The five Brasileiro clubs "considered to have the smallest fan bases are facing uncertainty" over the extension of their TV contracts, according to Paulo Passos of UOL.com.br. Ponte Preta, Nautico, Portuguesa, Figueirense and Atletico-GO were not contacted by broadcaster TV Globo to renew their contracts for the Campeonato Brasileiro. Contrary to the other 15 clubs in Brazil's top flight, these five have an annual contract that ends at the end of this season. Their rivals have contracts "that run through at least '15," with some even going to '17. Atletico-GO Football Dir Adison Batista said, "The clubs that have contracts and make the most don't give anything. It's the law of Muricy, everyone for themselves. Globo and these teams are suffocating the rest of the clubs. The league will become less and less even." The five clubs whose deals expire at the end of the season are believed to be receiving R$14M ($6.9M) annually from TV Globo, "eight times less" than what Corinthians and Flamengo are paid by TV Globo. Corinthians and Flamengo have the largest TV deals in the Brasileiro. Management from the five clubs also complained that they "suffer from unfair competition" in the transfer market. They claim clubs with larger TV deals have much more power in negotiations to acquire players. Since '11, TV Globo "negotiates directly with clubs" for the broadcasting of the Brasileiro (UOL.com.br, 8/28).
