TVI set to seal Champions League rights

Portuguese commercial broadcaster TVI is set to seal a deal to show free-to-air coverage of the Uefa Champions League European football tournament.

Pay-television broadcaster Eleven Sports, which has rights for the competition in Portugal, confirmed that it had entered exclusive talks with TVI over a sublicensing deal.

The agreement would initially cover the 2018-19 season.

Eleven said that it would announce further details this week.

When it acquired Champions League rights in Portugal for the three seasons from 2018-19 to 2020-21 in May, Eleven said that it would guarantee free-to-air exposure of some matches.

Eleven has also reached an agreement for its channels to be carried by the Nowo pay-television operator.