The SPFL have insisted they expect ‘strong interest’ after inviting broadcasters to bid for the next TV deal to show live Scottish Premiership matches from season 2029-30.
In a statement released yesterday, the league confirmed it has issued an Invitation To Tender for the next cycle of their main marquee deal for TV rights in the UK.
Under the existing agreement, Sky Sports holds the rights to broadcast up to 60 Premiership matches each season, while Premier Sports can show a further 22.
The Sky Sports deal is understood to be worth £150million over the course of a four-year contract which runs out at the end of the 2028-29 campaign.
The Premier Sports deal, which is worth around £4million per year, also expires in 2029, but a separate deal for them to show the Premier Sports Cup until 2031 is unaffected.
In what could be a major shake-up for how games are broadcast and on which platforms, the SPFL insist they are flexible about future agreements.
Doncaster expects a bidding war for the TV rights from season 2029-30 onwards
‘Securing strong broadcast partnerships is an essential element in maintaining a balanced and sustainable income mix for the SPFL and its clubs,’ said SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster.
‘We anticipate strong interest from broadcasters in what is widely recognised as one of Europe’s most exciting national league competitions.’
The move comes after the SPFL recorded its highest annual attendances in history last season.
League chiefs believe the combination of competitive drama on the pitch and growing crowds will attract significant interest from existing partners and potential new broadcasters.
It is understood that the decision to go to the market more than two years before the current deals expire is designed to give potential bidders time to assess the opportunity and negotiate.
By stressing flexibility on the volume of live matches, the SPFL is inviting broadcasters to propose packages that could increase the number of games available to viewers or restructure how coverage is shared.
Sky Sports has been the primary domestic broadcaster for Scottish football for several years, while Premier Sports has carved out a secondary role.
For clubs across the Premiership, the outcome of the process will have major implications for future income given that broadcast revenue forms a key pillar of the league’s central distributions.
The SPFL has not set a public deadline for bids.
