Celtic and Aberdeen are neck and neck in the Scottish Premiership standings after their late victories at the weekend, setting the scene for an enthralling encounter later this month.
The Bhoys left it late to see off Ross County in Dingwall after Nicolas Kuhn stepped up with a winner three minutes from time to retain their place at the league summit on goal difference.
However, Aberdeen saw off Hearts in the afternoon kick-off to ensure they arrive in Glasgow on October 19th with a chance to go top, a testament to the work Jimmy Thelin has carried out since arriving at Pittodrie.
All in all, there is a fresh wind of excitement in the Scottish Premiership as Celtic take on a side that has emerged as a force that could go on to achieve quantifiable success this term.
Both clubs are in fine form, but the latest round of television selections involving the Hoops determined that their battle won’t be broadcast live by Sky Sports or Premier Sports from Celtic Park.
Celtic’s upcoming clash against Aberdeen is a hot topic
Taking general sentiment from Scottish footballing circles, it is clear to see there is a range of emotions prevalent regarding whether Celtic’s clash against Aberdeen should be televised.
First and foremost, match-goers from both sides will want to be heard. Many Hoops supporters will have already made travel arrangements for the clash from all corners of Scotland, south of the border and those coming across from Ireland to take in the action.
Furthermore, Aberdeen fans are bound to travel down from the North East in large numbers to back their side. With the fixture so close, it is unclear how things could change.
Either way, the paying public in attendance should be the primary focus group. In an evolving football landscape where TV is becoming a more powerful tool than ever, the loyal core who create the spectacle are sometimes cast aside.
Celtic have had one 3 pm Saturday kick-off this season and aren’t scheduled to play another game in a traditional slot bar Aberdeen until Ross County travel to Glasgow on November 30th. That is lower than everyone else in the league, lending credence the point.
Nevertheless, there is always room for debate on how the Scottish Premiership can expand in terms of audience and footballing quality. In what is a bit of a double-edged sword, could the solution form part of a bigger step that needs to be taken in opening up the product on display?
Celtic and the wider implications of the 3 pm blackout
Ultimately, Celtic are one of the most-watched clubs in the United Kingdom, and their influence also extends worldwide to supporters from every corner of the world.
In this instance, the argument will continue concerning areas where the 3 pm blackout is in operation. Bluntly speaking, there may be room for conversations around whether the absence of football covered kick-for-kick on television regarding this timeslot is still necessary in some cases, albeit the rule is there for noble reasons.
Grassroots clubs don’t want to suffer detrimental losses regarding people through the gates because some locals would rather tune into the latest Premier League or Scottish Premiership coverage.
Despite this, some use other means to fulfil that prophecy, whether they should or not. Pay-per-view options are often a good solution, but they can sometimes be restricted by policy depending on the club, league or certain broadcasting regulations.
There is a happy medium to be found between satisfying match-going Celtic supporters and fans of other clubs while maximising the Scottish game’s appeal to a TV audience. On the face of it, there will always be differing opinions over how to find that balance.
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