Celtic vs Aberdeen: A Massive Fixture That Won’t Be Shown on Sky Sports

Celtic and Aberdeen are set to face off on October 19 in what promises to be one of the biggest fixtures in recent memory between the two clubs. Both sides are level on 21 points after seven games, making this clash at Celtic Park a significant one in the early title race. However, despite the magnitude of the match, it won’t be shown live on Sky Sports—a decision that has left many fans frustrated.

The reason behind the fixture’s absence from Sky Sports’ schedule comes down to the current broadcasting deal between the Scottish Premiership and the network. As of 2024, Sky Sports holds the exclusive rights to show up to 60 Scottish Premiership matches each season, a rise from the previous 48. However, there’s a caveat: no more than five home matches from any one stadium can be selected for live broadcast per season.

This restriction wasn’t imposed by Sky Sports, but rather was part of the agreement requested by the SPFL when negotiating the deal. The aim was to ensure a broader range of matches from different grounds would be showcased throughout the season, rather than focusing too heavily on certain clubs or fixtures.

Sky Sports has already visited Celtic Park twice this season, once for Flag Day and again for the first Glasgow Derby of the campaign. With three slots remaining for Games at Celtic Park, Sky appears to be holding back, keeping its options open for more crucial moments later in the season. With another Glasgow Derby, potential title deciders, and even a possible trophy day on the horizon, the network seems reluctant to use up one of its limited opportunities this early.

For Celtic fans, it’s a frustrating situation. A top-of-the-table clash with Aberdeen, who have started the season in blistering form, feels like a game deserving of national attention. Instead, the broadcasting restrictions mean that fans will have to look elsewhere for coverage. With the game already sold out, there’s a chance Celtic may offer the match as a stream on Celtic TV, allowing more supporters to tune in.

This situation highlights one of the main drawbacks of the current SPFL broadcasting deal. While it provides decent coverage and exposure for Scottish football, the limitation on how many home matches can be broadcast from each ground means that some key fixtures inevitably miss out. In this case, a high-stakes clash between two teams with title ambitions has fallen victim to the scheduling restrictions.

For now, fans will have to hope that Celtic make the Game available via streaming, or rely on other forms of media to follow what promises to be an intense battle at Paradise.