The Scottish FA announced satellite broadcaster Premier Sports will broadcast Scottish Cup games along with BBC Scotland from next season, according to Matthew Lindsay of the HERALD SCOTLAND. BBC Scotland and Premier Sports will each broadcast a selection of fixtures in the competition -- in a move the SFA claims will put "more Scottish Cup matches on free-to-air television than ever before." BBC Scotland will also showcase one live match in the first, second and third rounds. Meanwhile, supporters will be able to watch four live games in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds. Premier Sports will broadcast one semifinal exclusively while the other semifinal and the final will be shown across both channels. SFA CEO Ian Maxwell said, "It will also drive significant revenue back to all the clubs who participate in the competition, ensuring ongoing investment into the game" (HERALD SCOTLAND, 11/12). In Glasgow, Patrick McPartlin reported running through the '23-24 season, and covering the 150th anniversary of the competition, the deal increases BBC Scotland's coverage. The new deal "will provide a boost" for some of Scotland's smaller clubs, with 16 Highland League and 14 Lowland League clubs entering in the first round and Scottish League Two clubs joining in the second round (SCOTSMAN, 11/12).
GLOBAL COVERAGE: The Scotland DAILY RECORD reported the Scottish Cup will be "beamed around the world" after the SFA signed a six-year deal with IMG. Viewers around the globe will be able to watch Scottish Cup games after the SFA agreed to a contract with IMG to market broadcast rights. The deal will extend IMG's relationship with the SFA to more than 20 years and includes live coverage from every round as well as gaming, archive and digital clips rights. It will run through the end of the '23-24 season (DAILY RECORD, 11/12).
THREE SUBS: In Glasgow, Mark McDougall reported with the news the SFA has sold the rights to the Scottish Cup to Premier Sports, "it means you need three subscriptions to TV channels" as well as the TV license fee for games on BBC to follow all competitions. To watch the Scottish Premiership, you need Sky Sports and BT Sport. To follow the Scottish League Cup, you need BT Sport, and to see Scottish Cup matches, you now must subscribe to Premier Sports as well as pay a license for the BBC. All of those subscriptions come in at £870.26 ($1,120) a year (DAILY RECORD, 11/12).
