La Sexta must profit from Liga deal, Antena 3 head says

Antena 3 chief executive Silvio González said rival commercial broadcaster La Sexta, which is set to merge with his company, would only renew Spanish Liga rights if the business was confident of making a profit from the deal.

Antena 3 confirmed on Wednesday that it is in advanced talks over a merger with La Sexta, which broadcasts one primetime Liga game per week on Saturdays. The existing Liga deal expires in June, and a new rights agreement would reportedly cost between €60m ($78m) and €70m per year.

“When the time arrives, [the company will] think about what the right price is for football,” González said, according to Europa Press. “I would not renew the football rights unless the deal was profitable.”

González added that the merged company would be committed to fulfilling La Sexta’s five-year broadcast deal for Formula One. The deal started in 2009 and will run through to the conclusion of the 2013 campaign.