ESPN and Sky net Scottish football rights

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 | By Russell Parsons

The 60 match a season deal follows the collapse of Setanta, which had previously held SPL broadcast rights, last month.

The broadcasters have upped their previous offer of £65m over five years, a deal which had “deeply disappointed” Scottish football’s two biggest names, Rangers and Celtic.

The Old Firm are believed to have lodged their own £25m two-year deal to broadcast games but will now be happier with the improved offer.

The SPL deal follows the arrangement ESPN made with the English Premier League last month to show 46 games next season and 23 matches each season through to 2013. It will also split coverage with the Sky in England.

The Disney owned broadcaster is understood to have appointed a number of agencies including Wieden & Kennedy and Carat onto its UK roster to help push the August launch of its UK channel, which will show the games.