Mexican media group Televisa and commercial broadcaster TV Azteca are set to acquire domestic rights for American football’s NFL in three-year deals, from 2013-14 to 2015-16, according to news website El Economista.
Arturo Olivé, the director of the NFL Mexico division of the US league, said that he expected the agreements to be secured “months in advance” of the start of the 2013-14 season in September.
“We have spoken to all of our business partners since the start of the season and it has proved to be a breakthrough,” he said. “This year we will announce the successful conclusion [of the rights sales] much earlier.”
Olivé added that negotiating three-year deals for the NFL had been easier than selling rights for one season, which was the case for the current 2012-13 campaign.
“One year does not allow platforms to be built and businesses were uncertain,” he said. “That is why we went to [the NFL’s headquarters in] New York to ask them to extend the deadlines.”
Olivé said that audience ratings had increased for the NFL on Televisa and TV Azteca this season.