Premier Sports to air Scottish Premiership matches

The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has struck a deal with Premier Sports to show 20 live and exclusive Scottish Premiership matches each season, from this summer. 

The news follows the extension of the League’s contract with Sky Sports in 2022, which gave Sky the rights to show up to 60 live Premiership matches per season.

The SPFL and Premier Sports have signed a five-season contract for Premier Sports to show 20 live Premiership matches per season in the UK and Ireland.

The leagues said that Premier Sports acquired the rights as part of a competitive bidding process, which attracted multiple bidders.

“This is tremendous news for SPFL clubs and supporters alike and means that up to 80 Premiership matches will be broadcast live next season across Sky Sports and Premier Sports. This will be the highest number of live matches ever broadcast from the Scottish Premiership,” said SPFL group chief executive Neil Doncaster.

“With Premier Sports already having the rights to the Premier Sports Cup and Scottish Cup, they have cemented their place as a key broadcaster of live Scottish football. We are extremely grateful to Premier Sports for their increased investment into the game, which will bring an additional eight-figure sum into Scottish football over the next five years, meaning further record-breaking payments to clubs.”

Michael O’Rourke, founder of Premier Sports, said: “We are delighted to strengthen our Scottish football offering to fans in what is a hugely exciting time for Scottish football at both club and international level. The addition of the Scottish Premiership means we are showing more Scottish football than ever before and we’re looking forward to broadcasting games and storylines from one of Europe’s most exciting and passionate league for the next five years.”

Premier Sports reacquired its business from troubled Nordic streamer Viaplay in April, following the latter’s decision to exit the UK market. The outfit holds rights to the Scottish national team football and the Scottish League Cup, as well as sharing rights to Scottish Cup with BBC Scotland.