Ekstraklasa agrees first domestic deal under new rights window

Polish internet company Onet and the Polish division of media company Ringier Axel Springer have agreed four-year extensions to their digital rights packages for the Ekstraklasa, the country’s top football division.

The new contract, which will run from the 2015-16 to 2018-19 season, represents the first domestic deal agreed under the Ekstraklasa’s next media rights window.

Under their deal, Onet and Ringier Axel Springer Polska will be able to show goals and other clips from the Ekstraklasa online and through mobile platforms.

In September, the MP & Silva agency agreed an advisory deal with the league for the six seasons from 2015-16 to 2020-21. However, a broadcast rights deal has yet to be agreed for the period commencing next season.

Regarding the current state of talks, Ekstraklasa chief executive Bogusław Biszof said: “To finalise the sale of all the rights we have time until mid-July, when the 2015-16 Ekstraklasa season will start.”

Biszof said he expects the new rights window to produce record revenues, adding: “Of course, the criteria for the sale of individual packages will not only be financial conditions but also the credibility of a partner, coverage offered, subscriber base and users, and many others.”