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The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and Disney have extended their Brazilian broadcast partnership, ensuring that the ESPN pay-TV network retains its coverage of the Copa del Rey knockout club competition.
Contract:
- Four-team Spanish Supercopa mini-tournament also included in the renewal
- Coverage will be split between ESPN and Disney’s regional Star+ streaming service
Context:
Last year, after signing domestic Copa del Rey agreements with Telefonica-owned pay-TV network Movistar+, and public service broadcaster RTVE, Spanish soccer’s governing body said that it was aiming to generate more than €40 million (US$42.71 million) a year over the tournament’s next rights cycle.
According to 2Playbook, the Copa del Rey’s new rights deals in Spain US and Canada deal increased in value by 27 per cent, while the deals for Mexico and South America were up 42 per cent on the previous agreements.
Coming next:
ESPN has a strong European soccer offering in Brazil, with the Premier League, Serie A and Ligue 1 also in its portfolio. The extension with the RFEF ensures the sports network will be able to air more than 400 Spanish soccer matches each season, across LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa.
Uefa’s Brazilian rights deal with Warner Bros Discovery for Europe’s elite Champions League club tournament expires at the end of next season and will almost certainly fall into ESPN crosshairs.
