LaLiga set to launch domestic rights tender

LaLiga, the new brand name for the Spanish Football League, will proceed with a tender process for the domestic rights to the top two divisions of Spanish football following the receipt of a report from the country’s competition regulator, the Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y La Competencia (CNMC).

LaLiga today (Wednesday) said that it had received the CNMC report in relation to its model of centralised marketing of broadcast rights with clubs over the three seasons spanning 2015-16 to 2017-18.

LaLiga said that it had worked closely with the CNMC over the past month on improving its model of centralised marketing, including the suggestions made by the regulator, even though the watchdog’s recommendations are non-binding.

“Today, LaLiga will proceed with the publication of its petition on the bases to present the offers for the acquisition of the central commercialised audio-visual rights in Spain and continue collaborating with the CNMC during all of the procedure to ensure the success of a project, destined to offer a revolutionary product, benefitting the clubs, broadcasters and football fans,” LaLiga said.

The centralised model had been planned for the 2016-17 season, but has been brought forward after the Mediapro agency agreed to cancel its one-season deals with 38 of the 42 Primera and Segunda División clubs for 2015-16. This allowed these rights to be passed to LaLiga.