BBC SPORT | Football | Scottish Premier | SPL secures its biggest TV deal

SPL secures its biggest TV deal

The Scottish Premier League has announced its biggest television deal, proclaiming it as a significant cash boost for its 12 clubs.

A £125m contract has been agreed with Setanta Sports to continue the rights to live SPL matches for a further four years, until 2014.

SPL executive chairman Lex Gold said: "£125m marks the biggest-ever TV deal in Scottish football history.

"This will allow clubs to re-invest to make the Scottish game even stronger."

Setanta's present contract, which ends in 2010, was worth £54.5m.

The new deal - more than twice the value of the present one - will extend the current partnership from the start of season 2010/11 through to the end of season 2013/14.

No commercial deal comes close to matching what has been achieved today by the SPL
SPL executive chairman Lex Gold

As with the present contract, 60 games will be covered live each season for broadcast across the UK and Ireland.

"Ten years ago, we spoke about delivering a brighter future for Scottish football," said Gold.

"Today, as we look ahead to our next 10 years, we can do so with confidence.

"No commercial deal comes close to matching what has been achieved today by the SPL and Setanta Sports for our game.

"We have moved forward with Setanta Sports over the past four years.

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"We look forward to working with them to continue building and developing our league."

The BBC has a contract with the Scottish Premier League until 2012 for match highlights on television and online on the BBC Sport website.

BBC Radio Scotland and the BBC Sport website also provide live commentary from all SPL games as part of that deal.