The Scottish Premier League (SPL) has agreed a partnership with YouTube after sealing a three-year deal with the video-sharing platform, reports SportBusiness. The groundbreaking deal is a first for league football in the UK and will see the SPL's official YouTube channel, 'splofficial', screen highlights from every Premier League match. The 'splofficial' channel will also cover pre and post-match reaction from players and managers, as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes features.
Match highlights of Saturday games will be available for supporters in the UK and Ireland from 18:00 GMT on Sundays, while overseas fans will be able to access the content from 22:00 on the evening of a game.
Commenting on the SPL's partnership with YouTube, the League's commercial manager, Stuart MacPhee, said: "Launching the 'splofficial' channel represents a new chapter in online fan engagement for our league.
Making Clydesdale Bank Premier League content available on YouTube will allow fans to access all the best action, on and off the pitch, whenever they want and wherever they are, be it at home on the laptop or on their smartphone on the bus to work."
Stephen Nuttall, senior director of sports for YouTube Europe, Middle East and Africa, added: "Football fans worldwide naturally go to YouTube to catch up on goals and highlights. Our partnership with the Scottish Premier League will give the global YouTube audience access to all aspects of Scottish football from the best on-field action to exclusive behind-the-scenes footage."
