FC Barcelona has said it will broadcast through its own media channels all home matches played by its women’s team in the Primera Iberdrola, Spanish football’s top-tier women’s league.
In a statement, Barcelona said it has taken action in a bid to ensure the growth of women’s football, make it more visible and available to the public and allow sponsors to drive more return on their investment.
With this in mind, Barcelona said it will broadcast all Primera Iberdrola matches played at the Estadi Johan Cruyff during the 2019-20 season. It will also distribute, free of charge, highlights clips of up to two minutes in duration to all media entities that request it.
Barcelona’s decision marks the latest development in an ongoing battle over the rights to the Primera Iberdrola. The Mediapro agency last month spoke out against Barcelona after the club defied a court order by broadcasting its match against Atlético de Madrid in the Primera Iberdrola.
Atlético is part of a 12-team group of clubs in the Primera Iberdrola whose media rights were purchased collectively by Mediapro earlier this year, agreeing a three-season deal worth €3m ($3.3m) per season.
Barcelona is one of four clubs who did not sign with Mediapro and whose collective rights belong to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). The other three clubs are Athletic Club, Tacon and Sevilla.