Scottish football now aired in 100+ countries
February 19, 2016
Scottish league football is being screened in more than 100 international countries for the first time, thanks to a raft of new international broadcast deals struck in territories around the world.
This season’s Ladbrokes Premiership action is now being shown in 102 territories across the globe – up from 61 during the previous campaign – with a host of new broadcasters involved in taking the game to an ever-increasing audience.
New contracts which began this season include Fox Sports broadcasting to Latin America, two deals in Japan with Perform Media & Sky Perfect TV and LeTV increasing reach in China, the single biggest international broadcast contract. In addition, coverage across Europe has risen from 13 to 18 countries in 2015/16, with Hungary and Romania via DigiSport both new additions and French SPFL coverage now led by Canal+, while in the Middle East and North Africa BeinSport has increased its reach of SPFL games.
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “The SPFL is hugely popular across the world, reflected by the significant increase in the number of countries now showing games from our league and cup competitions. While in Scotland we constantly and rightly scrutinise our national sport and consider ways to further improve it, I think there is an under-appreciation of just how highly respected and liked Scottish football is by fans, other clubs and football authorities in all corners of the globe.