The “3pm blackout” rule prevents football matches from being shown on UK television between 14:45 and 17:15 on Saturdays.
The policy was introduced in the 1960s to encourage fans to attend lower league games – and it remains in force.
The blackout comes into effect when 50% of fixtures in the top two divisions are scheduled to kick off at 15:00.
It affects TV coverage of competitions including the Premier League, Scottish Premiership, English Football League (EFL), Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), FA Cup and Scottish Cup in the Saturday afternoon window.
Matches from foreign leagues such as La Liga and Serie A also cannot be shown live between 14:45 and 17:15 on Saturdays.
The new Premier League domestic TV rights deal, starting from 2025-26, protects the 3pm blackout.
However, the four-year deal will be reviewed again in 2029.
The opening Championship, League One and League Two matches which kicked off at 15:00 on a Saturday were televised, but this cannot continue when the Premier League starts.
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