The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) is nearing an extension of its Sky Sports deal until 2029, according to reports.
This would allow the broadcaster to show 60 Premiership matches per season for a payment of £29.5m, as the current deal allows a maximum of 48 games and is due to come to an end in 2025.
Sky has previously shown notably less than 48 live matches over the past two seasons, but the new contract would see the firm show a minimum of 42.
The Guardian disclosed that from the 2024-25 season, the 60-match limit sees a £27.6m payment which is said to increase by almost £2m for the next four seasons.
Managing Director of SPFL’s Rangers, Stewart Robertson, spoke on the League’s news. He said: “We need to be marketing Scottish football in a much better way than we do. Look at the product we’ve got at the moment. Look at where our coefficient is in Europe, we’re playing quality teams.
“But when you look at the value… take the Old Firm game for example. There’s four a season. We know Sky are paying £7.5million per game for the Premiership package. The Old Firm games are at the same level as some of the top (English Premier League) games. It’s recognised as being one of the world’s top derbies.
“If you take four Old Firm games alone that’s the equivalent of £30million of value based on the Premier League payment terms. But the SPFL as a league is only getting £25million for 48 league games? How can we say we’ve sold that well?”
Furthermore, as part of the proposed partnership extension clubs would also be able to sell five pay-per-view matches a season, provided they do not fall within the broadcasting blackout of 2:45pm and 5:15pm and have not been selected for live Sky coverage.
The pair originally agreed a five-year deal in 2018, which was worth £150m when Sky became the exclusive home of the Scottish Premiership, as the broadcaster continued to strengthen its domestic football offering.
