The SPFL has agreed changes to its long-term broadcast deals with Premier Sports and Sky Sports to allow two post-split bottom six matches to be shown live on Premier Sports from season 2025/26.
The League splits in half after the 12 clubs have played each other three times. The top six sides then play each other once more, as do the bottom six.
Last year, Premier Sports signed a five-season contract to show 20 live matches per season in the UK and Ireland. It joined Sky Sports, which already had a contract for 60 live matches a season.
However, the deal restricted Premier Sports to pre-split games, with fans arguing that no games from the bottom half of the table had been shown live for several seasons despite contention for places.
Neil Doncaster, SPFL group chief executive, said it was great news for Scottish football fans and our William Hill Premiership clubs. “We know supporters have been keen to tune into the most exciting games in the bottom six as clubs battle to avoid relegation, and we’ve been discussing that situation with our broadcast partners over recent months.”
The new agreement will take the total number of Premiership Matches on Premier Sports up to 22 each season, with immediate effect.
Richard Webb, Director of Operations at Premier Sports, commented: “We’re delighted to be expanding our SPFL coverage to include the matches that matter right to the very end of the season. These post-split games often carry huge drama and significance and we’re proud to bring them live to fans from next season.
“We would like to thank the SPFL and Sky for making this possible. Alongside our growing portfolio of Scottish football coverage, this is another great step forward for Premier Sports in Scotland.”
In 2022 the league extended its contract with Sky Sports, and the agreement saw Sky securing the rights to show up to 60 live Premiership matches per season.
Premier Sports acquired the rights for 20 further topflight matches as part of a competitive bidding process, which attracted multiple bidders.
