EFL clubs have been urged to “be brave” and scrap their 3pm TV streaming blackout for good.
Bolton chief exec Neil Hart has insisted showing EFL games on a Saturday afternoon is a huge opportunity, and would not reduce attendances. The EFL leagues are set to take centre stage domestically during the World Cup.
Fans who can’t get to a match can stream their team’s game on a Saturday afternoon with the rule that protects the 3pm slot not applying during the tournament.
The Sky Bet Championship resumes alongside the Leagues One and Two after the World Cup group stages, meaning fans will be able to attend over 121 EFL league matches up to Dec 17 while the Premier League is on a break.
League One and Two continue, and Hart, whose Bolton outfit are fifth in the third tier said: “I am pro the 3pm blackout being scrapped. Hopefully we will get some good data around it in the next few weeks, asking if streaming has an impact on our home attendances.
“I think football should be brave and positive and say we believe in the live product, and they will still want to come, and there is an audience who want to watch at home.
“How soon could that happen? It is for the EFL, it would take time to push through but I don’t see why not in the next season or two. There has to be cooperation and discussion and agree a favourable position for all 72 clubs.
“I think generally there is a pro-streaming view to drop Article 48, and to discuss the funding mechanism of who gets what, when. There is support if the conditions are right.”
In total 93 League One and Two games can be streamed on iFollow or club services, 18 Championship games and All Papa Johns Trophy matches are available during the World Cup.
Bolton are one of a number of big clubs wanting to open up the system. Hart added: “Bolton did over half a million pounds through streaming in new revenue. We are delighted that during the World Cup the 3pm blackout is not in place. We are interested to see how that experiment goes.
“Recently we played Fleetwood away. We had an allocation of 1,100 tickets which sold in 11 minutes. So clearly there is a huge demand to access that game via IFollow.
“The product is exciting. Competitive games, good players and great games. Even in League One Ipswich, Bolton, Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth, huge clubs. We have thousands at games, and millions around the world wanting to stream.”
EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch said: “While the winter World Cup has brought challenges for domestic leagues, for the EFL it also brings this opportunity to test how the streaming of live matches during traditionally blocked hours is received by fans that wish to watch their team, wherever they may be.”
