The Scottish Premiership has invited bids to televise all of its matches in its next rights cycle, which starts in 2029, according to The Guardian. The newspaper reported that the league has made "the first move" in what is expected to be a coordinated attempt by the UK's domestic leagues to remove the Saturday afternoon broadcast blackout.
The Guardian reported that the UK's domestic leagues are expected to launch a coordinated move to remove the blackout. The report was written by Matt Hughes.
BBC News reported that Scottish football has taken "first tentative steps" to end the 3pm television blackout in the UK as it seeks offers for the next broadcast cycle. The BBC framed the Scottish step as tentative, while The Guardian framed it as the first move in a wider effort.
According to The Guardian and BBC News, the bids concern future broadcast rights, but the two reports describe the timing differently. The Guardian dated the rights cycle to 2029, while BBC News referred to the next broadcast cycle without giving a year. Neither summary names a bidder or a broadcaster.
The sources agree that the Scottish move is a step toward ending the 3pm blackout, but they differ on the wider picture. The Guardian said the UK's domestic leagues are expected to act together, while the BBC summary refers only to Scottish football.
Neither report, based on the material reviewed for this story, gives a date for when any bids will be decided. The Guardian report was published on October 29, 2026, and BBC News listed no author.
Sources: The Guardian: Scottish Premiership makes first UK move to remove Saturday 3pm broadcast blackout; BBC News: Scottish football could pave way for 3pm TV blackout to end.