Scotland's main commercial public service TV network, STV, has “agreed to go into partnership" with Scottish Premier League club Rangers, according to Roy Greenslade of the GUARDIAN. The Glasgow-based club announced the deal on its website yesterday, stating they “are working together to capitalise on commercial and brand opportunities in Scotland and internationally." There is “nothing on the STV site about the partnership, which came as a surprise to Scottish sports writers,” who are “acutely aware of the risk STV is taking in favouring Rangers in a city divided by footballing (and religious) allegiance to either Rangers or Celtic.” Some members of the National Union of Journalists “also point out that such a deal could compromise the channel's reporters.” The Rangers website states that the new partnership “begins today with the latest Celtic-Rangers match, which will be transmitted online on the Rangers site.” A website “favouring Celtic noted that STV appears to be keeping quiet about the deal” (GUARDIAN.co.uk, 12/28).
