Leading commentator causes a stir by calling out SPFL telly deal

Rory Hamilton caused a stir on Twitter last night when he criticised the way that SPFL football is showcased through live matches. 

He didn’t name Sky Sports but he didn’t have to with virtually no-one jumping to the defence of the broadcaster in the second year of their exclusive SPFL deal. 

Until the start of last season Hamilton would be on the microphone for BT Sport but when it came to bidding for rights Sky Sports put together a more appealing package to the SPFL. 

BT Sport had won the hearts and minds of most fans and viewers with their imaginative approach to the Scottish game, showing a genuine interest rather than just hitching up at a ground, splash some make-up on Boydy and Faddy to provide some dull, predictable content around matches. It is fair to say that Keane, Carragher and Neville have little to worry about from north of the border. 

The SPFL needs to have a serious think about how they want to promote our game. 40-odd live games is nowhere near enough.
Today had massive games with huge consequences and dramatic conclusions – a great day to showcase Scottish football.

— Rory Hamilton (@HamiltonRory) April 9, 2022

Sky Sports has a contract to show 48 live matches per season but going into the split they have only shown 35 fixtures. Yesterday with top six places up for grabs there was no interest in showing the Dundee or Edinburgh derbies. 

Sky will obviously be all over the remaining Glasgow derby, at least four of Celtic’s last five matches are likely to be shown live but it isn’t just Hamilton that feels that the Scottish game has been sold short by the SPFL and their broadcast partners.  

SPFL badly under sell our product, rather than accepting the ‘best bid’ they should be ensuring that whoever wants our product will give it the upmost exposure, they settled for what was on offer out of fear & desperation. Changes at the top needed!

— ???? (@Matthew210387) April 9, 2022

2 good derby’s on today @HamiltonRory and none of 2 shown live ok dundee one was delayed on Alba at 6pm but should have been live same with Edinburgh derby i paid a ppv price of £12.99 to watch celtic 7-0 do i mind paying no it lets me see it live

— AndyMo049 (@AndyMo049) April 9, 2022

I can watch/stream each and every game in Sweden from Allsvenskan (1st tier) and Superettan (2nd tier) in Sweden with the same subscription.

I’ve had discussions with Scots about why this would discourage people from going to games, but it’s not hurt us for a second

— Jonas MacArthur (@liksomfail) April 9, 2022

The SPFL would take a deal that involved 4 games a season being shown live (you can guess which ones…) rather than a deal which involved 60 live games a season but which brought in £1 less TV income.

— Neil Roberts ??????? ?? (@ferryhiller) April 10, 2022