take place at the same time. While other European leagues have largely moved to staggered kick-off times to avoid the restriction, the blackout remains in place across the UK. Originally introduced over concerns that televised matches would harm ticket sales across all tiers down to non-league football, the rule has faced growing criticism from those who argue it prevents clubs—particularly those in the lower divisions—from capitalizing on modern digital streaming revenues.
Under the SPFL's existing agreements, only 36% of the 228 top-flight matches are broadcast live, with Sky Sports permitted to screen up to 60 Premiership games and Premier Sports up to 22 per season. Across the border, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters noted in August that ending the blackout represents the overall direction of travel, though any decision remains 18 months away and requires consultation with the EFL and the FA. Because rights agreements for the SPFL, the Premier League, and the EFL all expire at the conclusion of the 2028-29 season, the timeline presents a shared window for the respective leagues to reach a unified approach.
Full live coverage in Scotland is not yet guaranteed, as broadcasters are free to propose any arrangement they choose under the tender. The final determination will lie with the 12 Scottish Premiership clubs, where eight votes are required to pass any new broadcast contract, meaning teams retain the power to reject any submission that televises 3pm Saturday fixtures. Additionally, should Scottish football choose to abolish the blackout, the decision would not automatically alter the rules in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland.