THE SPL and SFL are close to agreeing a £1.2million deal with Sky for the rights to show 45 Rangers matches over the next three seasons.
An announcement on the deal – believed to work out at an average of £27,000 a game – is expected within the next 48 hours.
The SPL had been in London last week and again earlier this week negotiating with Sky, ESPN and other corporate partners trying desperately to keep them onside.
Broadcasters and sponsors made it clear that without Rangers in the mix they would be slashing millions off their packages and the top-flight clubs had to find a way of ensuring some kind of stability.
They are trying to get Sky to agree a long-term deal with them but were told they would need to bring Gers back into the picture.
That was why the SPL were among the bidders for the SFL’s TV rights when the deadline passed at the start of this week.
The SFL were happy to sell the rights to the SPL who, in turn, reached agreement with Sky and now hope they can seal another deal for their own matches.
They had agreed an £80m five-year contract but that was never signed off and the SPL are now trying to lengthen the duration of any new package in the hope Rangers would be back in the top division.
That would generate more money for the SPL but they and Rangers are still at loggerheads over EBTs and that is delaying the club’s SFA membership.
Rangers are still refusing to sign up to any agreement that could see them stripped of titles if the SPL investigation into the club’s EBT years finds them guilty. The SPL are set to announce their verdict a week tomorrow and there could be renewed calls for Rangers to be stripped of five championships.
Gers chief executive Charles Green said: “We have not yet reached agreement with the SPL so talks are continuing to secure our SFA membership which we are hoping to receive.”