Courtesy: Multi Channel News


Univision Nets Gold Cup Rights As Part of Expansive CONCACAF Pact

Deal Covers Spanish-, Portuguese-Language Multimedia Rights to Popular Biennial Event from 2013-21

by Mike Reynolds

29/10/2012

In the second major soccer pact in as many days, Univision Deportes has signed a 10-year deal with CONCACAF, encompassing an array of competitions highlighted by rights to the Gold Cup.

The deal, the longest in the history of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football, which represents FIFA in this part of the world, gives Univision Deportes the Spanish- and Portuguese-language multimedia rights to the Gold Cup, the biennial competition that has grown to a dozen nations across the region. The Gold Cup, Copa Ora, will be held next year, as well as in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021.

Fox Sports Media Group holds the English-language rights to the event.

Univision’s agreement, financial terms of which were not disclosed, also covers multiple CONCACAF Champions League, CONCACAF Men’s Under 17 and 20, CONCACAF Women’s Under 17 and 20, and CONCACAF Futsal events through 2022.

Yesterday, NBCUniversal announced that it had secured English- and Spanish-language rights to the Barclays Premier League from the 2013-14 through 2015-16 campaigns. Fox Sports Media Group currently airs England’s top soccer circuit, sublicensing some matches to ESPN.

Last year’s Gold Cup final match in which Mexico topped the U.S. ranks as highest-rated primetime sports broadcast ever on Univision across all key demographics, as more than 10.8 million viewers tuned in to all or part of the contest, a 31% over 2009. All told, the 2012 tournament was the top Gold Cup tournament broadcast in Univision’s history, drawing approximately 20 million unduplicated viewers tuning in to some or all of the network’s 2011 coverage through the semifinal games. Spanish-language viewership of the tournament grew 36% between 2009 and 2011.

In addition to Copa Ora, Univision Deportes secured the rights to CONCACAF Champions League from 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-2021 and 2021-22); the CONCACAF Men’s Under 17 and 20 tourneys in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021); the CONCACAF Women’s Under 17 and 20 events in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020; and the CONCACAF Futsal Championship in 2016 and 2020.

The matches will air on Univision Deportes platforms, including Univision, TeleFutura, Galavision and Univision Deportes Network, as well as online and mobile platforms.

“This substantial deal demonstrates the growing interest in the game among American fans and will ensure millions more can enjoy their favorite matches throughout the United States,” said Jeffrey Webb, president of CONCACAF, in announcing the pact. “Our fans in the U.S. have incredible passion and excitement for the sport, and we are pleased to give them more access to watch the games they love. After historic wins at the Olympics by Mexico, Canada, and the U.S.A., and record viewership of the 2011 Gold Cup on Univision, this agreement will allow us to showcase the highest quality of competitions and talent from all of our member nations.”

Noted Univision Deportes president Juan Carlos Rodriguez: “We have brought the passion and excitement of the CONCACAF games to millions of homes for years and now fans will be able to follow every kick, head bump and goal as their favorite teams move through these exhilarating tournaments. With this groundbreaking deal, Univision Deportes will deliver the richest soccer rights portfolio in Hispanic sports media.”

Producing more than 10,000 hours of live sports across its platforms per year, Univision Deportes’ properties portfolio not only includes the rights to the aforementioned properties, but the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the qualifiers leadin up to the tournament; 12 of the 18 teams within the Liga MX and the Chivas team beginning July 2013; the Copa MX; the Mexican National Team; the U.S. Men’s National Team; the German National Team; the DFB Cup; the French National Team; the French Cup; France’s Ligue 1; the Under 23 Mexican National Team; Major League Soccer; the FIFA 2013 Confederations Cup; the FIFA Under 20 World Cups; the FIFA Under 17 World Cups; the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup; the FIFA Futsal World Cup; international friendlies; and boxing.






Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com