Rangers fans forced to shell out another tenner

As if the rising cost of living wasn’t bad enough, Rangers fans unable to attend tomorrow are to be fleeced for another £10 after Rangers’ TV channel secured exclusive rights to broadcast the Champions League qualification showdown with Belgians Union Saint.

Europa and CL qualifiers are usually spread between the club channel and Premier Sports, with BT only getting involved when it’s group stages.

But of course for most users that means a £10+ subscription to Premier Sports and a further £10 a pop when RTV get them exclusively.

The fact the club secured these exclusive rights does mean those already paying up to £13 a month for Premier Sports also have to shell out that extra tenner, and in this age of rising costs and living crises with lower wages and higher prices, we can’t help wondering why the club got it exclusively, thereby making those who already pay for Premier Sports have to shell out further money for this one too.

Of course, we’re well aware punters will find ‘other’ means to watch it for free, and while we rarely endorse this, we certainly won’t condemn it this time given folk are already struggling to fund Premier Sports as it is so these exclusive rights seem a little unfair.

Similarly, it’s possible Premier Sports weren’t interested in this leg (unlikely) meaning rather than the rights being a ‘fight’ between they and RTV, the ‘exclusivity’ is in fact by default.

But probably not.

No, this one is a bit unfair by the club channel and it just isn’t helping at a time when finances are bad enough.

Not ideal.