It’s hardly a novel observation to suggest that BBC Sports Personality of the Year has lost its shine.

In the 1980s, ’90s and even early 2000s, it was the festive television highlight for so many, and I include myself in that group.

I’d record it – on a VHS tape, of course – so I could watch the best bits back.

Now, though, there barely are any best bits.

So much of SPOTY’s fall from grace is as a result of the BBC haemorrhaging the rights for sporting events.

At SPOTY’S best, it was a compelling and, most importantly, complete review of the sporting year.

Never were there gaping holes in the programme because the BBC didn’t have the rights to show the action.

In recent years, however, it’s like someone has taken a sledgehammer to the show such are the gaps in the look-back on the year , and it’s hard to see how the 2023 edition, which airs on Tuesday, will be any different.

That the show, which was once one of the jewels in the BBC’s crown, is taking place midweek says it all.

But the loss of broadcast rights for the BBC has far wider ramifications than merely turning SPOTY into a dirge.

Sport, and in turn society as a whole, suffers greatly from so many sports, and so many sporting occasions, not being available to watch on free-to-air television.

It’s no coincidence that athletes like Seb Coe, Steve Cram and Steve Ovett were, in their day, household names.........

© Herald Scotland