Premier League and EFL plan 2026 talks over massive change to football on TV in England

The Premier League and EFL are set to meet in early 2026 about combining to permit 3pm kick-offs on a Saturday, as per a report by the Guardian. England is currently the only country in Europe that still applies a blackout, but both governing bodies are keen to sell more games to other broadcasters.

Though there are still several years remaining on the current rights cycle for both the Premier League and EFL, they are eager to reach an agreement before the next tender. The EFL will broadcast 1,059 games on domestic TV, mostly Sky Sports, this season while the Premier League are showing a record 270.

That has increased for the latter in this campaign with all 2pm kick-offs on Sunday, which often consist of those participating in the Europa League, now available to watch. However, it has been determined that the only way to bring in more revenue is by selling every game.

• Just one Premier League game on Boxing Day treats fans 'like an afterthought'

• One signing each Premier League club needs to make during January transfer window

The EFL have set plans to go to the market in just over 12 months even though their current contract does not end until the summer of 2029. The expectation is that the Premier League auction will arrive later in the year.

Sky Sports currently have exclusive rights to the EFL which allows them to show a staggering 1,059 games across the Championship, League One, League Two. That also applies to the Carabao Cup and EFL Trophy.

That figure could move closer to 2,000 if an agreement is reached whereby the blackout is removed. The Premier League meanwhile, given how the value of media rights are declining, want to explore completing sales on all their games.

That is despite a record £6.7bn over four years agreed with Sky Sports and TNT Sports. An extra year was added to that partnership which increased the games shown and thus devalued the agreement from the previous cycle between 2022 and 2025.

Sky Sports managing director Jonathan Licht has already stated that he is expecting a conversation regarding the blackout, though Premier League CEO Richard Masters seems eager to make sure it stays.

He said at the recent Leaders sports business conference in London: “We’re committed [to the blackout] for the foreseeable future. It’s not a decision we make [alone].

"It’s done in conjunction with other footballing bodies, including the English Football League (EFL) and the Football Association (FA).”

Article 48 of Uefa’s statutes is where the blackout relates to with it stated that for, “two and a half hours on a Saturday or a Sunday”, the transmission of live football in a territory can be prohibited.

The ruling is in play when 50 per cent of Premier League and Championship games are due to take place on Saturday at 3pm.

The FA have a role to play in this matter as well and are unlikely to reject the imposing of Article 48 with attempts having been made to get the Women's Super League exempt from the blackout. However, that was prevented from going through by the Premier League and EFL on legal grounds.

There are many other factors to consider over removing the blackout with attendances almost certainly to be impacted by more games being available to watch on TV.

Demands for compensation from leagues in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland could also arrive with it enforced in all of those regions.