Movistar, the Spanish pay-television operator owned by telecoms giant Telefónica, has regained exclusive domestic rights to show European basketball’s top-tier EuroLeague competition until 2026.
Under the three-year deal, struck with organizer EuroLeague Basketball, Movistar has secured rights to show “a selection of top games” from the premier EuroLeague, including all matches involving a Spanish team.
The top two fixtures from each round will be available to all Movistar+ customers with a basic television package, while those wanting access to up to five games per round on top of the Spanish team fixtures will have to subscribe to Movistar’s enhanced package.
Four Spanish teams are set to compete in the 2023-24 EuroLeague season, which runs from October 5 to April 12, 2024 - Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, FC Barcelona, Valencia Basket, and reigning EuroLeague champion Real Madrid.
EuroLeague Basketball’s new chief executive Paulius Motiejunas said: “We’re glad to find a new home in Movistar Plus+ for the next three seasons.
“Movistar Plus+ is synonymous with quality. I am sure that the large and growing fanbase in Spain will enjoy the broadcasts of the competition and the live games but also the extensive programming around them.”
EuroLeague Basketball named Motijunas as its new acting chief executive for the 2023-24 season in June to replace Marshall Glickman, who held that position during the 2022-23 campaign.
The rights mark a return of EuroLeague to Movistar after the broadcaster held rights to the competition up until 2019-20. It was then replaced by sports streaming platform DAZN for the 2019-20 to 2022-23 seasons.
The tie-up also adds to Movistar’s basketball rights portfolio, which already includes America’s NBA and domestic top-tier league ACB.
Enric Rojas, Movistar Plus sports director, said: “We at Movistar Plus+ are all especially happy to have the EuroLeague again join our sports content portfolio.
“We have made great efforts to become one more time the main reference for all basketball fans by gathering together the top competitions both on a national and international level: the ACB, NBA, and, of course, the EuroLeague.
“We will work very hard to meet that commitment and ensure fans enjoy the show.”
The deal comes amid a busy few months for Movistar, which is showing the ongoing US Open tennis tournament after securing rights last month. The deal completes the broadcaster’s grand slam portfolio which also includes the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon Championships.
In July, meanwhile, it relaunched its OTT streaming television service Movistar Plus to group its sports and entertainment content on one platform, while the network retained rights to European soccer’s UEFA club competitions for the 2024-27 cycle last month.
Along with UEFA rights, other soccer rights include Spain’s top-tier LaLiga and second-tier LaLiga 2, the Spanish Super Cup, the German Bundesliga, and the Italian Serie A.
Other sports, meanwhile, include the NFL Super Bowl, rugby union’s Six Nations, and men’s tennis’ ATP Masters 1000, ATP 500 events, select ATP 250 tournaments, and Davis Cup matches.
Marshall Glickman explains how the EuroLeague is altering its business model to maintain relevance.
