Sky Sports has signed a five year deal with the Scottish Premier League which will include five Rangers games from the Football League.

Although no financial details were immediately available a new deal has been negotiated as a result of the collapse of Rangers and the club’s re-entry to the fourth tier of Scottish football.

Rangers, along with champions Celtic, have traditionally been the main draws in Scotland and their rivalry the main reason why Sky Sports, along with ESPN, agreed a five-year UK£65 million deal to broadcast 30 games each in 2009.

A new five-year contract, on improved terms believed to be worth around UK£80 million to the league, was announced in November last year but with Rangers consigned to Division Three, after being liquidated and then reformed under the new ownership of a Charles Green-led consortium, that has now been re-worked.

Sky Sports will broadcast 30 games per season, including five live Rangers games from the Scottish Football League.

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, said: “We’ve supported Scottish football since we started over 20 years ago, and have always wanted to continue that commitment.

“Our viewers will see the SPL for five more years and our schedule includes the opening league match for Celtic. We will also follow Rangers as they plot their way back to Scottish football’s top flight.”

The prospect of clubs losing their share of such significant television money has resulted in weeks of anxiety across the league.

“Clubs now have certainty over their income and exposure across the UK and Ireland,” Francis added, “and we look forward to the new season.”

Sky’s coverage will begin with the Celtic versus Aberdeen match on Saturday.

Source: sportspromedia.com

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