Chilean commercial broadcaster Canal 13 acquired the rights to the 2015 Copa America in a deal worth $12 million (€9.16 million).
The fee rose by 380 per cent from the $2.5 million for the 2011 Copa America paid by Canal 13 and state broadcaster Televisión Nacional de Chile. The increase was due to the fact that Chile is expected to host the 2015 tournament, as well as strong competition in the market, according to website La Tercera.
“The best offer by a long way came from Canal 13, which paid an historic amount,” the Asociación Nacional de Fútbol, the Chilean football federation, said.
Other bidders for the rights included: Televisión Nacional de Chile; commercial channel Chilevisión; general-entertainment channel Mega; and pay-television football channel Canal de Fútbol. As part of the contract, Canal 13 has to sublicense a package of rights to Mega, which made the second-highest bid.
The $12 million rights fee will be divided between rights-holder Conmebol, South American football’s governing body, and the Uruguay-based Full Play Group, the exclusive commercial agent for the rights to the 2015, 2019 and 2023 tournaments. It is understood that Conmebol will earn about $9 million and Full Play $3 million from the sale of the rights.
Chile is set to host the tournament following an agreement between the Chilean football federation and the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol, the Brazilian football federation. Brazil had been set to host it, but as it will also host the 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup, the 2014 Fifa World Cup and the 2016 summer Olympic Games, it gave up the hosting rights to prevent further changes to the domestic football league season. Brazil is expected to host the 2019 tournament. Conmebol is yet to confirm the change.