Advanced Television

Telefonica-Mediapro’s football deal probe

January 22, 2016

From David Del Valle in Madrid

The Spanish Competition watchdog CNMC is looking into the recent football TV agreement between Telefonica and Mediapro, requesting that they modify it to guarantee third parties access to the rights under the free competition ruling.

The watchdog has warned that Telefonica could be failing to fulfil one of the conditions imposed by the regulator to approve the merger with Canal Plus that banned the company from exclusive content and channel agreements.

Both Vodafone and Orange have complained about the deal and have requested Telefonica open up the rights to others.

Telefonica and media group Mediapro recently reached an agreement for Telefonica’s pay-TV platform Movistar Plus to buy the rights to La Liga and the Champions League for the next three years, starting in 2016-2017.

Telefonica will pay Mediapro €2.4 billion for adding Mediapro-distributed BeIN Sports La Liga and Champions channels including all matches from La Liga, La Copa del Rey and the European Champions and UEFA leagues to Movistar’s line-up, starting immediately and continuing through the 2017-2018 season.

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