Dale could be on TV more if 3pm ban lifts

ROCHDALE could be set to benefit heavily from the possible removal of the EFL’S 3pm Saturday TV blackout from 2024.

Since the start of the 2021/22 season, the Dale have played a total of 58 league matches, of which 43 kicked off at 3pm.

This meant that 74% of their games were played during the blackout window, and were therefore unavailable to watch on live TV.

Of all 92 Football League clubs, this is the joint-11th highest proportion, meaning Rochdale would be set to benefit massively if the EFL were to lift the ban.

This will come as fantastic news for fans who are unable to get through the gates at the Spotland Stadium on Saturday afternoons, as they may well be able to see their side on TV far more regularly in the near future.

The EFL is considering the possibility of lifting the 3pm blackout when a new TV rights deal is negotiated from 2024.

Currently, the £595m deal with Sky Sports is viewed as controversial by some as clubs believe it undervalued the Championship particularly.

But a new, bigger deal is hopefully in the works, with the EFL looking towards streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon and Apple as potential partners. At present, Sky Sports show more than 138 league matches per season as well as all play-off fixtures. They also show several rounds of the Carabao Cup, including the final, and the semi-finals and final of the EFL trophy. In a statement, the EFL said: “Rights for all 1,891 matches across the league, EFL Cup, EFL Trophy and all end of season play-off matches are available for prospective bidders.” Rights to all of those games could not be sold without screening matches between 14:45 and 17:15, which is not broadcasting possible at the moment due to the 3pm blackout.

Introduced in the 1960s as a way of protecting attendances in the lower leagues, the 3pm blackout is intended to encourage fans to go to live games in person by preventing matches being shown on live TV.

During the pandemic, the ban was lifted temporarily as part of ‘project restart’, when games were played behind closed doors, but reinstated once fans were allowed back into stadiums.

EFL chief commercial officer, Ben Wright, said: “Alongside the EFL’S rich tradition and distinguished history there is a desire to evolve, grow and innovate in order to grow our audience further and we’re looking for a partner or partners who share that vision.”