BROADCAST RENEWAL DEAL BOOST FOR SPL

The Scottish Premier League and its member clubs have today been boosted by the announcement of the renewal of two key broadcasting deals.

At today’s General Meeting of all clubs, the SPL agreed a new two-year deal with the BBC. The deal will guarantee terrestrial coverage on radio, TV and online until the end of season 2011/12.

BBC Radio Scotland will be able to broadcast live commentaries of every Clydesdale Bank Premier League match while BBC Radio 5 Live will have the ability to showcase a number of league games across the UK.

BBC Scotland’s Monday night highlights programme will also continue ensuring terrestrial TV coverage over the next two seasons.

As part of the deal, BBC have extended their rights to show clips and highlights of league matches on www.bbc.co.uk/sportscotland. This will mean that more SPL match action than ever will be available online.

Neil Doncaster, Chief Executive of the SPL, said: “It is important for the ongoing promotion of our league that we have high quality terrestrial coverage. Today we have managed to secure this for football fans in Scotland.

“It is essential that we continue to deliver significant investment into the SPL which will help finance our clubs' plans over the coming seasons.”

Ewan Angus, BBC Scotland’s Head of Sport, commented: “We are delighted to be continuing our relationship with the SPL to bring the very best of Scottish football free-to-air to fans across the country.”

Also today the SPL agreed to extend their broadcasting deal with MG ALBA which will mean fans across the UK will be able to watch delayed full match coverage on the Gaelic TV service, BBC ALBA. The new deal will cover the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons.

MG ALBA have acquired the ‘as-live’ rights to one game in each round of fixtures over the next two seasons, with the programming starting at 5.30pm for any Saturday games broadcast on BBC ALBA. The outside broadcast coverage of 38 Clydesdale Bank Premier League matches each season will be produced by mneTV for MG ALBA.

Neil Doncaster, Chief Executive of the SPL, said: “We are delighted to extend our relationship with MG ALBA. This service has proved to be really popular, even with non-Gaelic speaking supporters. As well as delivering great coverage of the SPL, the deal also helps take the Gaelic language to a much broader audience.

“We already have our live TV deals secured at home and abroad but what we have agreed today will help complete our broadcasting plans for the next two seasons.”

Alan Esslemont, BBC ALBA Head of Content, said: “BBC ALBA seeks with all its programming to offer an attractive Scottish alternative to audiences and the prospect of high-quality SPL games broadcast 'as-live' at 5:30pm is very exciting.

“This truly strengthens the partnerships we have with Scottish football at all levels”.