Rangers set to soften stance as £150m TV deal talks continue this week
Rangers are set to soften their stance over the Scottish Premiership TV deal with talks ongoing to find a new solution, according to the Daily Record.
Talks have gone into overdrive this week with a £150million deal proposed over five years to show 60 live matches per season, 12 more than what they currently do.
As things stand, Rangers and Celtic are insistent on only four of their home games each being shown each season, to encourage fans to buy more tickets, but they are starting to soften on the idea.
Sky’s current deal runs out in 2025 with the rights potentially coming up for grabs should no impasse be found, with SPFL chiefs hoping to thrash out a new package.
The initial offer of £150million is up £5million per year, but many have not been left impressed by the offer and believe it should be much higher.
BT Sport are understood to be against a return to Scottish football at this moment in time, so it appears as though Sky do have a clear run, although that doesn’t look as though it will give them an easy deal.
Split?
It will be interesting to see how these deals are split between clubs financially.
Realistically, when making selections for live showings, Rangers and Celtic are going to be involved in the game over 75% of the time, with the Edinburgh derby an exemption.
So, do we get more of the revenue brought into the SPFL? That would make much more sense.
Even so, £30million each year between 12 clubs is absolutely nothing, especially when you compared the £100million-plus that Premier League clubs get each every season.
Of course, they bring in more viewers worldwide, but there has to be some sort of equal playing field throughout when Sky are doing their bargaining.
With this being an initial offer and Rangers potentially softening their stance on more Ibrox games being shown, we could see a bigger windfall eventually offered.
Time will tell.
In other Rangers news, Ross Wilson now has names lined up just in case Alfredo Morelos seals his exit this summer