Mediapro has said it "withdraws and fully retracts" its contestation of a decision by Spanish soccer's top-tier LaLiga to award its next broadcast production services contract to Host Broadcast Services (HBS) instead of the media rights and production agency.
In a statement, Spain-based Mediapro – which has a longstanding relationship with LaLiga, and still works with it around international distribution – has said it withdraws the contents of its own statement made just 11 days ago, in which it said that the tender process carried out by LaLiga, which resulted in the appointment of HBS, was "marked by a lack of transparency."
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HBS and Telefonica Services Audiovisuales (TSA) were selected by the Spanish league following a selection process that began last September to act as production partners for LaLiga and the second-tier Segunda Division for the next five seasons.
Initially, Mediapro vowed to challenge LaLiga's decision, stating that the selection process was not carried out fairly and that the league's choices "will undoubtedly harm the clubs and the competition both economically and in broadcast quality."
Now, however, Mediapro has said that the statement "stemmed from a premature assessment of the tender process and included claims that were not substantiated … We regret [the statement's] tone and content, particularly given that we were not—and are not—in a position to fairly assess or compare the competing offers."
The statement goes on to say that Mediapro "clarifies that it has no grounds to assert that LaLiga's decision was arbitrary, lacked objectivity, or was made to benefit other participants at Mediapro's expense. We did not possess a factual basis to support these assertions and should therefore be disregarded."
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By GlobalDataThe production firm also "wishes to retract any suggestion that the tender process lacked transparency or was marked by secrecy, and that its outcome could be detrimental to clubs, the competition, or broadcast quality—particularly at the start of the season."
Mediapro has said it regrets making such "speculative conclusions."
Finally, it "reaffirms its respect for the integrity of the tender process and all parties involved."
Out of a total of five lots available, HBS (which, alongside Italian broadcast production firm NVP, will form a joint venture with LaLiga) has been selected as the production company for LaLiga and the Segunda Division, (lots 1 and 2), as well as MCR and centralized services (lot 3).
The entire selection process involved Abacanto, an audiovisual technology consultancy, which evaluated the applications on a technical basis.
Mediapro still holds international distribution rights for the league through 2028-29, although this deal excludes North America, the Middle East, and North Africa.
It originally said it would "contest the outcome of the tender process through all available channels, both nationally and internationally" – but has now backed down from this assertion.
