The EFL’s existing TV partners Sky Sports are opposed to lifting the 3pm Saturday blackout, which could lead to multiple channels buying the rights to show live matches from the 2024-25 season.
The EFL are making all of their 1,656 matches available in a new strategy pitched to broadcasters this week, and are willing to televise Saturday afternoon kick-offs for the first time.
Sky Sports’ opposition to dumping the broadcast blackout, which has been in place since the 1960s, stems from their close alignment with the Premier League. The top flight have no wish to see 3pm kick-offs on TV as their broadcast model is based on having multiple must-see matches at different times across the weekend.