**Premier League Secures 3pm Broadcast Exemption** The Premier League has received a significant exemption from the traditional 3pm TV blackout, allowing it to broadcast certain matches during this time. According to reports, this change will take effect during the festive period, specifically on Saturday, December 27, and Saturday, January 3, which correspond to the 18th and 20th gameweeks of the 2025/26 season. This exemption means that matches scheduled for 3pm on these two Saturdays can be shown live, breaking the long-standing blackout rule. However, despite this new opportunity, the Premier League has indicated that it does not plan to utilise this broadcasting option. Currently, there are 10 fixtures set for December 27 and another 10 for January 3, but the league has yet to confirm any changes to the fixture list or UK TV broadcast selections for the festive period, including Boxing Day (December 26) and New Year's Day (January 1). Richard Masters, the Premier League CEO, addressed the blackout issue at the Leaders football conference earlier this month. He stated, "We are committed to it for the foreseeable future and it’s not a decision that we make, it’s done in conjunction with other football bodies, the EFL (English Football League) and the FA (English Football Association)." The 3pm blackout was originally established in the 1960s and has been enforced in the UK since the mid-1980s. Its primary purpose is to protect attendance at lower-league matches by preventing live broadcasts of Premier League games during this time. However, the rule has also been linked to the rise of illegal streaming, as fans in the UK are unable to watch Premier League matches at 3pm. Internationally, there is no blackout affecting the Premier League's broadcast deals. Fans outside the UK can view as many 3pm matches as their local broadcasters choose to air. In addition to the December 27 and January 3 exemptions, UEFA has published a list of other exemptions for the current season, which includes Saturdays during men's international breaks. For instance, on September 20, four Premier League matches kicked off at 3pm but were not broadcast in the UK due to a request from the Scottish FA to accommodate League Cup ties. While the dates submitted to UEFA are the result of collaboration among various stakeholders, it is noted that the request for these specific dates did not originate directly from the Premier League. In related news, Sky Sports has announced a discounted package for the Premier League and EFL, reducing the price from £43 to £35, offering viewers access to over 1,400 live matches across both leagues. Sky is set to broadcast at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 matches from previous seasons.