We can't really derive objective logical principles from completely arbitrary concepts like "derbies" and "run of the mill SPL games".

Celtic vs Arbroath was such an uninspiring prospect on paper (though not in reality as it turned out) that even Celtic fans didn't bother to go along and watch it. That's more of an exception than anything else - the majority of Rangers and Celtic games have traditionally been shown on TV regardless of who they're playing, and almost completely independently of any calculation as to how exciting the game is likely to be. It's perfectly understandable from a TV perspective, but let's not pretend that the size of the support base has nothing to do with it.

Of course you can.


Celtic v Raith would not be shown.

Raith v Celtic is.

There's a reason for that, and it's not just connected to support base.

So to summarise, TV companies should show games with teams from different divisions as a priority, but only when the bigger team is playing away from home, and not when there's a derby between two SPL sides. Support base somehow fits into this equation somewhere as well, but it's not really that important. Simple...

Instead of reducing things to obscure sets of arbitrary rules, it might be a better idea to just look at the two games and decide which one is likely to be more interesting. In this case we've got Celtic almost certainly grinding out a dreary one-sided win against a team with a fraction of their resources, or two of the better sides in the SPL likely playing an evenly contested game that's of massive importance to both sides.

Don't you realise that in comparing games, they do apply the so-called "arbitrary rules"?

No, we have the SPL champions, who have a history of going out of cups against lower league sides, travelling to a reasonable First Division team that will be well-up for the game.

Compare that to a fixture between two SPL teams that will happen four other times this season and has no history or meaningful back-story to it.

SFA challenge Kenny Shiels claim of being 'totally exonerated' as he found to be in breach of the rule covering misconduct but the panel decided on no further action.

Andrew Dallas has referred the comments made by Kenny Shiels with regard to the outcome of the panel to the SFA. Dallas is apparently "surprised and disappointed" by the allegation that he made an "outrageous fabrication" of evidence.

Sounds entirely sensible to me and I suspect most folk.

2974 fans at St Johnstone v Hearts

Booming you say........

Yawn.

Who said "booming".

All we say is most Rangers' comments are quite irrelevant as is this, as if it had anything to do with Rangers not being in the SPL.

Rangers absence does not effect anything like as much as some might like to pretend and Armageddon is not at hand. Nice though that i get the impression some of them would love other clubs to go bust or near it, so warped have they become..

Some folk just like to be heard, and if folk respond to such ( as I maybe foolishly have ) we;are then accused of being too bothered about Rangers,

I'm afraid most folk really aren't bothered at all. Just getting on with the SPL while Rangers get along with their stuff.

"Yawn" was probably a more succinct response

Some great scores in the SPL today ... what an exciting league

St Johnstone v Hearts on 25 September 2011 attracted a crowd of 2,770.

Obsessed.

Ha Ha, I had been tempted to look it up. Glad you did

But as I already said any sensible person knew that Rangers absence from the SPL was basically irrelevant to this.. Certainly no reason that clubs should expect to attract less spectators for such fixtures.

Hey as a St Johnstone / Hearts supporter I was thinking of going to the match, but **** it, Rangers aren't in the SPL so what's the point, even if anything it makes the SPL more competitive.

Dooby dooby doo .

Which is more than can be said about St Johnstone, Hearts or the majority of SPL supporters, obviously.

St Johnstone v Hearts on 25 September 2011 attracted a crowd of 2,770.

Still obsessed with the SPL ... cue the 'Hearts' supporter telling everyone else they are obsessed with Rangers

Great day for the blue and the green hoops ... long time since that could be said

Again, some incredible scores in the SPL. Who says this league is boring?

Super stuff in the SPL today. Must be one of the most exciting seasons ever witnessed in the history of the Scottish top flight. Great to see

Ha Ha, steady... It doesn't take much to wind up many Rangers supporters so you don't need to really try.

Then again, I don't believe you've got much experience of the Scottish top flight

More people watched the SPL today that the SFL1,2 and 3 put together.

Surely proves beyond any doubt that fans want to see SPL football

Just on such a high cause QPR have got off the bottom of the league

Well, case proven from my POV at least

SPL attendances - 76983
The The Rangers attendance - 4205

The only show in town.

It was the Montrose attendance, actually. Biggest they've had since 1976, apparently. That was against Rangers as well as it happens.

And Montrose were playing The Rangers so it was their attendance as well.