SPFL announce new broadcast deal for Premiership matches with Sky Sports rival

THE Scottish Premiership will have a brand new broadcasting home in the UK from next season – with more games to be shown than ever before.

That’s after one of Sky Sports‘ rival broadcasters snapped-up the rights to show 20 matches from 2024/25 onwards.

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The SPFL extended the deal with Sky back in 2022, and they will continue to be the competition’s main broadcast partner.

That package, worth £30million per season, will see Sky Sports showing Premiership matches until the end of 2028/29.

Sky have the rights to show up to 60 Premiership matches live per season.

They’ve been the exclusive UK broadcasters of live top flight Scottish football since the 2020/21 campaign.

Prior to that, rights had been shared with BT Sport and before that with ESPN.

But now, Premier Sports are joining the party.

It’s been announced that the broadcaster, which returned to the UK market earlier this year, has signed an eight-figure deal worth more than £10million with Premier Sports.

They will show 20 Premiership matches per season live.

That means that up to EIGHTY Premiership matches could be screened live across Sky and Premier Sports.

That’s the highest number of live matches ever broadcast in a campaign from Scottish football’s top flight.

It should also mean that Edinburgh derby matches will make a regular return to live TV.

The powderkeg clash between Hearts and Hibs has been surprisingly overlooked in recent times and often not chosen for broadcast by Sky.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “This is tremendous news for SPFL clubs and supporters alike and means that up to 80 Premiership matches will be broadcast live next season across Sky Sports and Premier Sports. This will be the highest number of live matches ever broadcast from the Scottish Premiership.

“With Premier Sports already having the rights to the Premier Sports Cup and Scottish Cup, they have cemented their place as a key broadcaster of live Scottish football.

“We are extremely grateful to Premier Sports for their increased investment into the game, which will bring an additional eight-figure sum into Scottish football over the next five years, meaning further record-breaking payments to clubs.”

As mentioned, Premier Sports returned to the UK market earlier this year.

The Irish broadcaster replaced Viaplay Sports in April.

Viaplay itself had previously taken over Premier’s channels and broadcasting rights when it entered the UK market in 2022

But last summer, Viaplay announced its intention to quit the UK and that led to return of Premier Sports.

With the addition of Premiership football, it now means Premier Sports have rights to all three of Scottish football’s major competitions.

They are the exclusive rights holders and title sponsors of the League Cup, while they also show live Scottish Cup football.

Premier Sports founder Michael O’Rourke added: “We are delighted to strengthen our Scottish football offering to fans in what is a hugely exciting time for Scottish football at both club and international level.  

“The addition of the Scottish Premiership means we are showing more Scottish football than ever before and we’re looking forward to broadcasting games and storylines from one of Europe’s most exciting and passionate leagues for the next five years.”

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