Spanish basketball league finalises domestic TV coverage

Spanish public-service broadcaster TVE’s coverage of the domestic basketball league under a rights deal beginning this season will include one match per week on Saturday and the first-choice game on Sundays from the top division. Coverage will be on its digital terrestrial sports channel Teledeporte.

The Forta group of regional public-service broadcasters will show the second-choice game from the top division, Liga Endesa, on Sundays.

The league this week approved the new contracts, which were first reported by TVSM Daily in May this year. The deals run from 2012-13 to 2015-16.

TVE’s deal is also understood to include rights for the Copa del Rey knockout tournament.

According to the AS news website, TVE will pay about €2.5 million ($3.15 million) per year in rights fees and advertising. The previous deal is understood to have been worth at least €5 million per year.

TVE’s budget has been cut by the Spanish government as a result of the economic problems affecting the country.