{"id":301353,"date":"2023-12-04T00:24:44","date_gmt":"2023-12-04T00:24:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=301353"},"modified":"2023-12-04T00:24:44","modified_gmt":"2023-12-04T00:24:44","slug":"government-back-call-for-wsl-games-to-be-exempt-from-saturday-blackout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/soccer\/government-back-call-for-wsl-games-to-be-exempt-from-saturday-blackout\/","title":{"rendered":"Government back call for\u00a0WSL games to be exempt from Saturday blackout"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Government has suggested women\u2019s football should be given an exemption from the 3pm TV blackout in order to significantly increase broadcast and commercial revenue.<\/p>\n
A Government-led review, chaired by former England footballer Karen Carney, was published in July and made 10 recommendations – one of which was carving out a dedicated broadcast slot for the women\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
The majority of Women\u2019s Super League matches are broadcast at either 11.30am on a Saturday or 6.45pm on a Sunday, which the review claimed has not worked in maximising both viewing figures and fan attendance at matches.<\/p>\n
An exemption from Article 48 of UEFA\u2019s statutes, which allows the FA to implement a live football blackout between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on Saturdays, was listed as a possible option in Carney\u2019s review.<\/p>\n
This would require support from the Premier League and the EFL. The Government noted that there would be a \u2018legitimate question\u2019 about recompensing the women\u2019s game should an exemption not be granted.<\/p>\n
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The majority of Women\u2019s Super League matches are broadcast at either 11.30am on a Saturday or 6.45pm on a Sunday<\/p>\n
Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n
\u2018It is the Government\u2019s view that revoking Article 48 for women\u2019s football alone is one viable option to support the women\u2019s game, and significantly increase its broadcast and commercial revenue,\u2019 the response said.<\/p>\n
\u2018We recognise that there are challenges to this with the men\u2019s game, but it does not feel credible to hold the women\u2019s game back on this basis when it would generate significant revenue for a game that has lagged behind commercially.<\/p>\n
\u2018If there is reluctance to revoke Article 48, or find a suitable and credible alternative slot, there is a legitimate question about recompensing the women\u2019s game for this missed opportunity for revenue.<\/p>\n
\u2018We encourage the FA, Premier League, English Football League and broadcasters to convene at pace to begin discussions about a bespoke broadcast slot, Article 48, and financial flows, and request an update at the first meeting of the implementation group in March 2024.\u2019<\/p>\n
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