Daily Mail: Huge £150m broadcast deal between Sky and SPFL in jeopardy with Rangers yet to agree an extension ahead of Tonight's midnight deadline... but every other top-flight team in Scotland has signed up

Story from Daily Mail:

The fate of a £150million broadcast deal between Sky and the SPFL hangs in the balance after Rangers left league chiefs sweating over their final decision.

Premiership clubs were granted 28 days to deliberate over a new £30m-a-season extension to the current Sky agreement, with a voting deadline set for midnight on Saturday.

Eleven of the 12 top-tier teams have already said yes. Final agreement is conditional, however, on all 12 agreeing to a rule change permitting Sky to increase the number of home games they show from each ground from four per season to five. With the deadline edging closer, Rangers have yet to offer a view on the matter.

Rival clubs hope the Ibrox club will submit a letter of waiver 'before' the deadline lapses tomorrow. Failure to do so would see the resolution fail and place the Sky deal on the verge of collapse.

Under the terms of the proposed agreement, the broadcaster would be entitled to increase the maximum number of games they show from 48 to 60 a season from season 2024-25.

In return, Sky are prepared to increase annual payments to Premiership clubs from the current figure of £25m to £30m by season 2028-29.

The broadcasters have also secured first refusal on two additional bundles of ten games at a cost of £4m each from 2024-25.

Exercise that option and coverage could increase to 80 games a season, with clubs raking in a total of £38m per annum. Should Sky pass on it, rival broadcasters will be offered the chance to snap up the bundles instead.

A meeting of Premiership clubs on August 5 appeared to show widespread approval for the new deal.

Last year, however, Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson suggested that rights to the national game had been 'undersold'.

Citing persistent concerns over corporate governance within the league, the Europa League finalists called for the resignation of chief executive Neil Doncaster, chairman Murdoch MacLennan and legal advisor Rod MacKenzie in April 2020 and have subsequently entered into a dispute with the SPFL hierarchy over the terms of a sponsorship deal with online car firm cinch.

Other Premiership clubs now fear that the proposed new Sky deal could become part of an ongoing power struggle.

Rangers failed to respond to an approach from Sportsmail.

Privately, however, the club are believed to harbour concerns over the league's reluctance to put the broadcasting contract out to tender to invite higher offers.