Celtic open up on Sky Sports

Celtic will begin the defence of their Scottish Premier League title in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

The champions will unfurl the 2012/13 flag prior to the home match against Ross County on Saturday, August 3, with the game now kicking off at 5.15pm.

The following day, Motherwell, who finished runners-up to the Hoops last season, travel to Easter Road to face Hibernian, live on Sky Sports at 1.15pm.

And Hibs will feature live again seven days later when they face Hearts at Tynecastle (12.05pm) in the first Edinburgh derby of the season.

In the final match of the broadcaster's first SPL release, Jackie McNamara's Dundee United entertain Celtic at Tannadice on Sunday, August 31 (12.45pm).

Sky Sports will show 30 live Scottish football matches a season, including five live Rangers fixtures from the Scottish Football League, as part of a deal which will last for at least the next four seasons.

For Scottish football fans, the Sky Sports schedule includes SPL and SFL and all of Scotland's home internationals plus coverage for viewers with Sky across TV, online, mobile and tablet devices through Sky Go.

Viewers will also be able to see highlights plus extensive news, views and analysis across Sky Sports News HD and skysports.com.

Throughout 2013/14, Sky Sports viewers can also enjoy live coverage from the Barclays Premier League, Football League, UEFA Champions League, La Liga and a host of international fixtures.