UK pay-television broadcaster BSkyB would be able to terminate its five-year rights deal, from 2012-13 to 2016-17, with the Scottish Premier League if either of the competition’s two biggest clubs, Glasgow Rangers or city rival Celtic, did not participate, according to the STV website.
The termination clause was insisted on by Sky. There are question marks over Rangers’ future in the league as the club is currently in administration and could cease to exist if it is unable to find a new buyer. Both clubs have also been linked with a switch to the English leagues in recent years, although the English Premier League and Football League have insisted such a move is not in their plans.
The new SPL-Sky deal, which is worth £80 million (€95 million/$124 million) over five years, has not yet been signed. It has been passed to the two parties’ legal departments for completion.
The existing agreement, from 2009-10 to 2011-12, stipulates that there must be four games between Celtic and Rangers – traditionally called the ‘Old Firm’ – each season.