Hibs managing director Fife Hyland has spoken out for the need to back supporters in any new television deal.
With a new Sky Sports contract unsigned there is a degree of panic among many SPL clubs who are heavily reliant on television money.
Uncertainty over the future of Rangers is one of the issues holding up a new deal with suggestions that the Sky contract is dependent on four Glasgow derbies a season.
That issue is unlikely to be resolved for some time with no sign of a solution to Rangers financial problems in sight.
There appears to be little inclination on the part of the SPL to impose themselves in the negotiations allowing the television companies to dictate the terms of any deal.
With Premiership football the mainstay of the Sky Sports schedule SPL matches are fitted around the Premiership card leaving many supporters frustrated by 12 noon and 12.30 kick-off times.
Neil Lennon went on record to voice his unhappiness that Celtic had to play at Pittodrie with a 12 noon kick off time for ESPN less than three days after international commitments.
There appears to be no consideration for supporters when the television card is scheduled with Hyland hoping that the clubs can take a tougher stance for the sake of fans who pay up for season tickets or on a week by week basis.
“We want a good, solid TV deal, but we also need to balance that with a recognition of supporters’ interests,” he told The Scotsman. “At the moment, there is too big an imbalance in favour of the broadcasters.
“In particular, we need to have a clearer picture of when kick-off times are going to be.
“I’m not saying that every game should be on Saturday at three o’clock, but it would be beneficial if supporters knew that games were going to be in one of just a few slots.
“There must be a way of us working with the broadcasters to get better kick-off times.
“Football is a habitual business. People are used to turning up at certain times and days, and if that is changed around too much it affects attendances. So we need a consistent pattern of kick-offs – 3pm Saturday, 5pm Saturday and 12.30pm Sunday or whatever, as long as people know beforehand.”
The current Rugby League deal with Sky is for a similar sum as the SPL and shows live matches early evening on a Friday.
A similar deal for SPL matches would provide some sort of pattern for fans to work around.
Hibs’ turn-style income is believed to be worth around four times the money that they receive from broadcasting with Hyland wanting that balance reflected in a new television deal.
Without it the rows of shiny empty seats often viewed at televised matches is bound to continue as the inconvenience puts off more and more fans from going to matches.
Hyland added: “We know TV is important to Scottish football but it’s not the be all and end all.
“The be all and end all is our supporters. Without supporters the game is nothing, and we need to attract as many back to the game as possible. There are good revenues from TV, but supporters have to be sure of what we’re offering, and we need more people coming through the gate. We’re fed up of getting dislocated so much.”
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