Why the Premier League won’t show Saturday 3pm kick-offs over Christmas and how Aston Villa will be affected

The Premier League will not be broadcasting Saturday 3pm kick-offs over the festive period despite having permission to do so.

Aston Villa are scheduled to play away at Chelsea on Saturday 27th December and at home against Nottingham Forest on Saturday 3rd January, with no traditional Boxing Day fixture.

Television picks have only today been confirmed for Boxing Day and beyond and, as expected, there will only be one fixture on that Friday, which has a single 8.00pm Sky Sports broadcast slot.

Manchester United v Newcastle United will be the lone Boxing Day game.

Why can’t Saturday 3pm kick-offs be shown live?

Since the 1960s, live television coverage (and now streaming) of football matches is prohibited between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on Saturdays in the UK.

This is known as the 3pm blackout and it’s designed to protect attendances at lower league and non-league matches in England.

It applies to all football. Broadcasters can’t show overseas games in the UK. Non-league clubs can’t stream their matches live. Nothing.

Why won’t the Premier League show Saturday 3pm kick-offs despite being granted exemption?

The 3pm blackout is a matter of some discussion in the age of illegal streaming and Premier League matches being easier to watch abroad than at home, but the Premier League remains in favour of it for now.

The Athletic reported this week that the blackout, which is overseen by UEFA, had been lifted for the two Saturdays after Christmas – but that the request for an exemption didn’t come from the Premier League.

How will Villa be affected by the Premier League decision?

It was confirmed on Friday that Villa will indeed play on the two Saturdays as previously scheduled but that both matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports outside the 3pm blackout blocked hours.

Villa will play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge at 5.30pm on Saturday 27th December and against Nottingham Forest at Villa Park at 12.30pm on Saturday 3rd January.

Matches against Arsenal (Tuesday 30th December at 8.15pm) and Crystal Palace (Tuesday 7th January at 7.30pm) have also been picked up by Sky Sports.

There will be five Premier League matches at 3pm on the Saturday after Christmas including Brighton & Hove Albion’s visit to Arsenal and Liverpool against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield.

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