IT IS ONE of the most anticipated matches in the football calendar — even more so with Luis Suarez expected to make his Barcelona debut.
But Sky Sports are not allowed to show the first 15 minutes of el Clásico tomorrow because of a broadcasting rule that dates back to the 1960s.
UK channels are subject to a “blackout” which prohibits them from showing any live football between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on a Saturday.
As Real Madrid and Barcelona’s first clash of the season kicks off at 6pm local time (5pm UK), it falls foul of the archaic rule.
So while Sky’s coverage begins at 5pm, the broadcasting giant will not be able to join live action from the Bernabeu until 5.15pm.
The Premier League said: “Matches are not televised in the UK on a Saturday between 15:00-17:00, primarily to protect match attendances and atmosphere at all levels of the game.”
Of course, in this day and age there are plenty of ways for you to circumvent the blackout and watch the first 15 minutes… not that we’d be encouraging you to do that sort of thing.
If Sky Sports cared about their Irish customers, the first 15 minutes would be broadcast in Ireland.
Great comment!
Just show delayed footage at 5:15. Then when the second half kicks off you’d be back up to live coverage.. The studio guests on Spanish Football are muck anyway
But Sky don’t care about you. England is where they care the most.
@Eel Knack Mole: Like you lot aren’t popping over to England for EPL ganes!
Should change it to just domestic matches if it’s to protect crowd attendance
I don’t think it’s quite as straightforward as that but the 17:15 part bothers me greatly, if the rule ceased at 5 pm it would be good enough.
The reason the domestic only rule wouldn’t work is that they fear that if this game were on at 3pm that the crowds that might otherwise have attended games would be sitting at home or in the pub to watch this instead.
Why can’t they just start showing it at 5.01, then technically it’s not live
as long as first row sports can show it
Mobdro
No the quality can be quite crap. Download ace stream and use wizwig to find a good stream. Near HD quality if you have a fibre connection
Rules are made to be broken.
Is that a rule?
I like that Frank.
Just watch online
Normally takes 15 minutes to clear the JavaScript pop-ups!!!
Ad blocker
Loadamebollocks.Worse than itv
Do BT Sport not have to comply with this ruling? I May be completely wrong, but don’t they show games around this time on a Saturday?!
That’s correct. BT and setanta often show the 3pm game on a Saturday.
No, only Setanta do and it’s only available in Ireland
Wasn’t aware of that. Good to know!
Yeah because Sky Sport’s showing the game from the start would have any affect on the attendance of a Spanish football match sold out months ago.
Does anyone else fancy explaining it to him?
no point anthony. he simply doesn’t get it
There are no restrictions in the US thank goodness..that is an ass-inine rule.Can you imagine joining the match with one of the teams up by two or three….game over.Folks in Ireland who pay for this service should be up in arms.
Apart from the blackout rules for the NFL that prevent a game being televised locally if the game hasn’t sold out…
I will never have that problem with the Giants.
@Sean Mcphillips: Yes and we get to watch PGA golf live,while you have to wait for a basketball match to finish.
watching football is one of the few things that gets me through the week. real sense of anticipation for barca vs madrid then united vs chelsea on super sunday. looking forward to Saracens against Munster tonight too
Is this only for league games? The FA Cup Final was shown live for years with a 15:00 kickoff on a Saturday. If the rule can be flouted for that game, surely authorities can do the same for a game shown in another country?
Archaic rule….next up there’ll be a call to prayer on tv………….
Gave you a thumbs up but I don’t get the connection.
Dont RTE have that gong, sorry going already …
Find a bein sports stream online…they have Keys and Grey too.
Don’t watch football, if I wanted to watch someone try to score for 90 mins I would bring my friends to the pub on a Saturday night
Good one Joan
Cool story Joan you misery
You could quite possibly miss 3 or 4 goals in that 15 minutes!
Irish people complaining about British channels showing Spanish games. Bejaysus
Irish customers of said British channel you mean. Or perhaps you like to sit back and be taken for a mug.
” Of course, in this day and age there are plenty of ways for you to circumvent the blackout and watch the first 15 minutes… not that we’d be encouraging you to do that sort of thing.”…..Sly wont be happy with the str@@ming stealing their thunder!
Setanta show games from the premiership every weekend at 3pm whats the difference? ??
Only in Ireland they cannot show 3pm sat matches Ukky Kingdom
I am impressed by u saying UKky Kingdom. How long does the deal last until?