football;sport;television;broadcasting

The SNP has today spoken out against the Tories decision to continue Scotland’s football blackout on free to air TV as the Tories and Lib Dems abandon plans to ensure Scotland’s qualifying matches for international tournaments are available to all.

Scottish broadcasting would benefit from further devolution and independence, including the ability to show Scotland's football internationals, according to a new report from the Scottish Government today.

SNP Culture, Media and Sport Spokesperson, Pete Wishart MP has backed calls by the BBC Trust for all of Scotland's home and away qualifiers for the football World Cup and European Championships to be given protected free-to-view status within the BBC. Similar protection is also recommended for the Commonwealth Games.

SNP MSP Stuart McMillan will today call for a higher number of Scotland international football games to be reserved for free to air television.

SNP MSPs Keith Brown and Stuart McMillan have called on the UK Government to consider listing Scottish international football games as reserved for free to air television as they welcome a review of TV's sporting crown jewels.