Spanish watchdog ends La Liga-Mediaset conflict


Details

Juan Fernandez Gonzalez

| 19 January 2016




Spain's Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC) has put an end to the dispute between La Liga and Mediaset.



The resolution of the conflict, which started when La Liga decided to ban Mediaset journalists from football stadiums because of its broadcasting rights policy, clearly benefits the media group over La Liga.

To begin with, the CNMC has stated that La Liga can’t ban any media from the stadiums, as the public’s right to information has to be upheld.

In addition, Mediaset's networks will be able to broadcast 90-second recaps of each match as opposed to the previous allowance of 90 seconds of La Liga images only. The CNMC has ruled that La Liga can’t be so protective about the rights of match highlights, which were initially sold to the public broadcaster RTVE.

The decision the extent to which the CNCM is willing to interfere in the football TV business, just as the agreements for the next three seasons are being negotiated.

In a move thought to avoid exclusivity restrictions, Telefónica last week paid €2.4 billion to Mediapro for the beIN Sports’ La Liga channel over the next three seasons. The CNMC is expected to comment on this deal soon, as competitors are already complaining.