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Scottish Football Alex Salmond Rangers FC

Former BSkyB football boss reckons the broadcaster will stay loyal to Scottish Premier League after Rangers loss

By Hamish Mackay

July 16, 2012 | 2 min read

The former executive producer of BSkyB’s Scottish football coverage claims that the station will stay loyal to the Scottish Premier League (SPL) despite the exit of Rangers FC.

However, Colin Davidson has told the Sunday Herald that the broadcaster is likely to renegotiate its deal now that Rangers has been consigned to the Scottish third division.

According to the Sunday Herald, the SPL will hold emergency talks with BSkyB today (Monday 16 July) to clarify BSkyB’s plans following the loss of Rangers.

The media company currently has a £16m-per-season broadcast deal in place with the SPL, which is scheduled to run for one more season.

Davidson told the Sunday Herald: “What Sky is facing now is a very different set of circumstances in the SPL. Without Rangers it is a diluted product for any broadcaster. They may well want to renegotiate the contract.

"All Sky have to do is listen. It will be up to the SPL to convince them to stay. What they won't do is pay them more money than the product is worth. The deal is worth far more to the SPL than it is to Sky.

"If they renegotiate, I think the SPL has done well. I do think Sky will be loyal. They have, historically, been very loyal partners. When they enter into a partnership with any organisation they do their best to be as supportive as they positively can."

ESPN has also assured the SPL that it is committed to Scottish football, says The Sunday Herald, which also claimed that a deal could be struck to broadcast the Newco Rangers game in the third division.

Scotland on Sunday has also claimed that First Minister Alex Salmond has been urged to use his relationship with Rupert Murdoch to protect the BSkyB deal.

Scottish Football Alex Salmond Rangers FC

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