Univision Deportes has reached a 10-year agreement with CONCACAF to broadcast confederation matches in the United States.
The contract was executed last week and was expected to be announced today.
Running through 2022, the deal is the longest broadcast agreement in CONCACAF’s history. It secures long term for Univision rights to events it has held individually and on shorter terms in the past.
Those rights include the exclusive Spanish and Portuguese broadcast rights to CONCACAF’s Gold Cup and Champions League and several other tournaments. Matches will air on several of Univision Deportes’ platforms, including Univision, TeleFutura and Univision Deportes Network, as well as online and via mobile. Financial terms of the deal were unavailable.
“This substantial deal demonstrates the growing interest in the game among American fans and will ensure millions more can enjoy their favorite matches throughout the United States,” said CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb in a statement.
The final match between the United States and Mexico at last year’s Gold Cup, a 12-nation tournament held every two years, was the highest-rated sports broadcast in Univision’s history, with more than 10.8 million viewers. Between 2009 and 2011, Spanish-language viewership for the Gold Cup increased 36 percent.
“With this groundbreaking deal,” said Juan Carlos Rodriguez, president of Univision Deportes, “we are delivering the richest soccer rights portfolio in Hispanic sports media.”
Univision holds the U.S. Spanish-language broadcast rights to the 2014 FIFA World Cup; the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup; the national teams of Mexico, the United States, France and Germany; France’s Ligue 1; and Major League Soccer, among other teams and tournaments.
