On This Day – 1st April
Television broadcasting history thirty years ago today as Rangers and Celtic played out the first ever match on satellite television.
The Old Firm Derby match was broadcast on British Satellite Broadcasting with the commentary team of Martin Tyler and Andy Gray.
live game shown on satellite television
Tyler and Gray would go on as a commentary partnership for the next 21 years on BSB, BSkyB and Sky Sports. The partnership would come to an end in 2011 when Andy Gray was dismissed by Sky Sports.
His dismissal came about after the former Scotland international made inappropriate and sexist comments about a female linesman.
In the Rangers and Celtic match on Sunday 1st April 1990, Rangers beat their rivals 3-0 with penalties from Mark Walters and Ally McCoist either side of a Mo Johnston goal. The victory ensured the three points and bragging rights across Glasgow until the next fixture between the two.
Rangers would go on and win the title, seven points ahead of second place Aberdeen. It was the second of their record nine league titles in a row. Celtic finished in 5th place, 17 points off Rangers and they missed out on the European places.
There is no doubt that Satellite television completely changed football. Money was ploughed into the game and footballers became celebrities and distanced themselves from fans. Clubs spent more and more money on transfer fees and player’s wages. This was a direct result of the money that Sky put into the game.
Sky outbid BBC and ITV in 1992 with an offer of £304 million for the rights to cover live Premier League football for five years. This began their huge investment into football over the coming years.
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