LaLigaTV Bar, the public establishments ‘horeca’ channel launched by Spanish soccer’s top-flight LaLiga, will show all European soccer’s club competitions domestically across hotels, restaurants, and bars after striking a rights deal with governing body UEFA for the 2024-27 cycle.
The deal covers rights to broadcast matches from the top-tier Champions League (UCL), second-tier Europa League, and third-tier Europa Conference League, as well as the European Super Cup competition starting from the 2024-25 season.
The latest deal adds to LaLigaTV Bar’s extensive portfolio that includes rights to the domestic top-flight LaLiga and second-tier Segunda Division, and the women’s F League, as well as the Copa del Rey knockout competition.
The channel also holds rights to the English Premier League, as well as motor racing’s prestigious Formula 1 series, motorcycling’s MotoGP, and basketball’s EuroLeague and Copa del Rey through a carriage deal with subscription sports platform DAZN.
Movistar, the Spanish pay-television operator owned by Telefónica, holds the main residential rights package to UEFA club competitions for the 2024-27 cycle in a renewed deal secured earlier this month (August).
The new rights cycle corresponds to the new format of the UCL starting next year. The number of participating teams will increase from 32 to 36, with each side in the initial group stages to play eight games, up from six at present.
LaLigaTV Bar’s deal, meanwhile, follows on from multiple other UCL rights tie-ups having been concluded in Europe over the last few months.
Sky Italia, the dominant Italian pay-TV operator, retained its exclusive rights package to broadcast the UCL, Europa League, and Conference League matches for the next cycle. Amazon Prime Video, the streaming platform of the global tech and retail giant, holds the 2024-27 rights in Italy to the remaining UCL matches through a deal struck in February.
Existing partner Canal Plus has renewed in France, telecoms operator Ziggo has snapped up all rights in the Netherlands, while coverage will be split between BT Sport and Amazon in the UK.
In other key territories, Paramount Global, the major US broadcast network, has retained English-language rights to the UCL through a six-year deal starting in 2024.
Rights have also recently been allocated in Austria and Switzerland.
Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images