Celtic and Scottish football fans have been given clarity with regards to the broadcasting terms for next season’s SPFL campaign.
The SPFL has today announced that all Scottish Premiership clubs will be allowed to broadcast all 228 home matches to season-ticket holders. As was the situation this season, clubs will be able to make “season passes” for supporters through online club channels.
In addition, all games that aren’t live on Sky will still be available to air via the home club’s channels. This will be on a PPV basis, with the main pro being that fans now have certainty that all games next season will be available.
It’s unclear whether clubs will be able to sell games to the away side, however. This Wednesday night sees Celtic travel to Aberdeen with the game not being aired on Sky Sports. Aberdeen’s official club TV channel are instead selling the game for £12.99 to those who don’t hold season tickets.
Speaking about the new agreement for next season, SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster said: “For the past few months, there have been intense, detailed discussions between ourselves, Sky Sports and our clubs to give fans certainty that they will be able to watch their heroes playing live next season, irrespective of when supporters are allowed back into stadia. Today’s announcement is a major boost for everyone involved in the game.
“Sky Sports have been enormously supportive and, in the UK and Ireland, will continue to screen up to 48 live Scottish Premiership matches, as well as the Premiership play-off finals. In addition, the new deal enables Premiership clubs to broadcast on a pay-per-view basis every home SPFL game not selected by Sky Sports.”
Celtic fans given SPFL clarity; club-to-club sales would be a bonus
Hopefully, this is something that puts supporters at ease regarding being able to view their team next season. With nobody knowing when fans are going to get back into stadiums, supporters have the opportunity to fork out for whatever games they would like.
It would be ideal if club-to-club sales were allowed of course. That would allow clubs to potentially buy away fixtures for their season-ticket holders for games that aren’t broadcast on Sky. It would certainly hit that added value box to have some extra free away games in there for STH.
Celtic fans have been left frustrated ahead of Wednesday night. Under the current broadcasting agreement, clubs can’t sell games to rival clubs to air for their own supporters. There’s no clarity on here on whether that’s going to change.
At the very least, we know all games will be available to view. Hopefully not at any major considerable cost of course.
In other news, a Sky Sports pundit is already putting pressure on Dominic McKay.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
