The Premier League's Big Six clubs want to change the 3pm broadcast blackout on Saturday afternoons in the next television contract from 2022 to 2025 to enable them to sell a new package of goals and near-live clips to be shown on the internet during matches.
Under Article 48 of the UEFA Statutes even tiny highlights packages such as a goal clip cannot be streamed on the internet in the UK between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on a Saturday, a restriction which limits their value.
The top clubs in particular are convinced that near-live digital rights are significantly undervalued and will push the Premier League to challenge the 3pm window in the hope of enabling them to get a better deal in the next broadcast auction, which will be tailored towards securing greater interest from online giants such as Google, Netflix and Facebook.