Ireland

Brendan Rodgers reckons the Celtic chiefs have made the right decision to snub the Premier Sports TV deal.

The Parkhead club opted out of the SPFL contract with the broadcaster after an approach over showing the table-topping match against Aberdeen on Saturday.

The Scottish Premiership fixture is scheduled for a 3pm kick-off meaning it cannot be broadcast due to the TV blackout rules.

A deal between the SPFL and Premier Sports handed the company the right to broadcast two additional games from any Scottish Premiership stadium - on top of the Sky Sports agreement.

Premier Sports' Scottish football contract - separate from their League Cup sponsorship - offers the right to cover up to 20 games live on TV.

Sky Sports have the main Scottish football TV deal with up to 60 live matches to be shown a season from the Premiership - that contract runs until 2029.

However, Sky Sports will not show the match between Celtic and Aberdeen having already broadcast from Parkhead twice - from the maximum of five at each ground - and with selections made in early September.

Premier Sports could have stepped in to cover the match live - for an additional £75,000 fee, which is doubled to £150,000 if two matches are broadcast from one venue in the season - but Celtic have knocked back the offer and opted out of the contract.

It's thought club staff did not wish to inconvenience season-ticket holders by moving the kick-off time at short notice from the scheduled arrangement.

As quoted by The Scottish Sun, Rodgers said: “I think the club has shown they have really thought about the supporters.

“They could have easily taken the money. But they have kept the games there for supporters who come and see them.

“It’s a shame, it would have been a great game for television, but it’s not to be.

“It allows us to get a good run into next week and a bit of recovery time before we play again on the Wednesday.

“We will be ready to go. You can’t win really when it comes to this kind of thing.

“But the club have put the fans first – and that is important. Celtic get a lot of fixtures moved."

He added: “We know Celtic supporters will go anywhere at any time, but it’s about offering that bit of respect to them when we can, when it’s something we can control like the kick-off times.

“So I think the club have made a very good decision.”

Some clobber

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13943081/Celtic-consult-football-doctor-Tisdale-bid-revamp-clubs-football-operations.html

I thought that our 3-2 win was a tad fortuitous. Sligo were by far the better team in the first half though they tired in the second half. I thought that Yang showed up well but most of the youngsters were far short of our squad standards. Mind you, they are still developing.

theres merits to both.

its rotten than you are paying for sky, premier sports, and tnt just to watch celtic play. it's criminal tbh.

i think a game like this should be shown as its a better advert for scottish football than half empty stadiums away from home.

but its too short notice to inconvenience people who may have booked travel. particularly the aberdeen fans.

comment by JFK - Super Nintendo Chalmers (U8919)
posted 4 minutes ago
theres merits to both.

its rotten than you are paying for sky, premier sports, and tnt just to watch celtic play. it's criminal tbh.

i think a game like this should be shown as its a better advert for scottish football than half empty stadiums away from home.

but its too short notice to inconvenience people who may have booked travel. particularly the aberdeen fans.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Why has the agreement to not show home games live changed? Has a club been asking for it as they need the £75k per game?

Yes it is a game that would be great to broadcast but who expected this at the start of the season.

If we changed to showing home games for us and Rangers then we would never have another 3pm kick off on a Saturday again

I completely get that fans want to see this top of the table clash but I am fairly sure they will find a way

If Celtic had accepted £75k and had to move the game it would absolutely have affected fans either getting to the game or getting home. No club would allow a kick off very late at the weekend just for an extra £75k

Think you've used too shiny a lure there, mate?

comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 15 minutes ago
Think you've used too shiny a lure there, mate?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Was it obvious?

The kind of club whos fans let them die?

comment by JFK - Super Nintendo Chalmers (U8919)
posted 2 hours, 8 minutes ago
The kind of club whos fans let them die?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think this discussion probably doesn't merit being brought up again, but just to confirm that I - for one - found it really funny when Rangers died.

They were all like "Aw naw! Wur club is deed!" and I was all like "Hahaha".

Good times.

comment by JFK - Super Nintendo Chalmers (U8919)
posted 6 hours, 32 minutes ago

its rotten than you are paying for sky, premier sports, and tnt just to watch celtic play. it's criminal tbh.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's even worse, you have to subsidise they cvnts getting £150m a year each before you can watch your own league.