Atlético Paranaense has become the first Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club to formally accept the offer submitted by sports broadcaster Esporte Interativo for the pay-television rights to the top division of Brazilian football.
Atlético made the announcement at an extraordinary meeting, with the decision marking the end of media company Globo’s exclusivity in the broadcast of the Brasileiro – a position it has held for more than two decades.
Esporte Interativo last month confirmed it had submitted a bid of BRL550m (€126m/$139m) per year to secure the Série A pay-television rights. The rights would cover six years, from 2019 to 2024.
Esporte Interativo said the offer was significantly higher than the BRL98m per year set to be offered by incumbent rights-holder Globo for the pay-television rights.
In a statement, Atlético said it had accepted Esporte Interativo’s offer due to its proposal over the sharing of revenue between clubs. Esporte Interativo plans to split income more equitably than is currently the case.
The Maquina do Esporte website said the club will now seek to negotiate with Globo over contracts for other media platforms.
Globo currently has the pay-television and free-to-air Série A rights until the end of the 2018 season.