Santos has become the second Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club to formally accept the offer submitted by sports broadcaster Esporte Interativo for the pay-television rights to the top division of Brazilian football.
The Sao Paulo club confirmed its stance in a statement following a board meeting on Friday. Esporte Interativo last month confirmed it had submitted a bid of BRL550m (€126m/$139m) per year to secure the Série A pay-television rights. The rights would cover six years, from 2019 to 2024.
Esporte Interativo said the offer was significantly higher than the BRL98m per year set to be offered by incumbent rights-holder, media company Globo, for the pay-television rights.
Santos said the move was a “strategic decision” as it seeks to further increase its positioning in the Brazilian and international game. Santos president Modesto Roma Júnior added: “It’s not just innovation. Our intention is to seek modernity in football.”
Earlier this month, Atlético Paranaense became the first Série A club to formally accept the offer submitted by Esporte Interativo. Globo currently has the pay-television and free-to-air Série A rights until the end of the 2018 season.