Time to back ‘great opportunity’ for free-to-air Scotland football matches
Viaplay’s departure from the UK represents a ‘great opportunity’ for Scottish international men’s and women’s football matches to be broadcast on free-to-air TV, say the Scottish Greens. This would allow more people to watch Steve Clarke’s team.
The Party’s spokesperson for sport, Gillian Mackay MSP, has written to the CEO of STV following comments in the press that the organisation will “actively explore different ways of bringing more Scottish football to STV viewers, including the potential of sharing of rights with other broadcasters.”
In her letter Ms Mackay wrote:
“I believe that Viaplay’s withdrawal from the Scottish market presents a great opportunity for STV to take up the rights and provide an excellent platform for the Tartan Army to watch Steve Clarke’s Scotland team as they make the journey to Euro 2024.
“Our national team is for all of us, but, especially in this cost-of-living crisis, far too many people are being priced out of our beautiful game. If we want children to look up to our athletes or to be inspired by them then they need to be able to see both the men’s and women’s teams in action.”
Text of Gillian Mackay’s letter
Dear Mr Pitts,
As the Scottish Green Party spokesperson for Health, Social Care and Sport, I welcome the comments in The Herald today in which a spokesperson for STV announced that the organisation will “actively explore different ways of bringing more Scottish football to STV viewers, including the potential of sharing of rights with other broadcasters.”
I believe that Viaplay’s withdrawal from the Scottish market presents a great opportunity for STV to take up the rights and provide an excellent platform for the Tartan Army to watch Steve Clarke’s Scotland team as they make the journey to Euro 2024.
Our national team is for all of us, but, especially in this cost-of-living crisis, far too many people are being priced out of our beautiful game. If we want children to look up to our athletes or to be inspired by them then they need to be able to see both the men’s and women’s teams in action.
Many countries already ensure their games are free to view. I believe Scotland should join them.
Since starting my campaign to make football accessible for all, I have been inundated with emails from people the length and breadth of this country supporting our call.
You have an opportunity to play a leading role in bringing a nation together again. An opportunity to be the broadcaster who gave us hope.
I would welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss the possibilities in more detail.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Gillian Mackay MSP for Central Scotland