Fleetwood Town’s League Two clash with Chesterfield at 3pm on Saturday will be broadcast live on TV, part of a rare exception to the EFL’s traditional '3pm blackout' rule. The match is one of 25 across the Championship, League One, and League Two being shown live due to a loophole in UEFA’s Article 48, which usually blocks domestic TV coverage of matches between 14:45 and 17:15 BST.
Why is the 3pm blackout lifted this weekend?
The '3pm blackout' is enforced when 50% of matches in England’s top two divisions kick off simultaneously. With the Premier League not in action this weekend and only six Championship games at 3pm, the rule doesn’t apply. This allows all 25 EFL matches, including Fleetwood Town’s fixture, to be shown live on Sky Sports.
What does this mean for Fleetwood Town fans?
For the first time this season, Fleetwood Town supporters can watch their team’s match against Chesterfield live on TV. The game is part of a full slate of League Two fixtures being broadcast, giving fans a rare opportunity to see their side in action at the traditional Saturday kickoff time.
When will the 3pm blackout return?
The blackout will resume when the Premier League returns on the weekend of 22-23 August. Until then, EFL matches at 3pm will continue to be shown live. Fleetwood Town’s next fixture is away to Tranmere on 27 February 2027, with the team currently 11th in the League Two table.
