BT Sport targets exclusive SPFL rights

UK pay-television broadcaster BT Sport is reported to be preparing a record bid to acquire exclusive rights to the Scottish Professional Football League.

BT Sport and rival pay-television broadcaster Sky currently pay approximately £21m (€24.2m/$25.9m) per year to share 60 SPFL live games. BT Sport also holds exclusive rights to the Scottish League Cup knockout competition.

The Scottish Daily Mail newspaper reported that BT Sport is keen to take to rights to games involving top teams Celtic and Rangers, as well as 60 live top-tier Premiership games per season.

The newspaper added that BT Sport could offer more than the record £31m paid by pay-television service Setanta Sports in 2008. Talks over the deal have been ongoing since January.

Sky, which will open its own talks with the SPFL in the coming months, also has rights to the Scottish Cup knockout competition, in a deal that runs to the end of the 2017-18 season.
 
The SPFL operates Scotland’s Premiership, Championship, League 1 and League 2 divisions.