Fox Sports and Turner Broadcasting, the US-headquartered pay-television broadcasters and rights-holders of the Argentinian Superliga, have pledged to void subscribers’ April payments for its football package.
The pair have echoed moves by certain broadcasters around the globe in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis after suddenly finding themselves without content for their core channels with events postponed or cancelled.
It is claimed that Fox and Turner’s gestures could extend beyond April if the sporting calendar continues to be ravaged by the virus’ effect. The April payments are to be deducted from customers’ bills in May.
Subscribers will be discounted the AR$665 ($10.34/€9.46) cost of their subscription for the month, but hope remains that the season can continue with behind-closed-doors matches in mid-to-late May. The Superliga was postponed indefinitely on March 16.
The ‘Football Pack’ subscription is offered by Turner and Fox through different pay-television operators in Argentina.
Meanwhile, Fox and Turner have moved to calm fears among the Superliga clubs by assuring them that payments will continue.
The pair acquired the domestic rights to the Argentine Superliga in a five-year deal which is set to expire after the 2021-22 season, though the broadcasters have the option to renew for a further five seasons.
The deal was brokered by the Torneos and Grupo Clarín agencies.
Broadcasters and rights-holders have been scrambling to retain subscribers in the last few weeks with similar decisions being taken in Australia, the UK and the US to protect revenue.