MADRID: LaLiga has launched an invitation to tender (ITT) for the audiovisual rights to the competition within the Indian Subcontinent, offering a range of packages to help the competition build on its growing presence in the region.
Bidders have been invited to submit offers for the 2021/22 season onwards, covering a minimum of three and a maximum of five seasons.
While issuing its ITT, LaLiga declared it was “very satisfied” with incumbent rights holder Facebook, which “has provided data to demonstrate consistent growth in the Indian Subcontinent”.
As per information available with SportzPower, when Facebook “tested Indian waters” with its three-year media rights deal (2018/29 to 2020/21) covering the subcontinet, the price at which the social media giant secured its deal was $13.5 million all told or $4.5 million a year. It bears noting though that Facebook was also doing wraparound production for the big games. To quote from the official release issued at the time, “In addition to the live matches, shoulder programming, including a full range of weekly preview shows and highlights, will be offered.”
It bears noting that this was itself a big markdown from the $25 million, or $6.25 million a year, that Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) had paid when it acquired four-year LaLiga broadcast rights, in the cycle prior to that scored by Facebook (2014/15 to 2017/18).
Coming back to the new tender, it includes the rights to broadcast the competition in eight countries: India, Afghanistan (non-exclusive basis), Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Designed to meet the needs of a diverse and fast-growing market, the tender provides different packages to help partners achieve the broadest distribution. These include rights to show all matches from LaLiga Santander, LaLiga SmartBank, LaLiga’s 24/7 English-language channel LaLigaTV and additional support programming, on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis.
“We are very satisfied with our current partner which has provided data to demonstrate our consistent growth in the Indian Subcontinent and our engagement with football fans,” said Melcior Soler, Audiovisual Director of LaLiga. “We see a huge opportunity going forward to deepen these connections and expand the profile of the competition.”
Bids Forms and the required documentation may be submitted from today (Monday, 11th January) until 8th February (12 noon CET) to the following email address: tender@laliga.es.
Any queries regarding the tender should be sent to tender@laliga.es before 25th January 2021.
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