Commercial broadcaster Telecinco said it was not interested in bidding for the free-to-air and internet rights in Spain for the Formula One motor-racing championship in 2012 and 2013, leaving rival Antena 3 as clear favourite to win the contract.
Friday is the deadline for bids for the rights, which are being sold by the Mediapro agency. The ADSL Zone website said that Telecinco had criticised the bidding process as “not transparent.”
Antena 3 has said it would be interested in the rights if they were profitable.
Mediapro terminated La Sexta’s contract to show Formula One last month after the commercial broadcaster was unable to pay a rights fee instalment for the 2012 season due to decreasing advertising revenues.
The new season starts on March 18 in Melbourne, Australia.