sport news AHEAD OF THE GAME: Sky Sports are against the EFL's plans to end the 3pm ... trends now AHEAD OF THE GAME: Sky Sports are against the EFL's plans to end the 3pm blackout... as the TV giants are concerned multiple channels could buy the rights to show live matches The EFL are set to scrap the 3pm Saturday blackout in 2024 Sky Sports are not happy with this decision as they are concerned other channels will buy the rights to live matches They fear streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon could try to show games By Matt Hughes For The Daily Mail Published: 22:43 BST, 14 October 2022 | Updated: 22:43 BST, 14 October 2022 Viewcomments The EFL’s existing TV partners Sky Sports are opposed to lifting the 3pm Saturday blackout, which could lead to multiple channels buying the rights to show live matches from the 2024-25 season. The EFL are making all of their 1,656 matches available in a new strategy pitched to broadcasters this week, and are willing to televise Saturday afternoon kick-offs for the first time. Sky Sports’ opposition to dumping the broadcast blackout, which has been in place since the 1960s, stems from their close alignment with the Premier League. The top flight have no wish to see 3pm kick-offs on TV as their broadcast model is based on having multiple must-see matches at different times across the weekend. They also believe only televising around half of the games makes their rights more valuable. The EFL, headed by chairman Rick Parry (above), are preparing to scrap the 3pm blackout Sky Sports take a similar view and are also conscious of the value of their flagship weekend results programme Soccer Saturday, which attracts higher viewing figures than most live Championship matches. Sky’s position makes it more likely the EFL will sell their rights on a non-exclusive basis, which would fit with their attempts to partner with streaming giants such as Amazon and Netflix. ANGER AT BAGGIES SECRETS West Bromwich shareholders are angry at the secrecy surrounding the club after being denied information about why those in charge have set up a new holding company, the Jersey-based Fairway Trust. After numerous requests for information one shareholder contacted Fairway Trust managing director Mark Andrews, who told him the club had instructed them not to take calls from shareholders or fans. Around 12 per cent of West Brom is still owned by 430 small shareholders, who have been left enraged by the financial mismanagement of owner Guochuan Lai, who has taken a £5m loan from the club and missed the repayment date. Shareholders have been left enraged by the financial mismanagement of owner Guochuan Lai FOREST COMMUNICATION CRISIS Nottingham Forest’s problems are escalating after they sacked transfer lieutenants George Syrianos and Andy Scott this week. Now the troubles appear to have spread to the club’s off-field departments. Forest have been operating without a head of communications all season following a turbulent summer, which saw the long-serving Matt Appleby leave the day after they were promoted to the Premier League and his replacement Tom Rawlings depart after just six weeks. Now there has been a setback in Forest’s attempts to make a permanent appointment. They thought they had secured the services of Joe Questier from Liverpool, but it is understood he has had a change of heart and opted to stay at Anfield. Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has sacked a number of people behind the scenes at the City Ground FLAK FLYING AT FA'S PUBLISHER Global publishing company Haymarket Media are in the firing line for the embarrassing gaffe of former player Lianne Sanderson’s name being spelt incorrectly in the programme for England’s win over the USA last Friday. The error compounded the fact that she did not receive an invitation to attend the sell-out game at Wembley — although the FA insist an invite was sent out. Haymarket have the contract to produce all Wembley programmes on behalf of the FA, so were responsible for the error, although FA staff concede that the match-day magazine should have been checked more thoroughly before being sent to press. HUNT ON FOR JOHN'S SUCCESSOR The FA are set to advertise for a new head of diversity following the departure of Edleen John last summer. John resigned in July following Sportsmail’s revelation that the FA board member was the subject of a bullying investigation after being accused of misconduct towards several colleagues. John’s responsibilities have been split between the FA’s international and human resources departments in the interim, but chief executive Mark Bullingham will demonstrate the governing body’s commitment to promoting diversity by recruiting a permanent replacement. The FA are looking for Edleen John's successor after she left her role as head of diversity last year Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility