The SPFL yesterday released a broadcasting update vie their official website, confirming that Sky Sports have selected to show the Hearts v Falkirk match in Wednesday night…
This means that the Motherwell v Celtic match will NOT be shown live, with Sky Sports instead offering to show the goals from Fir Park as they happen during their broadcast from Tynecastle.
The first point to make is that the Hearts v Falkirk game should be their priority because Hearts could win the title on Wednesday night with a win over John McGlynn’s side coupled with a Motherwell win over Celtic at Fir Park.
Why can’t Sky Sports show both matches?
But why not show both matches and offer the same service to those watching the game at Fir Park by showing the goals as they happen from Tynecastle? If this was the situation in the English Premier League you can guarantee that is what would happen.
If Celtic had lost the Glasgow Derby yesterday then the need to show the game at Motherwell would have been much less important to Sky Sports Celtic-minded customers. As it turned out Celtic won well only to be let down by the broadcaster.
Celtic supporters are asked to pay for multiple broadcaster subscriptions
Celtic supporters are asked to pay for Sky Sports, Premier Sports, TNT and even Celtic TV throughout the season. There are also occasions when away matches are shown on the home club’s own channel and many of us will have paid for Motherwell TV, Hibs TV, even Ross Count TV to watch the Hoops as away tickets these days are like hen’s teeth.
Motherwell FC I’m pretty sure would be happy to show the game on Wednesday night on a PPV basis and they’d certainly make a tidy sum from doing that. But they are not allowed as Sky Sports want the audience. They want Celtic supporters to sit through the Hearts game and get scraps thrown at us for any goals – for or against – scored at Fir Park.
The SPFL stated via their official website:
SKY SPORTS SELECTIONS FOR ROUNDS 37 & 38 CONFIRMED…
THE SCOTTISH PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (SPFL) CAN TODAY CONFIRM THE LIVE BROADCAST SELECTIONS FOR THE WILLIAM HILL PREMIERSHIP TOP-SIX FIXTURES IN ROUNDS 37 & 38…
As a thrilling title race nears a conclusion, Sky Sports will show Heart of Midlothian v Falkirk on Wednesday May 13, kick-off 8.00pm. Their coverage of the match at Tynecastle will also include any goals from the Motherwell v Celtic game that evening at Fir Park.
Sky Sports will then show live coverage of the potentially massive final-day fixture between reigning champions Celtic and league leaders Hearts on Saturday May 16, kick-off 12.30pm, as Derek McInnes’ men aim to win a first top-flight title since 1959/60.
Sky Sports have shown more William Hill Premiership games than ever before this season, including two huge games this weekend.
Hearts drew 1-1 away at Motherwell last night, while Celtic won 3-1 at home to city rivals Rangers at Celtic Park this afternoon, with Hearts now holding a one point lead over Celtic at the top of the table.
SPFL group chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “This has been an incredible season in the William Hill Premiership.
“With the title race reaching such a pivotal stage, we have reached an agreement with Heart of Midlothian and Sky Sports to make the Hearts v Falkirk match available to the widest possible audience.
“We would like to thank Sky Sports and Heart of Midlothian for making this possible and are very much looking forward to the final two rounds as the destiny of the trophy is decided.”
What are the alternatives? Dodgy streams…
Tynecastle as you would expect has sold out for the Hearts v Falkirk game and it’s the same story at Fir Park as Motherwell take on Celtic. So why not show both matches?
What are the alternatives? Dodgy streams, VPNs to watch via Celtic TV if you have access to an overseas subscription but are in Britain or Ireland on Wednesday night? Pubs will be showing the Hearts game, so forget that. Watching Hearts v Falkirk with radio commentary on from Fir Park will be one alternative, hardly the most satisfactory one.
It’s entirely unsatisfactory
All year Sky Sports rely principally on Celtic and indeed the Rangers supporters to make their coverage of Scottish football commercially viable. Just when it matters most they are badly letting our support down. It’s entirely unsatisfactory that this crucial Motherwell v Celtic is NOT going to be broadcast.
And again to restate an opening remark it is entirely proper that the Hearts game should be shown live to capture them winning the title if results go their way.
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1 Comment
Sky treat us badly they only want us to stop others yet spl caused it by smaller clubs having the same vote as clubs with ten times or more supporters those clubs grabbed best money even though they could not manage it and went into liqudation abd sky still hold that against our league but you see TNT coverage of scottish cup and premieur sports sky is by far the best