Scottish Premiership broadcasting rights tender

The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has initiated a tender process for the UK television rights to the Scottish Premiership, beginning with the 2029-30 season. This follows a current five-year, £150 million agreement with Sky Sports that is scheduled to conclude at the end of the 2028-29 campaign.

As part of this new tender, the SPFL is seeking to end the long-standing Saturday afternoon broadcast blackout. By issuing a tender document that allows broadcasters to bid for live rights to all matches, including those with 3pm kick-offs, the league aims to move past the restrictions imposed by UEFA’s Article 48. This rule, which has been in place since the 1960s to protect stadium attendance, currently prohibits live broadcasts in the UK between 2:45pm and 5:15pm on Saturdays. Under UEFA statutes, such restrictions are permitted if 50 percent or more of professional matches are scheduled for that specific kick-off time.

SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster noted that securing robust partnerships is essential for a “balanced and sustainable income mix” for member clubs. This move is viewed as a potential precursor to similar actions by other British leagues, such as the Premier League and the English Football League, which have previously expressed interest in increasing revenue by selling more live matches to broadcasters.