Sports · Football · 2 hrs ago
Scottish Premiership opens door to live coverage of all matches
The SPFL has opened its next TV rights tender to bids for every match in the Scottish Premiership, including Saturday 3pm games.
The new deal is due to begin in the 2029-30 season.
A UK rule based on Uefa's Article 48 currently blocks live football broadcasts from 2:45pm to 5:15pm on Saturdays when enough top-division matches take place at the same time.
The blackout was introduced over concerns that televised games could reduce attendances, but critics say it limits clubs' ability to earn money from streaming.
Showing more matches could bring clubs new broadcast income, including clubs in lower divisions that cannot currently stream games during the blocked hours.
Scotland could be the first UK nation to move towards ending the blackout, but the 12 Premiership clubs must approve a deal, with at least eight votes needed.
Ending the blackout in Scotland would not automatically change the rules in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
The Scottish Professional Football League has invited broadcasters to bid for live rights to all Scottish Premiership matches from the 2029-30 season.
The option could include Saturday 3pm kick-offs, which are currently covered by the UK television blackout.
The SPFL says it is flexible about how many games are included, and a full-coverage deal is not certain.
The 12 Premiership clubs would decide whether to approve a deal, with eight votes needed.
A change in Scotland would not automatically end the blackout for English, Welsh or Northern Irish football.
- Who
- The Scottish Professional Football League is seeking bids from broadcasters; the Premiership's 12 clubs would decide whether to approve a deal.
- What
- Broadcasters may bid for live rights to all Scottish Premiership matches, including Saturday 3pm games.
- When
- The next rights cycle begins in the 2029-30 season.
- Where
- Scotland.
- Why
- The SPFL is seeking offers for its next broadcast cycle. The sources say expanded coverage could offer clubs more broadcast revenue.
Broadcasters seeking expanded live coverage
Clubs that may reject a deal including Saturday 3pm games
Coverage
Broadcasters seeking expanded live coverage
Broadcasters can bid to show all matches, including Saturday 3pm kick-offs.
Clubs that may reject a deal including Saturday 3pm games
Clubs could reject an offer that includes Saturday 3pm games.
Decision
Broadcasters seeking expanded live coverage
The tender permits proposals for live coverage at broadcasters' discretion.
Clubs that may reject a deal including Saturday 3pm games
Approval requires eight votes from the 12 Premiership clubs.
The SPFL issued a tender that allows broadcasters to bid for live rights to all matches.
Reports said the SPFL tender could include Saturday 3pm matches in the next rights cycle.
The next Scottish broadcast cycle is due to begin.
- Next rights cycle
- 2029-30 season
- Scottish Premiership clubs
- 12
- Votes needed to approve a deal
- 8
- Current Saturday blackout
- 2:45pm to 5:15pm
- Current Scottish Premiership live coverage
- Up to 82 matches per season according to The Guardian; up to 60 on Sky Sports and 22 on Premier Sports according to the BBC
3 sources
What people are saying
flexible about the number of games
We’ve got to take that decision at some point in the future about whether things are going to change
It’s not a decision for now.