A handful of Brasileirão Série A clubs have thrown their support behind media group Globo ahead of the new season after pay-television broadcaster Turner announced its intention to use the highly contentious ‘Provisional Measure 984/2020’ media-rights decree.
Atlético Mineiro, Atlético Goianiense and Corinthians have all told Globo they will join the broadcaster in any legal proceedings should their matches be shown using the PM984 decree without their consent, according to Brazilian media reports.
Turner has expressed its desire to exploit the measure as it feels that this will give it a stronger hand to renegotiate its existing deals.
The new Série A season kicks off on August 8 after having been delayed by three months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In that time, Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro announced the PM984/2020 decree, which places the power for media rights in the hands of the home side. Prior to the introduction of this provisional measure, both teams had been required to agree a broadcast deal for a match to be aired.
The decree, issued just over a month ago, is to remain in effect for 60 days from its commencement and then another 60-day period but still requires ratification from the Brazilian Congress in order to become law.
Globo recently wrote strongly-worded letters to both Turner and Red Bull Bragantino, a team which currently holds no deal with any broadcaster, saying that it will take them to court if they broadcast Série A matches.
PM984 has been used widely during the Carioca State Championship with Flamengo being the most prominent user of the new powers.
Globo repeatedly demonstrated that it was not afraid to go to court, claiming that the measure impeded its rights agreements that were acquired as part of the country’s Pelé Law.
However, Brazilian media have also reported that the measure has a large degree of support from 16 of the 20 Série A clubs who want the measure ratified into Brazilian law.
Globo is the dominant broadcaster of domestic Brazilian football, holding free-to-air and pay-per-view rights to all 20 Campeonato Série A clubs and pay-television rights of 12 Série A clubs. Turner holds pay-television rights to the remaining eight clubs.