The SPFL and Sky Sports have announced an agreement for the 2021/22 season which constitutes a “major boost” for all Premiership clubs, including Rangers, according to SPFL chief Neil Doncaster [SPFL.co.uk].
Sky Sports have committed to showing 48 Premiership matches next season as well as the Premiership play-off finals.
Crucially for clubs, though, following ‘intense discussions’, it has been confirmed that they will still be able to sell ‘season passes’ for their home matches, through official club channels, while they will also be able to make home matches not selected by Sky Sports available on a Pay Per View basis.
The agreement means supporters now know that they will be able to watch their team next season, even if they are not physically allowed back in stadia for some or all of the campaign.
“Today’s [Monday] announcement is a major boost for everyone involved in the game,” said Doncaster [SPFL.co.uk]. “Obviously, we are all desperate to get supporters back into grounds on a safe and sustainable basis and are making good progress in our discussions with the Scottish Government, especially given the pace of the vaccine roll-out.”
“In a normal season, almost five million fans attend SPFL games, the highest per-capita attendance in Europe, and the current broadcast deals have been an absolute lifeline for clubs and supporters alike as they battle the enormous financial pressures caused by Covid-19. The television viewer numbers for Scottish football this season have been magnificent and this was one of the key reasons behind our agreement with Sky Sports to extend our current arrangements.”
Sky Sports outbid the likes of BT Sport ahead of the current campaign to win exclusive rights for the Premiership.
Supporters have often bemoaned the fact that Scottish football executives have been unable to broker TV deals that resemble the scale of those achieved by the Premier League and other leagues across Europe.
However, the current arrangements have still brought in key revenue for clubs during uncertain times and the flexibility that has been shown again here by Sky Sports should allow Rangers and the rest of the Premiership clubs to maximise opportunities next season.
In other news, an EFL manager has addressed transfer speculation around his Rangers-linked player.
