Celtic pull out of SPFL broadcasting deal as Aberdeen match blackout is explained
Celtic has chosen to withdraw from the agreement that Premier Sports and the SPFL had.
With the rights to broadcast five Celtic home games a season—including the opening Glasgow Derby and match against Kilmarnock—Sky Sports is the primary SPFL broadcaster.In addition to the March Glasgow Derby, that leaves them with two more decisions to make. The October 19 visit from Aberdeen appears to be as good as it gets in terms of home games.
Premier Sports’ decision to step in was unexpected given that Sky had declined to take up the option for the Dons game.
In the upcoming months, Premier will also feature games from Tannadice and Pittodrie. On Sunday, St Johnstone will visit Ibrox.
The well-connected Stephen McGowan of the Daily Mail recounts in detail why the Celtic vs. Aberdeen match isn’t being aired.
CELTIC have reportedly OPTED OUT of the SPFL’s contract that awarded Premiership broadcasting rights to Scottish Premiership matches.
It also implies that Parkhead’s home league games won’t be televised on the channel this year.The primary broadcaster of the Scottish Premiership continues to be Sky Sports. Beginning this season, Sky will be able to broadcast up to 60 Premiership matches, instead of the 48 that were previously outlined in their prior agreement.
The news that Premier Sports had joined the Premiership party was then made public in June.The Premier Sports Cup and the Scottish Cup are already carried by the Irish broadcaster, and they recently inked an agreement with the SPFL to air 20 Premiership matches starting this season.
The Irish broadcaster received the right to air a maximum of two extra games from each Premiership stadium as part of a deal to offer Premier a supplemental package. heightened expectations for the live broadcasting of additional SPFL major fixtures.
Celtic was hesitant to cause disruption to season ticket holders and home fans who travelled from other locations by moving more 3pm Saturday kick-offs. They were offered £75,000 for each extra home game, with a maximum sum of £150,000 for two. Refusing to comment last night was the club.
Sky retained the first option to purchase two additional bundles of 10 SPFL games at a cost of £4 million each, as per their agreement, which ran until 2029.
Sky found themselves exposed to the market when they chose not to accept the offer. Eleven of the twelve teams decided to accept the money even though the Premier agreement is far less than what Sky and the league had agreed upon. League insiders said this was because to the clubs’ intention to increase viewership and broadcast more live games this season, including the Edinburgh and Dundee derbies.
Neil Doncaster stated when he announced the Premier Sports deal at the beginning of June:
We are really appreciative of Premier Sports’ enhanced commitment to the sport, which will deliver an extra eight-figure sum to Scottish football over the next five years, resulting in more club payments that will exceed records.
This minimum amount, which comes to £2 million annually, is divided among 11 clubs, or £181,818 per club per season.
The SPFL’s ability to strike agreements that give specific clubs opt-outs looks strange. UEFA wouldn’t arrange television agreements that allow Real Madrid to choose not to participate; an EPL package that excluded Manchester City home games would sound odd.
Premier Sports can air Celtic away games, starting at 5.45 p.m. on Saturday with last month’s 6-0 victory away to St Johnstone.
