The cash-strapped Scottish Professional Football League "may finally be in for some good news as a result of Hibernian’s relegation from the Premiership," according to Ewing Grahame of the SCOTSMAN. BBC Alba is close to finalizing a contract which would allow it to broadcast 16 Championship matches and it is understood that "most of them will be scheduled for Friday evenings." More interesting, though, "is the prospect of big hitters Sky and BT going head-to-head as they attempt to hammer out new deals which would allow them to show the crucial games from the second tier next season." The BBC Alba arrangement "will not include the right to show Rangers home or away and will limit them to two visits per stadium." Sky "is currently allowed to broadcast 25 Premiership matches and five Rangers fixtures" while BT can show 30 live games from the top flight and 10 Rangers matches (SCOTSMAN, 5/27). In Glasgow, Keith Jackson wrote SPFL CEO Neil Doncaster on Monday "approached broadcast partners Sky TV, BT Sport and the BBC, offering to open discussions on how to restructure the contracts and allow them to screen more live matches from next season’s second tier." The talks "are likely to center around four Edinburgh derbies" which, as things stand, can not be shown on mainstream channels. Doncaster "has now invited telly bosses to get back around the table to discuss swapping Premiership matches for Championship games." And it is anticipated that "both Sky and BT will be looking to pick up the Hearts v Hibs clashes" (Scotland DAILY RECORD, 5/27).
