A report in Football Scotland has claimed that one club refused to co-operate with Sky Sports which resulted in the limited coverage of the post-split Premiership fixtures.
At present Sky Sports can broadcast a maximum of four home matches for any individual club with an update in mid-season allowing clubs to sell four matches per season on PPV within the UK.
With two home Glasgow Derbies shown and the opening day win over Aberdeen the current contract only allowed for one more Celtic home match to be shown. In mid-season a contract extension was agreed that allowed clubs to immediately show matches on PPV.
The new contract from next season will allow Sky Sports to show five home matches per club but one club refused to be flexible in order to showcase the Scottish game over the five remaining rounds of fixtures.
After an extended weekend of negotiations the post-split fixtures were announced late on Tuesday morning- with no flexibility from one club Sky have a very thin schedule that ignores the relegation battle and the race for third place and guaranteed European group football next season.
Sky Sports did attempt to screen different Premiership matches after the split but were scuppered by an unnamed club wanting to show PPV on their own channel, we can reveal.
The post-split fixtures, and subsequently which ones would be screened on TV, were released on Tuesday and the broadcaster copped flak for picking exclusively matches involving Celtic and Rangers despite the title race being all but over rendering most of them essentially dead rubbers.
With still much to play for in the battle for third between Aberdeen, Hearts, St Mirren and Hibs and at the other end of the table as Ross County, Dundee United, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone battle against relegation, some potential crunch fixtures have been left off Sky’s schedule. That’s led to stinging criticism with fans alleging the TV deal is not fit for purpose due to the broadcaster seemingly ignoring these clubs.
However, sources have told Football Scotland that Sky did want to screen further matches, but one club that was approached preferred to show a match on their own channel via PPV rather than allow TV crews in for a fifth time this campaign. Sky are only allowed to broadcast from each ground four times currently but that will rise to five from 2024/25.
It’s also understood that the SPFL were asked if fixtures could be moved around on the first weekend of the split to allow for a different match to be on TV but this was deemed not possible. Sky has the option to show 48 games a season but this is not an obligation.
The Jambos host the Dons at Tynecastle in a clash that could be pivotal in the quest for European group stage football but Rangers’ visit to Hibs is the telly game that weekend. While there is an Edinburgh derby on the final matchday which misses out in favour of Celtic taking on Aberdeen. Football Scotland understands neither Tynecastle match will be shown on PPV either so cannot be the fixtures Sky were frustrated in their attempts over.
It appears that without the goodwill of the clubs Sky has decided to show the bare minimum of the remaining fixtures. Celtic’s Presentation Day against Aberdeen will be live on telly but the likelihood of a relegation or play-off shoot out the following day will be ignored.
Three of Celtic’s five post-split fixtures will be shown on Sky Sports, the home match with St Mirren and final away match at Hibs won’t be screened.
Looks like st mirren are the club one vote scrubbers all 3,000supporters at best dosent surprise me such small club ruling the roost
Probably, and then have the cheek to say they have no money to buy new players.
Do we know who that club is?
It’s a choice between two, the original club or the tribute act !!!!!
HH