The Argentinian government revealed a "shake up of TV rights for domestic football competitions, with matches involving the biggest clubs to be shown exclusively on private channels," according to Bala Chambers of the ARGENTINA INDEPENDENT. Games for four clubs -- Boca Juniors, River Plate, Racing, and Independiente -- will be televised by Canal 13 and Telefé, "channels owned by media conglomerate Grupo Clarín and telecommunications company Telefónica, respectively." The rights to Nacional B (second division) and the Copa Argentina "will be returned" to the Argentina FA. Those matches "are set to be shown on TyC Sports, another channel owned by Clarín." The remaining fixtures will continue to be shown on Fútbol Para Todos, the state TV program set up to "guarantee universal access to domestic football." FPT Dir Fernando Marín "agreed to hand over rights" to both Canal 13 and Telefé in exchange for an estimated $180M, around 10% of the total budget for the program in '16. However, some have criticized "the change to the rights." Uruguayan sports journalist Víctor Hugo Morales believes that "by only paying 10% of the fees, Clarín and Telefónica are to reap the far ranging financial gains through private advertisement, whilst the state does not gain anything." Another concern is that the "deal will restrict viewers’ access to key league games." Though Telefé and Canal 13 are free-to-air channels, "they are not available in all parts of the country" (ARGENTINA INDEPENDENT, 1/22).
