The Scottish Professional Football League has launched a competitive tender process for broadcasters seeking to acquire UK television rights to Scottish Premiership matches beginning with the 2029-30 season, anticipating robust demand from media companies worldwide.
According to BBC Sport, the SPFL's existing five-year contract with Sky Sports, valued at £150m and permitting the broadcaster to air up to 60 matches annually, commenced in the 2024-25 campaign and concludes following the 2028-29 season. The league has confirmed it remains open to adjusting the volume of live fixtures offered to future broadcast partners.
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster emphasised the strategic importance of the upcoming negotiations, stating that
securing strong broadcast partnerships is an essential element in maintaining a balanced and sustainable income mix for the SPFL and its clubs. He added that
we anticipate strong interest from broadcasters in what is widely recognised as one of Europe's most exciting national league competitions.
Currently, Premier Sports holds secondary rights, broadcasting up to 22 top-flight fixtures per season. The SPFL has indicated flexibility regarding how many games will be made available for live broadcast under the new arrangement, potentially opening opportunities for multiple broadcasters to secure portions of the rights package.
The timing of this announcement reflects the league's strengthening financial position. The SPFL distributed a record £49.6m to clubs in its strongest financial year, representing an 18% increase from the previous year, with broadcasting deals, licensing and sponsorship driving growth. Scottish Premiership attendance also reached four million for the first time, demonstrating the commercial appeal of the competition.
The SPFL separately confirmed that its existing arrangement with Premier Sports covering the Scottish League Cup—encompassing both broadcast and sponsorship rights—remains in effect through at least the conclusion of the 2030-31 season and will not be impacted by the new Premiership bidding process.
What happens next?
Broadcasters interested in acquiring Scottish Premiership rights from 2029-30 onwards are invited to submit formal bids to the SPFL. The league will evaluate proposals based on financial terms, coverage commitments, and strategic fit before awarding the contract, with the new agreement set to commence following the expiration of the current Sky Sports deal.
