The battle to screen next season's SPFL Championship is expected to intensify after Hibernian joined Rangers and Hearts in the second tier.
As things stand, the four Edinburgh derbies are set to be broadcast live on BBC Alba, possibly on Friday nights, as part of a proposed package for the Gaelic broadcaster to show 16 games in the Championship not involving Rangers. This is on top of the broadcaster's current deal to show three live games from the Premiership, 35 "as live" top-tier games on delayed transmission, and coverage of the Ramsdens Cup.
Hibs' relegation on Sunday following their play-off defeat by Hamilton Academical, however, is expected to bring BT and Sky Sports back to the negotiating table.
BT inherited ESPN's deal to show 30 Premiership games and 10 Rangers games per season until 2017, while Sky have a deal in place to show 30 live top-divison games and five involving Rangers. With interest in the Championship escalating due to the presence of three of Scotland's biggest clubs, the two broadcasting giants are expected to make a counter offer to broadcast more live matches from the second tier.
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