Fed-up Celtic fans are being hit in the pocket again as they face forking out for a pay per view broadcast for the FIFTH time this season.
The bill is now standing at a whopping £76 for Hoops supporters looking to catch their heroes in away games not screened by Sky, where packages cost some in excess of £35 a month.
There is a full Premiership card tomorrow night with the league leaders at Pittodrie to face Aberdeen and Rangers at home to Hibs as the title race enters another vital phase.
But broadcast partners Sky are not showing any of the matches.
The same thing happened back in October when Celtic were at Hibs and Rangers hosted Aberdeen – there was a black-out with six games not chosen by broadcaster.
And as Celtic fans have to cough up again, Rangers supporters have hardly been affected as only one of their away games – Dundee on September 25 – was not shown live by Sky Sports.
The difference for fans of other clubs in the top flight is that they are invariably able to watch their team in every home game and away match due to demand – but with away allocations tighter, the vast majority of Celtic followers have no choice but to pay out for live streams.
And Celtic supporters have long been used to watching their team on TV when playing away from Parkhead, the new Sky deal has changed how matches are consumed.
A deal was struck last year that allows clubs to offer all of their home games as a season pass – and they are allowed to sell any match not being broadcast by Sky on a pay per view basis.
There is no regulation on charges so some clubs have tried to cash in.
Here’s how it has broken down for Celtic:
September 19 – Livingston 1, Celtic 0 - £20
October 16 – Motherwell 0, Celtic 2 - £12
October 27 – Hibs 1, Celtic 3 - £15
December 14 – Ross County 1, Celtic 2 - £15
February 9 – Aberdeen v Celtic - £14
TOTAL - £76
Celtic’s next three away matches in the Premiership are all being covered by Sky – Hibs on February 27, Livingston on March 6 and Rangers on April 3.
