The Scottish Professional Football League and Sky Sports have agreed terms to provide a framework for the top-flight of Scottish football to resume in August 2020.
As part of the new TV rights deal that kicks in from the start of the 2020/21 season, Sky Sports will be the sole live broadcaster of SPFL matches for at least the next five years, with 48 games to be broadcast live per season.
In response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, every Scottish Premiership club will create a ‘virtual season ticket’ for the 2020/21 season, giving fans the chance to watch all of their club’s home matches, as well as provide an alternative source of matchday income while social distancing measures prevent fans from attending matches.
The SPFL and Sky have also agreed to spread the financial settlement for the games that were unable to be completed in the 2019/20 season across the term of the new five-year contract, providing security and financial stability to the competition and its clubs.
Commenting on the agreement, SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster said:
“This is an innovative and pragmatic solution to the challenges posed by Covid-19 and I’m grateful for the flexibility shown by our clubs and by Sky Sports.
“This agreement means that any liability for games not delivered during Season 2019/20 has now been settled, on terms that reflect Sky’s status as a committed partner and supporter of Scottish football.”
The return of a new season in Scotland at the beginning of August would follow on from the conclusion of the English Premier League season, for which Sky Sports will broadcast live coverage of 64 of the remaining 92 matches to be played.
Rob Webster, Managing Director of Sky Sports, added:
“Sky Sports is proud of our long-standing relationship with Scottish football and we have been committed to finding a positive solution for the SPFL and clubs.
“The virtual season ticket for the 2020/21 season is an innovative way to maintain the connection with fans and provide economic stability for the clubs, and we are very happy to support it.
“The new season promises to be a unique experience for the Scottish Premiership and our approach is to be as flexible and supportive of the clubs as we can be in these unique times.”
Celtic were crowned Scottish Premiership champions for the ninth successive season after the SPFL opted to curtail the 2019/20 campaign in mid-May, a decision which also meant that Hearts were relegated to the Championship.
Neil Lennon’s side held a 13-point lead over Rangers when the season was suspended, having played one more game.
Sky Sports takes over as the exclusive live broadcaster of Scottish Premiership matches from 2020/21, having previously shared the rights to live matches with BT Sport, with its live match coverage brought to an end prematurely in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
BT Sport will no longer broadcast Scottish football, except for Champions League and Europa League matches, having also lost the rights to broadcast Scottish League Cup matches to Premier Sports, while BBC Scotland retains highlights rights, plus live rights to show selected matches from the Scottish Championship.
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