Fox Sports, a division of US network Fox, denied reports that it had offered to acquire Brazilian pay-broadcaster Bandsports for $80 million (€60 million) in a bid to circumvent a carriage dispute that has restricted the reach of the network’s sports channels in the country.
According to the F5 media news website, Fox, which has rights for the Copa Libertadores, offered to buy Bandsports and use it to broadcast the continental club football competition, because Fox is struggling to get carriage deals for its new channel in Brazil. Brazil’s major pay-television operators have so far balked at Fox’s demand for a carriage fee of $1.50 per subscriber per month, and a place on basic cable-television packages, according to the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper.
Fox’s channel launched in Brazil on February 5, but its penetration is currently limited by the lack of distribution agreements.
“It is important to clarify that we have not made any offer to buy the Bandsports channel and… Fox Sports does not intend to pass the rights for the Copa Libertadores to any other channel that is not part of the Fox International Channels group,” Fox Sports said.
Bandsports said there had been “discussions about partnership” with Fox Sports, but played down the possibility of a takeover.
If a buy-out is completed, Fox Sports would not be able to re-brand the Bandsports channel until 2014 due to contractual agreements. However, it would be able to show Copa Libertadores matches live on Bandsports if the channel comes under its control.