Why aren't 3pm Saturday games on TV in the UK? The blackout explained

If your team kicks off at 3pm on a Saturday, you won't find the game live on UK television. That's the "3pm blackout", and it applies to every league, from the Premier League to the National League, and to football from abroad too. Here's how it works and why it exists.

What is the 3pm blackout?

From 2:45pm to 5:15pm on Saturdays, no live football can be broadcast on TV in England or Scotland. It covers every competition, including games from Spain, Italy or Germany that happen to fall in that window. That's why a Bundesliga game at 2:30pm UK time, or a Serie A game at 2pm, is often missing from UK listings.

Why does it exist?

The blackout goes back to the 1960s. It's meant to protect attendances: the worry is that if every big game were on TV at 3pm, fewer people would go and watch their local club, especially further down the pyramid. UEFA's rules allow each national association to block live broadcasts for two and a half hours on a Saturday or Sunday, and the English and Scottish FAs use that window on Saturday afternoon.

Are there exceptions?

Yes, a few. On the opening day of the 2026/27 EFL season, the 3pm Championship, League One and League Two games were all shown live on Sky Sports+, and every final-day EFL fixture is shown live too. The blackout also doesn't apply in Ireland, where Premier Sports shows Premier League games that kick off at 3pm on a Saturday.

Can I watch my 3pm game anywhere?

Not live on UK TV. You can follow it through live radio commentary from BBC local radio and national stations, and highlights are shown on the evening highlights programmes after full time.

How we show it

When a British game on KickoffTV kicks off at 3pm on a Saturday, its listing says it's not on UK TV, so you're not left hunting for a channel that doesn't exist. See this weekend's football on TV for the games you can watch live.

Checked November 2026.