The Ekstraklasa, the top division of football in Poland, has set a deadline of tomorrow (Wednesday) for final bids from the four parties in contention for its pay-television rights.
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, with the 2015-16 campaign due to begin on July 17.
The Ekstraklasa said bids are set to be discussed at a meeting on June 10, where it may make the decision to choose a partner or partners, undertake additional negotiations or reject the offers entirely. The league did not disclose the identity of the four broadcasters in contention for the rights.
Polish internet company Onet and the Polish division of media company Ringier Axel Springer last month agreed four-season extensions to their digital rights packages for the Ekstraklasa.
The new contract, which will run from 2015-16 to 2018-19, represented the first domestic deal agreed under the Ekstraklasa’s next media rights window.
The Ekstraklasa’s incumbent rights-holder, pay-television platform NC Plus, is widely considered the favourite to secure rights in the next cycle.