Premier Sports extend League Cup deal

Premier Sports has extended its deal to broadcast the Scottish League Cup to 2031, the SPFL has announced.

The tournament will continue to be known as the Premier Sports Cup for the duration of the deal, which has been extended by four years.

Premier Sports has also agreed a deal to broadcast a minimum of four matches from the Challenge Cup, which has been reformatted and rebranded as the KDM Evolution Trophy.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster described it as "brilliant news" as the league "place great value on our long-standing partnership with Premier Sports".

The Premier Sports Cup group stage starts this weekend with Hearts' game against Dunfermline Athletic topping the bill on Saturday.

Holders Celtic, Rangers, Hibernian, Dundee United, and Aberdeen have been given a bye to the last 16 because of European commitments.