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One thing that’s been consistent since Rangers went into administration is the need to push the view that Scottish football needs Rangers in the Scottish Premier League otherwise it’ll be forever ruined due to lack of television revenue.

It’s the “Rangers need Celtic, Celtic need Rangers” quote on Radio Clyde each weeknight added with Hugh Keevins constant whingeing that a Premier League without Rangers would be disastrous for the rest of Scottish football that makes me question, Exactly what does television bring to our national game?

BSkyB & ESPN verbally agreed on a new £80 million deal to cover SPL games over the next 4 season, a deal which if it was left to the hacks, this is on the basis of 4 games between Celtic & Rangers. Since that was challenged its been changed to both teams being involved in the league.

Has anybody really challenged the main detail of this deal, has anyone actually been able to publish exactly what’s at stake should RFC be demoted to the lower leagues?

Without any factual information, we’re left with Keevins & Co.

Personally, I’d prefer to look at other alternatives, look into other avenues to seek revenue.

Let’s say for example the SPL allow an RFC NewCo into the league, as detailed by http://www.splsurvey.co.uk its clear that a large section of Scottish football fans are not only against any RFC NewCo but willing to walk away from Scottish football altogether in protest.

Take into consideration that the 16,527 responses, this was an online survey and won’t take into consideration views of those fans who do not access the internet and also those fans of SFL teams.

So considering that a large section of fans are prepared to walk away, what are the financial implications this will bring on SPL football?

Walking away doesn’t just mean from the stadium gates, walking away from merchandise sales, walking away from introducing kids to football but also walking away from television subscriptions which is the prime reason BSkyB & ESPN have agreed to these contracts.

So it may not be as visible next season, maybe not the season after but considering the outrage a RFC NewCo will cause, the implications it’ll cause down the line may just be far greater.

I’ve just come back from a week abroad & I had the pleasure of experiencing Premier League TV.

The English Premier League you see has signed a deal with IMG Media. Premier League licensees outside the UK are offered the chance to run the service as full channel or pick and choose among from an offering that includes regular news shows, magazine programming and archive matches, this including matches from the previous weekend.

Consider our own C67, the subscription numbers our own club generates is a vital cog in seeking television revenues elsewhere.

How many Scottish football supporters would gladly give up the Pro English media for a service which is focussed solely on our own game, a game which will be produced by a media organisation focussed on whats best for the game.

IMG Media produce EPLTV with a view of building up its product, knowing fine well that when the EPL gains, IMG gains.

The product we get from Sky, ESPN, BBCScotland is one where we have analysts, commentators looking for a reason to dish dirt, for example, what media outlet outside our game will you hear the presenter tell you the outcome before it’s even shown?

There had been talks in the past with IMG Media about the SPL producing its own TV channel almost 10 years ago, why not now?

One last point towards the media pushing this television slant, have they all forgotten about current Television deals with Fox Sports (USA) and Ten Sports (India)