Emma Dodds is the latest BT Sport figure to take aim at SPFL chief Neil Doncaster on Twitter following stinging criticism from Darrell Currie.
BT Sport have split the broadcasting rights for the Scottish Premiership with Sky Sports for several years, with each company showing 30 matches across the regular season.
That’s soon set to change, though, with Sky Sports outbidding their rivals to secure exclusive rights from 2020/21 [BBC Sport].
Doncaster has recently spoken of his excitement at the prospect of a switchover, whilst also seemingly taking a dig split coverage.
“Sky say they are focusing on working with us to promote the Scottish game hand-in-hand as a good partner should,” he said, as quoted by the Daily Record. “So let’s keep an open mind. I think we will see the Scottish game given the profile and coverage it deserves next year by Sky Sports.”
“Since then [2009] rights have been shared so it’s perhaps no surprise the broadcasters haven’t given it the love they show other leagues.”
That prompted a furious response from Darrell Currie, on Twitter, with the BT Sport presenter branding the comments ‘totally disrespectful’ and ‘absolutely pathetic’.
He’s since been backed up by reporter, Emma Dodds, who says she ‘couldn’t disagree more’ with the ‘disrespectful’ comments.
Verdict
It does seem like Doncaster has taken a bizarre and unnecessary dig at the BT Sport coverage that many fans have praised over the past few seasons.
In contrast, Sky Sports have been criticised for a lax attitude when it comes to Scottish work, with match coverage rarely featuring extended build-up or post-match analysis.
The end of BT Sport’s coverage will also see a reduction in screen time for former Rangers players Ally McCoist, Alex Rae and Kevin Thomson, who all currently appear regularly.
The switch to a single broadcaster may make watching matches less costly, but only time will tell as to whether or not Sky Sports up their game sufficiently in the eyes of the fans.
