The match between Arsenal and Hull City will not be shown live in the United Kingdom because it starts at 15:00 on a Saturday. A broadcasting restriction, known as the “15:00 block,” prohibits live television coverage of football in the UK between 14:45 and 17:15. The rule does not apply outside Great Britain. The restriction dates back to the 1960s and was championed by Bob Lord, then president of Burnley. Lord argued that televising Saturday‑afternoon matches would drain attendance at lower‑division games. Today the rule is supported by Article 48 of UEFA’s statutes, which allows each national federation to set a blackout window. In England the Football Association enforces the restriction at the request of the Premier League and the English Football League. Because the blackout applies only to broadcasts within the UK, the Arsenal‑Hull City game will be available live in Ecuador and most other parts of the world at 10:00 local time. In England fans can watch post‑match highlights on the Sky Sports app shortly after the final whistle, or listen to radio coverage. The Premier League season contains 380 fixtures, of which 270 are scheduled for live broadcast. The remaining 110 matches fall within the blackout period and will not be televised in the UK.
Article source: El Universo | Image credit: El Universo