*ESPN, Sky extend Scottish Premier League rights The Scottish Premier League has agreed a television deal with Sky Sports and ESPN which will run until the end of the 2016-17 season. They will pay a combined £80 million to continue to screen 30 live SPL matches each per season. The figure represents an increase of £3 million a year on the existing broadcast agreement due to end in 2014.The SPL had considered not extending its TV contracts beyond this season, which it was entitled to do due to a break clause in the existing deal which runs to the summer of 2014. Had it done so, the SPL could have established its own, standalone pay-per-view channel.*