SPFL to ‘invite’ TV rights bids from Sky rivals IF broadcasting giant rejects extra bundles

SPFL chiefs will aim to entice other broadcasters if Sky don’t take up their first refusal on extra match packages accompoanying Scottish football’s new TV deal.

An agreement for Sky to take up a new. five-year £150m contract is understood to be near, which will see them earn rights to show 60 games per season, up from the current agreement of 48. But it remains unclear if Sky will exercise their first refusal to land added two 10 game bundle packages, at a cost of £4 million each. And if the broadcasting behemoth says no, the Daily Mail report the governing body will seek discussions with the likes of Viaplay, BT Discovery and BBC Scotland. Premier Sports likely remain keen and currently air both the League and Scottish Cup.

Swedish-based Viaplay have already made their intentions known by securing exclusive coverage of the Scotland men’s national team from between 2024-2028. BT Sport would likely prove a popular choice if they made a move for the Premiership packages. The broadcaster received universal acclaim for the live coverage of the SPFL before losing their rights at the end of the 2019-20 season.

And BBC currently show several highlight shows but haven’t broadcast live league matches in almost 20 years since they secured an exclusive two-year deal for the 2002/03 and 2003/04 seasons.

Any successful bidder will be be able to broadcast the fixtures outwith the long-standing UK Saturday blackout window between 2.45pm and 5.15pm. Daily Record