SPFL moves to assure clubs as overseas TV deal is terminated early

Scottish clubs have been assured upcoming payments will be unaffected after the league terminated its overseas broadcast deal.

The Scottish Professional Football League has cancelled its contract with the global sports media agency MP & Silva over financial issues and announced it will be taking steps to sell the rights.

The SPFL signed a ten-year deal in 2013 – by which which Scottish league games were shown in 167 countries last season. But that has now been torn up. A league statement read: “The SPFL will be taking steps to sell its overseas broadcast rights from this season onwards.

“This comes as a ten-season deal with MP & Silva is being terminated after the rights holder defaulted on a number of payments due to the SPFL, and to other leagues around the world.

“Plans are being put in place for international broadcasters who have agreed to show live fixtures over the coming weeks to receive signal as usual. The termination of the present agency contract, which was signed in 2013, will have no material impact on the record-breaking club fees paid and expected to be paid for season 2017-18.”

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said more people want to watch the Scottish game, adding: “Scottish football is growing in popularity at home and abroad. We are working to ensure that fans across the globe are able to enjoy matches from the Ladbrokes SPFL, the Betfred Cup and the Irn-bru Cup as normal this season. This also allows us to explore opportunities to giveevenmorefansworldwide the chance to watch our games.” 0 Neil Doncaster: Demand for Scottish football is growing.