Sunderland news: Kieran Maguire tells EFL to end 60-year-old ban amid ‘economic stress’
It would make economic sense for clubs like Sunderland to abandon the 3pm blackout in League One and below.
So says finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about plans to scrap the embargo on televised football on Saturday.
It has been illegal to broadcast live football between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on Saturday in the United Kingdom since the 1960s.
But the Daily Mail reported on Monday (18 April) that talks are ongoing over plans to scrap the blackout for third-tier clubs and below.
Many clubs are sympathetic to the plans as they feel they could earn more revenue through live streaming and watchalong events.
Sunderland, who are 4th in the league table with two games to go, are hoping to climb out of League One this season.
And Maguire claims that the Black Cats and their fans could benefit from plans to scrap the blackout.
“You can see it from the clubs’ point of view,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“There is a sustainability and environmental angle as well. You don’t have fans travelling the length of the country this way.
“Fuel and transport costs are also going up at an incredibly fast rate at a time of economic stress. This is a way around that.
“One of the successes during lockdown was the iFollow system. And ultimately, the fans that like to go to away games will still go to away games.“
Sunderland earned £17million in media income in 2020-21.
Alex Neil’s side face Rotherham and Morecambe in their final two games of the regulation League One season.
In other news, Sunderland legend issues ‘big’ Alex Pritchard verdict after potentially ‘crazy’ injury development.