The first batch of televised games for the new Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has been confirmed for live broadcast on Sky Sports, BT Sport and BBC Alba.
Scotland’s newly renamed professional league kicks off its new era when the 2013-14 season begins on Friday, August 2, when promoted Partick Thistle take on Dundee United at Firhill, live on BT Sport.
The formation of the SPFL is the result of the merger between the Scottish Premier League (SPL) and the Scottish Football League (SFL) following many months of strenuous negotiations.
Scotland’s league structure will remain a top flight of 12 and three lower divisions of 10, but there will be play-offs between the top and second tier league.
Sky Sports will show 30 live Scottish football matches a season, including five live Rangers fixtures from the Scottish Football League, as part of a deal which will last for at least the next four seasons.
Celtic will begin the defence of their Scottish Premier League title in front of the Sky Sports cameras, where the champions will unfurl the 2012/13 flag prior to the home match against Ross County on Saturday, August 3, with the game now kicking off in a new time-slot for Scottish league games of 5.15pm.
The following day, Motherwell, who finished runners-up to the Hoops last season, travel to Easter Road to face Hibernian, live on Sky Sports at 1.15pm.
Hibs will feature live again seven days later when they face Hearts at Tynecastle in the first Edinburgh derby of the season.
In the final match of the broadcaster’s first SPL release, Jackie McNamara’s Dundee United entertain Celtic at Tannadice on Sunday, August 31 at 12.45pm.
Scottish football’s new TV broadcast partners are BT Sport, who inherit the rights following their buyout of ESPN’s UK operations.
BT will show 30 exclusively live matches from the Scottish Professional Football League, and a further ten Rangers games in the Scottish Professional Football League third tier during the season.
The new network’s opening live games include the top flight clash between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie on August 17, as the Hoops look to defend their title.
Neil Lennon’s men won the league by a margin of 16 points last year, as well as reaching the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League and beating Barcelona at Celtic Park in the group stages.
The Dons will be looking to improve on their eight placed finish last year, under manager Derek McInnes in his first full season.
BT Sport will start its coverage of the Scottish Professional Football League top tier on August 2 with the Friday evening match between newly-promoted Partick Thistle and Dundee United.
The Jags will have to find their feet quickly back in the top division as they play host to the Tangerines, managed by their former boss Jackie McNamara, who left them in controversial circumstances last season.
McNamara will be back to face the wrath of Firhill for the first time since he left.
BT Sport will also show the big clash pitching last season’s SPFL top flight runners up Motherwell against Kilmarnock.
The Steelmen, under boss Stuart McCall, will be looking to find early season form with a home victory against Killlie on August 31.
The first Rangers game on BT Sport will see them take on Brechin City at Ibrox on August 10.
Ally McCoist’s men will be looking for another promotion, as they edge their way back towards the top tier following liquidation and having to re-join in the lowest division.
City will be stepping into an unknown world, as they take the field at Ibrox, instead of Glebe Park, where the capacity is less than 4,000.
BT will then follow Rangers to Airdrieonians on August 23. The New Broomfield stadium is likely to be packed to its 10,000 capacity for the visit of the fallen Glasgow giants.
The Diamonds will be looking to bounce back following relegation from the SPFL second tier last year.
BT Sport’s live SPFL coverage will feature the newly-signed Gary McAllister, the former Scotland captain, Motherwell, Leeds United and Liverpool midfielder.
McAllister will feature as BT Sport co-commentator on its Scottish football coverage, bringing insight and analysis from a storied career during which he won honours including the old English First Division, UEFA Cup and the FA Cup, plus captaining Scotland at Euro 96.
Darrell Currie, the popular Scottish football journalist and former ESPN football reporter will present coverage, while respected former ESPN commentator Derek Rae is lead commentator. Stephen Craigan and Emma Dodds complete the line-up.
Coverage will take a 360 degree focus on the Scottish game with viewers given access to a range of areas of each club, with all games to be presented at the grounds from special set positions.
Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said: “We are delighted to announce our first few live games from Scotland. The trip north for Celtic to Aberdeen will be an early test of whether they have the resolve to retain their title.
“Thistle fans will ensure a heated atmosphere for the return of their ex-manager Jackie McNamara and Motherwell will offer us an early glimpse of whether Stuart McCall can take the huge step of overturning the current Celtic monopoly at the top of the table.
“We are also delighted to follow the dramatic story of Rangers, as they attempt to rebuild their club and regain their place in the top division in the next few years.
“As they found last year in the fourth tier, every club will be looking to take their scalp and Airdrieonians FC and Brechin City will be no different.
“BT Sport has a great selection of live action from the Scottish Professional Football League this season, including ten Rangers matches, so fans will be well served by our channels.
“We will also have some fantastic talent announcements lined up who will front our coverage.”
BBC Alba, the corporation’s free-to-air Gaelic language channel, will also broadcast selected live games during the course of the season with the clash between Partick Thistle and Hearts on August 16 its opening live game of the new campaign.
August 31 selections are subject to change depending on the progress of Scottish clubs in European competitions.
Friday 2nd August
Partick Thistle v Dundee United 19:45 – BT Sport Saturday 3rd August Celtic v Ross County 17:15 – Sky Sports Sunday 4th August Hibernian v Motherwell 13:15 – Sky Sports Saturday 10th August Rangers v Brechin City (League 1)
12:45 – BT Sport
Sunday 11th August
Hearts v Hibernian
12:05 – Sky Sports Friday 16th August Partick Thistle v Hearts 19:45 – BBC Alba Saturday 17th August Aberdeen v Celtic 12:30 – BT Sport Friday 23rd August Airdrie v Rangers (League 1) 19:45 – BT Sport Saturday 31st August Dundee United v Celtic 12:45 – Sky Sports Motherwell v Kilmarnock 17:30 – BT Sport