Luis Rubiales offered the package for 15 million a year and no one has bid because it is impossible to make a profit
There are only seven days left to start the 22/23 season in the First Federation and the television rights have not yet been awarded. The prohibitive amount of 15 million euros a year has scared away all the companies and producers interested in taking over the television rights package of the third national category.
Luis Rubiales, president of the RFEF, has waited as long as possible to see if any of the interested companies bid for fifteen million a year, in a three-year contract that would mean a total outlay of 45 million euros. Within the requirements, the Spanish Federation requires a minimum of four cameras and a maximum of six in the most important meetings of the season.
Last year it was Footters that was in charge of broadcasting the First Federation, in an agreement sealed in August 2021. The company ended up allying with a Luxembourg entity called Fuchs Sports, which after said agreement broke the contract with Footters in a way unilaterally in a case that ended up in court. Finally, the Seville court agreed with Footters on March 8 of this year.
Several autonomous communities are interested in allying with Footters and presenting a proposal before the start of the championship
Footters’ contract was until 2024. The RFEF decided that, instead of marketing the audiovisual package club by club, a complete package of the entire competition would be offered. In this way, he annulled the Footters contract and put the new package up for auction for this season.
A package that, in case of not having a bid for the initial 15 million euros, may be put up for auction again, with the RFEF opting for the best economic offer. All the audiovisual companies interested in broadcasting the competition consider that the starting price is abusive, and that it would not be possible to amortize the amount paid during the three-year contract.
The RFEF hides behind the fact that the amount demanded is due to the promise to the 40 clubs in the competition, including Real Murcia, to pay them a predetermined amount of that agreement. Without a doubt, an air ball that will surely come in handy for the clubs. However, the price is very high. And no one bids.
Vodafone was interested at first, but knowing the financial amounts demanded by the RFEF has not even submitted an offer. Therefore, although there are other interested proposals, it seems that the ‘war’ will be reduced to two candidates.
Footters or Fuchs Sports
The first option, and the one that today starts with more options, is for Footters to take over the audiovisual package in a joint bid with some regional television channels such as TVG (Galicia), TV3 (Catalonia) and PTV (Córdoba). It is unknown if La7 TV, the regional network of the Region of Murcia, would join or, as seems more feasible, could broadcast a Real Murcia match on time. The price of Footters for fans was, last season, 9.99 euros per month to watch the First and Second RFEF matches, as well as the first two rounds of the Copa del Rey. The annual price was 69.99 euros.
The second candidacy would be that of Fuchs Sports, the Luxembourg company that broke the previous contract with Footters. Go&GoTV, through Fuchs, would be the platform where the First Federation could be seen this season. It was through this platform that it was also possible to follow the end of last season in the category, as well as the promotion phase. In fact, in the month of June they already offered the pack of 49.99 euros per year to see the First Federation 22/23, with the ‘play-off’ for promotion to the Second Division included, or 3.99 euros per match.
Fuchs Sports does not generate confidence in the clubs, after the non-payments to the RFEF as a result of the rupture of the contractual relationship with Footters. The Spanish Federation stated that it would end up assuming the payment of these amounts.
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