Uefa, European football’s governing body, has signed media rights agreements for the European qualifying matches for the Euro 2016 and 2018 Fifa World Cup national team competitions in the territories of Portugal, Belgium, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
The agreements concern all live matches, with the exception of those featuring the respective national team, and complement the rights granted by Uefa under its umbrella agreement with the European Broadcasting Union for the live broadcast of the respective countries’ national team qualifiers.
In Belgium, pay-television broadcaster Telenet has acquired the Dutch-language rights to the European qualifiers. Telenet will be entitled to choose from all matches other than Belgium national team matches and will ensure that at least one match is shown live each match day on its Sporting Telenet 1 or Sporting Telenet 2 channels. In addition, Telenet will provide highlights and delayed coverage of all matches, including those of the national team. The French-language pay-television rights in Belgium have not been sold yet.
Portuguese pay-television broadcaster Sport TV will broadcast multiple matches per kick-off slot on a live basis. Sport TV will also broadcast delayed coverage of Portugal’s matches, as well as a highlights wrap-up programme each match day evening.
Liberty Global-owned broadcaster Chello Central Europe has acquired the media rights for Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia following a competitive tender process in each market.
In each country, the Sport1 and Sport2 channels will broadcast live coverage of one match per kick-off slot. Sport1 will also broadcast a highlights programme each match day as well as delayed coverage of the respective national team matches.
In line with Uefa’s platform-neutral approach to the sale of media rights, all matches will also be available in all territories via the internet and mobile technology.
The deals were brokered by CAA Eleven, the exclusive marketing agency appointed by Uefa to exploit media and commercial rights for national team football within Europe.