Celtic silence on Sky Sports deal but the Rangers are clear: “We’ve undersold the product”

We’ve had a look at the proposed new deal with Sky Sports this morning and why that might be worthy of additional reflection and indeed negotiation as the Scottish Premiership clubs look to maximise their media returns and gat a fairer price for our games which have always been underpriced in dealing with Sky Sports.

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Last year theRangers CEO Stewart Robertson, speaking to (the)RangersTV, highlighted the low value that the Scottish game gets in their dealings with Sky Sports. “When you look at the television deal we’ve currently got in place with Sky – and Sky are fantastic partners, so no criticism of Sky whatsoever – we’ve undersold the product.

“We need to be marketing Scottish football in a much better way than we do. Look at the product we’ve got at the moment. Look at where our coefficient is in Europe, we’re playing quality teams.

“But when you look at the value… take the Old Firm (sic) game for example. There’s four a season. We know Sky are paying £7.5million per game for the Premiership (sic) package (English Premier League).

“The Old Firm (sic) games are at the same level as some of the top (English Premier League) games. It’s recognised as being one of the world’s top derbies.

“If you take four Old Firm (sic) games alone that’s the equivalent of £30million of value based on the Premier League payment terms. But the SPFL as a league is only getting £25million for 48 league games? How can we say we’ve sold that well?

“That’s been undersold and that’s a key area where I believe the SPFL executive need to be looking to do better.”

If you put aside the traditional rivalry one one moment, while reflecting that he forgot to mention that his club was 150 years old, honest, then Robertson does make a very good point. One that you’d imagine Celtic’s Michael Nicholson would agree with.

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

4 Comments

  1. We should sell our own tv rights, its our club after all, and we’re the leagues main attraction; should put Peter Lawwell in charge of any future negotiations, you know he’d get the best deal possible!

  2. Allaboutceltic on

    There’s doubt about it. Doncaster has well & truly sold us down the river for a pittance and should be dragged out of Hampden…kicking & screaming if need be…but he should be no where near Scottish football, let alone a negotiating table.

  3. Eamonn Little on

    If you wanted a comment from our board on the sun coming up in the morning,you would still get nothing.Whats the point in them?