SPFL play-offs will be screened on BT Sport

THE Scottish Professional Football League has struck a six-match deal with BT Sport to screen this season’s play-offs.

Rangers and Hibernian are set to be among the Scottish Championship teams pushing for promotion to the top flight. Picture: TSPL

The broadcaster has agreed to show both legs of the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, while BBC Scotland will provide live radio commentary and TV highlights.

The SPFL has also confirmed the play-off schedule, with the decisive shoot-out set for Sunday, 31 May.

Rangers let second spot in the Championship slip from their grasp on Saturday by drawing 2-2 with Falkirk. That means that unless they can beat Hearts and Hibernian lose to Falkirk in their final regular-season fixtures next Saturday, Rangers will have to defeat Queen of the South over two legs to keep their promotion dream alive. Hibs would be next up for the victor, with the prize of a place in the winner-takes-all clash against the team finishing second bottom of the Premiership up for grabs.

As things stand, Queens would host Rangers at Palmerston at 5:30pm on Saturday, 9 May, the Ibrox return scheduled for 3:30pm on Sunday, 17 May.

The winner of that tie would then host Hibs at 7:45pm on Wednesday, 20 May, while Easter Road would stage the semi-final second leg at 12pm on Saturday, 23 May.

In the first leg of the final, the Championship contender will host the 11th-placed Premiership side – likely to be Motherwell – at 7:45pm on Thursday, 28 May before the top-flight team then welcome their lower-league opponents back to their ground for the crucial 3pm kick-off on 31 May.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “We’re delighted this exclusive deal with BT Sport allows us to move our live TV coverage on to another level. Last season the final was broadcast live but for this season we will see all six Scottish Premiership Play-Off matches live on BT Sport.

“The Scottish Premiership Play-Offs have breathed new life into Scottish football and we await another six massive games this May with both BT Sport and BBC Scotland.”

Simon Green, sports channels director at BT Sport, added: “BT Sport is proud to enhance its partnership with Scottish football.

“Audiences for our SPFL televised coverage are growing and our exclusive televised coverage of the Play-Offs builds on our offering to Scottish football fans.”

As well as BBC Scotland’s live radio commentary and TV highlights of the Scottish Premiership play-offs, BBC ALBA will be screening both legs of the Scottish Championship play-off final.

DATES

Saturday 9 May (5.30pm)

Premiership Play-Off quarter-final, 1st leg (BT SPORT 1)

Wednesday 13 May

Championship play-off final, 1st leg (BBC ALBA)

Saturday 16 May

Championship play-off final, 2nd leg (BBC ALBA)

Sunday 17 May (3.30pm)

Premiership Play-Off quarter-final, 2nd leg (BT SPORT 2)

Wednesday 20 May (7.45pm)

Premiership Play-Off semi-final, 1st leg (BT SPORT 1)

Saturday 23 May (12 noon)

Premiership Play-Off semi-final, 2nd leg (BT SPORT 1)

Thursday 28 May (7.45pm)

Premiership Play-Off final, 1st leg (BT SPORT 1)

Sunday 31 May (3pm)

Premiership Play-Off final, 2nd leg (BT SPORT 1)

(Championship fixtures TBC)