Fans will be able to watch live Scottish football in the pub

Satellite broadcaster Setanta won the exclusive TV rights to show 38 live top-flight matches each season.

But it came under fire for charging subscribers �119 to watch coverage which was free on the BBC last season.

Now Sky has agreed to screen Setanta's SPL games in 5,000 Scottish pubs and 35,000 across the UK at no extra cost.

'Positive move'

A Sky spokesman said: "This is fantastic news for our commercial customers who will receive Setanta Sports' live SPL games as part of their existing Sky package."

A Setanta spokeswoman said: "We are delighted, this is a very positive move."

Setanta paid �35m for the SPL rights for four years and reports have claimed they need 100,000 customers to stay afloat.

It was announced last month that the best of SPL action will return to terrestrial television under a new four-year deal.

STV and Grampian TV will screen the SPL highlights in an hour-long programme broadcast each Monday from 9 August.