Belgian Pro League Ponders Launch Of Own Private Television Channel

The Belgian Pro League "may team up with MP & Silva and Screen Capital International to create its own private TV channel," according to Samindra Kunti of INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL. MP & Silva holds the rights of the Pro League, the Belgian top-flight, "which were sold to broadcaster Sporting Telenet and Proximus TV." The distributor "lost money on the deal" as it had paid €70M ($74M) for the rights, but only generated about €65M ($69M) in revenue for the '14-15 season. MP & Silva "has subsequently rekindled the proposal" that the Pro League should have its own TV channel. MP & Silva informed the clubs of its ambitions and introduced them to Screen Capital Int'l, a prospective investor from the U.S. The company "is said to be willing to invest millions, but the exact amount is undisclosed" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 3/12).