Liberty Global’s Dutch premium TV channel Sport1 "has again acquired the exclusive broadcast rights to La Liga," according to Chris Dziadul of BROADBAND TV NEWS. The acquisition "includes the rights to live broadcasts and extended highlights on TV and broadband internet." At least six games from the Spanish competition "will be televised for each round and all games will be provided live" on Sport1’s Internet platform (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 7/16). SOCCEREX reported meanwhile in Italy, Fox Sports "has been awarded the rights to La Liga
after the pay-TV network saw off a rival bid from Mediaset Premium in
an auction run by Mediapro." Spanish telecom group Mediapro
"currently holds the licence to market the rights to La Liga
internationally."
According to reports, Fox Sports’ bid of around €15M ($16M) "was enough to clinch the deal" (SOCCEREX, 7/19).
ESPN RENEWS DEAL: ESPN Int'l renewed a broad multimedia rights agreement to broadcast Spain’s La Liga and the Liga Adelante in Brazil. The agreement includes exclusive rights for all TV and Internet and non-exclusive radio rights for all La Liga and Liga Adelante matches per season through '20, along with the annual promotion and relegation playoff matches. Under the agreement, ESPN has the right to air all 380 La Liga matches and more than 80 hours of highlights, magazine and other support programming each season. The deal was brokered by Mediapro (ESPN).