The SPFL is inviting broadcasters to bid for live UK coverage from the 2029/30 season, with flexibility over how many matches could be shown.
The League has launched the process to secure its next live UK broadcast deal for William Hill Premiership matches, with new rights set to begin in the 2029/30 season.
The league issued an Invitation to Tender (ITT) on Tuesday, inviting broadcasters to submit proposals for coverage beyond the end of its current agreements with Sky Sports and Premier Sports.
One of the key elements of the tender is flexibility over the number of matches shown live each season, with the SPFL open to discussions with interested broadcasters about their preferred approach.
The announcement could prove significant for the future visibility of Scottish football, with broadcasters being given the opportunity to shape how the country’s top-flight competition is presented to audiences across the UK.
Current TV deals run until 2029
Under the existing arrangements, Sky Sports can broadcast up to 60 William Hill Premiership matches per season, while Premier Sports holds rights to show up to 22 matches from Scotland’s top flight each year.
Both agreements began in the 2024/25 season and run until the end of the 2028/29 campaign.
The new tender will determine what the live broadcast landscape looks like from 2029/30, although the SPFL has not committed to a specific number of matches being made available.
The separate agreement covering broadcast and sponsorship rights for the Premier Sports Cup remains unaffected by the announcement and is in place until at least the end of the 2030/31 season.
SPFL confident of attracting interest
The tender comes after Scottish football recorded its highest annual attendances in the SPFL’s history last season, following an exciting William Hill Premiership campaign.
SPFL group chief executive Neil Doncaster believes the competition will attract strong interest from potential broadcast partners.
“Securing strong broadcast partnerships is an essential element in maintaining a balanced and sustainable income mix for the SPFL and its clubs,” Doncaster said.
“We anticipate strong interest from broadcasters in what is widely recognised as one of Europe’s most exciting national league competitions.”
What happens next?
The tender marks the beginning of the process rather than a confirmed change to how Scottish Premiership matches will be broadcast.
With the current deals running through to 2028/29, clubs, supporters and broadcasters will now await further developments as the SPFL considers proposals for its next rights cycle.
The league’s willingness to discuss different levels of live coverage leaves open the possibility of a different broadcast offering from 2029/30, but the final number of matches, the successful bidders and the structure of any future deal have yet to be confirmed.
For Scottish football, securing a strong next agreement will be an important step in determining how the Premiership reaches supporters and generates broadcast income for its clubs in the years ahead.
