Chile looks to kick off pay-TV football
Details
Juan Fernandez Gonzalez
| 12 September 2017

Following the Argentinean model, Chile’s football federation is aiming to close a deal with a major pay-TV group to boost rights commercialisation.

Though not many details have been revealed, there’s an ongoing process to sell the broadcasting rights of Canal del Fútbol (CDF), a single network that covers Chile’s national football competitions. The network is owned by the football association ANFP (which has an 80% share) and an investor group led by Jorge Claro.

The process is scheduled to close by 30 September, although this might be extended if no satisfactory agreement is reached.

According to La Tercera and El Mercurio, Turner, which has a strong position in the Andean market, FOX and beIN Sports have all presented strong bids for the rights. Liberty Global through VTR and ESPN has also shown interest.

The ANFP is aiming to increase the value of Chilean football, as Argentina succeeded in doing with its football rights earlier this year. After eight seasons of free-to-air broadcasting, Argentina sold its football TV rights to a FOX-Turner joint venture.