
SPFL agree deal allowing broadcaster to show more games
However, positive discussions between the pair and Sky Sports, the league's other broadcast partner, means further games will now be available for fans.
Premier Sports will now screen 22 live Premiership games a season.
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SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: 'This is great news for Scottish football fans and our William Hill Premiership clubs.
'We know supporters have been keen to tune into the most exciting games in the bottom six as clubs battle to avoid relegation, and we've been discussing that situation with our broadcast partners over recent months.
'We'd like to thank Sky Sports and Premier Sports for their support in agreeing this change to their broadcast contracts, and for their continued excellent coverage of our national game.'
Richard Webb, director of operations at Premier Sports, commented: 'We're delighted to be expanding our SPFL coverage to include the matches that matter right to the very end of the season.
These post-split games often carry huge drama and significance and we're proud to bring them live to fans from next season.
'We would like to thank the SPFL and Sky for making this possible. Alongside our growing portfolio of Scottish football coverage, this is another great step forward for Premier Sports in Scotland.'
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The Herald Scotland
26 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Major survey reveals 'standout' view on 'Scottish visa'
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There have been calls by the [[Scottish Government]] in recent years for the introduction of a Scottish immigration visa system to help attract workers to Scotland, but they have been resisted by the UK Government, which controls immigration policy. However, it appears the issue is not going away. The latest Understanding Business survey suggests Scottish employers are interested in a more flexible, regionally responsive immigration policy, particularly in light of workforce shortages and general economic pressures. The proposed visa would be designed to meet the needs of the Scottish labour market and population requirements which can differ from those in other parts of the UK. Only 17% of respondents said they opposed the idea of a Scottish visa, while the remaining 14% were neutral or unsure. The survey authors said the relatively low level of opposition suggests there is broad recognition among employers of the economic and demographic benefits of such a scheme. The proposed Scottish visa would allow migrants to work and pay tax in Scotland, while being required to live in the country. This would reflect immigration models used in countries such as Canada and Australia. The support shown towards a Scottish visa came as businesses indicated a degree of confidence about the economic outlook. A plurality of expect turnover (47%) and profitability (44%) to increase over the next 12 months, record highs for the survey series, followed closely by those that think their turnover or profitability will remain the same in the next year, at 41% and 39%. Around half (48%) believe general economic conditions are worse than a year ago, and 41% expect that conditions will continue to deteriorate over the next year. But a growing proportion expressed the view that the general economy is better now than a year ago (30%) or will improve over the next year (35%), up seven and 10 percentage points respectively. 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John Penman, managing partner at 56° North said: 'Our last survey showed Reform, which is the most vocal party in terms of restricting immigration, were gaining support among business in Scotland, however these results show that many businesses are in favour of bringing skilled migrants into the Scottish workforce. 'Reform's continued strong showing in the polls may well mean this becomes a recurring theme in the run up to next year's Scottish election as parties seek to position themselves as best for economic growth.' Understanding Business surveyed more than 500 Scottish businesses across a range of sectors, including hospitality, agriculture, construction, and manufacturing.


The Herald Scotland
26 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Scotch whisky chief pays price as turmoil hits industry
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The Herald Scotland
26 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Why the case for a 'Scottish visa' just got stronger
But how long can the current state of affairs continue? Starmer has so far resisted calls from the Scottish Government to introduce a "Scottish visa" to help the country deal with the labour shortages it faces, but the issue is simply not going away. Indeed, it seems to be very much uppermost in the minds of many Scottish business owners. As exclusively revealed by The Herald today, 70% of businesses in Scotland support the introduction a tailored 'Scottish visa', according to the latest Understanding Business Survey, conducted by 56° and Diffley Partnership. Such a scheme which would allow migrants to come to work in Scotland, as long as they live and maintain a tax code in the country, and presumably ease the pressure on the many companies which have struggled with skills shortages since the end of freedom of movement. But this would not be unrestrained immigration. Asked what their most important considerations would be if a Scottish visa were introduced, the top two responses from businesses surveyed both related to protecting Scottish workers, with 37% each saying 'maintaining a balance between migrant workers and upskilling local talent' and 'protecting job opportunities for Scottish workers and preventing wage suppression' were important. Business also wanted to ensure that any visa scheme would be easy to navigate for both employers and workers, selected as a top consideration by 35%. Clearly, immigration remains a hot political topic, and with feelings continuing to run high on the topic Starmer's reluctance to implement any big policy changes is perhaps understandable. Especially given that Labour's stance on Brexit was writ large in its election manifesto last year. But for a Government that has made economic growth its central mission, and has now presided over a second consecutive month of GDP decline, it must surely be looking to all the levers it has at its disposal to stem the tide. A Scottish visa, targeted at sectors and companies suffering the most acute skills shortages, would be a step in the right direction.