KSI defies football's 3pm blackout with historic YouTube live-stream
YouTuber KSI will live-stream a National League match on his channel for the first time ever. The game, featuring his club Dagenham & Redbridge against Hampton & Richmond, takes place on March 28, 2025. The move challenges the long-standing 3pm blackout rule in English football.
The decision has drawn support from fellow Baller League manager Angry Ginge, who called the blackout 'rubbish'. The 3pm blackout rule was introduced in the 1960s to protect attendance at lower-league matches. It blocks live broadcasts of football in the UK between 2:45pm and 5:15pm on Saturdays. The regulation aims to push fans towards stadiums rather than TV screens.
KSI became part of Dagenham & Redbridge's ownership team earlier this month. His YouTube stream of the National League South fixture marks a new crossover between football and online media. Phil Anderson, CEO of the National League, has welcomed the live-streaming plan.
Both KSI and Angry Ginge are involved in the Baller League, a competition blending football with social media. The FA and Premier League have not yet issued any official response to the upcoming broadcast. The blackout rule itself is set for another review in 2029. The match will air on YouTube despite the existing blackout restrictions. It remains unclear whether the FA or Premier League will intervene before the scheduled kick-off. The event could set a precedent for future live-streaming of lower-league football.
