Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have united in their support of the TV blackout that stops 3pm Premier League matches from being broadcast live. The ban, which has been in place since 1960, continues to spark heated debate among fans.
While international supporters can tune into Saturday fixtures at their leisure, UK-based supporters are left to catch up with highlights later in the day. More football will be shown than ever before from next season after Sky Sports’ groundbreaking deal with the Premier League, yet the blackout remains in tact.
It has reignited discussions about whether the ban should be lifted and Lineker, who recently announced his departure from Match of the Day from the end of this season, is wary. The ex-England striker worries that abolishing said blackout could harm the iconic BBC programme, even after he has departed, but also potentially lead to decreased attendances throughout the league – a concern echoed by his colleague Shearer.
“Obviously, for something like Match of the Day, it wouldn’t be helpful if every game was live,” Lineker commented on The Rest Is Football podcast. “Although, if sort of four or five games were on Saturday, you’d probably only watch one, so you’d still wanna see the highlights on Match of the Day later.
“My only concern with that would be one of the reasons that the Premier League is so successful and such a global triumph is that our grounds are always full and that really does add to the spectacle. I don’t know whether that would diminish if all games were live on television.”
Last December, Sky Sports and the Premier League agreed on a new four-year deal that will see up to 100 more matches aired from the 2025/26 season, reports the Mirror.
At least four matches will be shown live on Sky each week, and coverage will increase by 70%. A minimum of 215 matches are due to be shown. In addition, for the first time ever, Sky Sports will broadcast all 10 Premier League matches on the final day of the season.
“I think the Premier League could end up harming itself in the long run in terms of the product that is so good, so brilliant, and so loved by the whole world,” Lineker continued.
“I agree with that, Gaz,” Shearer retorted. “I think you’re totally right with that, in terms of on a miserable wet, cold, windy day, if every game was live on TV, then would a few or a lot of fans just say, ‘Well, we’ll just stay in this afternoon and watch it at home, rather than head to the ground?’
“I think you’re right; that is one of the reasons why our league, or the Premier League, is so great is the grounds and everything else. The stadiums are a superb atmosphere, and the vast majority of the time is always full I think that’s one of the reasons for that.”