The collapse of previous SPL UK rights holder Setanta means the rights are effectively back on the market. At the end of last season, the SPL struck a £125m, four-year package with Setanta.
Speculation has been rife that the SPL has been conducting talks with Sky and ESPN over a new rights deal worth a reported £65m.
Rangers FC said, however, that it is looking to buy the rights - a move which could precede the launch of a new TV channel backed by the clubs - because the terms on offer from Sky and ESPN are "so low".
A joint statement said: "Rangers and Celtic have had discussions with regard to buying out the SPL television rights. Both clubs felt obliged to do this given the offer from Sky and ESPN is so low. We have no further comment at this stage."
However, the SPL said it has not yet received a proposal from the two clubs in relation to its UK TV rights. A spokesman said: "We have not had any discussions. Until we do we are not in a position to comment."
With the new SPL season kicking off on 15 August, the SPL spokesman did, however, insist that a new rights deal would be struck "soon".
Any deal between the SPL and the two "Old Firm" clubs would need the backing of the other 10 SPL clubs. And the two factions have not always seen eye to eye. It is thought that at the end of last season, Rangers and Celtic wanted to extend their rights deal with Sky, but were overruled by the rest of the league.
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