01/01/2021 16:06
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 01/01/2021 4:12 PM
There were hours until the ball would roll again in Argentine soccer after 8 months and the public did not know through which channels they would watch the games.
It is that unexpectedly the Argentine Football Association had decided to terminate the contract with Fox Sports, one of the two licensees of TV rights, which worldwide merged with ESPN and now belongs to Disney.
Two months later, the situation changed as suddenly as before and the AFA reached an agreement with the American giant.
"The Argentine Football Association (AFA) and FSLA Holding LLC (a company of The Walt Disney Company Latin America (TWDC LA) group
have reached an agreement that puts an end to the existing legal litigation
and extends until 2030 the transmission rights of the matches of the Professional Soccer League (Argentina), one of the most recognized soccer leagues in the world, "they announced in a statement.
It is that at the end of October, Disney's lawyers, on behalf of Fox, began to take legal action against the AFA after the breaking of the contract that bound them until 2027 became effective. In addition, through a precautionary measure, Fox Sports Premium was able to televise the Diego Maradona Cup matches together with TNT, the other member of the agreement.
"It is a great satisfaction for us to announce this transcendental agreement, because it reinforces our firm commitment to make the always current Argentine soccer grow every day," said Claudio Tapia, president of the AFA
After so much effort and work, we confirmed a transcendental agreement with Disney for TV rights, which will be beneficial for all Argentine football. From the beginning we said that we were going to fight for our institutions and this shows our commitment!
- Chiqui Tapia (@tapiachiqui) January 1, 2021
He added: "Our players and championships are admired around the world and we are excited that a company of Disney's prestige is partnering with us in the challenge of continuing to extend the magnetism that our beloved soccer achieved for so many decades."
"This agreement is consistent with our commitment to offer the most relevant content, always putting the consumer at the center of the equation," said Diego Lerner, president of The Walt Disney Company Latin America.
"It is an honor for us to work together with the AFA and the clubs, developing a new relationship, supporting Argentine football, and doing the best we know how to do: adding value in the sport that Argentines are most passionate about," he concluded.