Belgian Cup gains uplift in value through new rights deals

Public-service broadcaster VRT, French-language commercial broadcaster RTL-TVI and Flemish-language counterpart VTM have acquired domestic rights to club football competition the Belgian Cup.

The three-season deals will take hold for the 2018-19 to 2020-21 campaigns and were assigned by the general assembly of the Pro League, the organising body of the top division of club football.

VRT has secured six matches of its choice per season, including the final and maximum of two of the quarter final matches. VRT has also landed highlights and video clips rights to the Cup.

VTM has also landed six matches of its choice, but must allow VRT to have the first choice of games.

RTL-TVI has secured the rights for six matches of its choice including at least the final and a maximum of two quarter-finals, as well as match highlights.

Pro League chief executive Pierre François said the deals have come with a significant financial uplift.

He said, according to the Het Laatste Nieuws newspaper: “The revenues from the TV rights of the Croky Cup have increased by 51 per cent. That is a fantastic result.”

The Croky Cup is the official name of the tournament, under a title sponsorship deal which commenced with the 2015-16 season.