Javier Tebas: "The centralised sale of broadcasting rights benefits the football industry and strengthens clubs"

LaLiga president Javier Tebas travelled to Kiev earlier this week alongside Melcior Soler, the director of LaLiga's audiovisual department, and Alfredo Lorenzo, LaLiga's director of integrity and security, to meet with representatives from the Ukrainian Premier League (UPL). Over the course of two days, they shared views and information about matters ranging from broadcasting rights to financial controls, the restructuring of clubs' finances, integrity and security. LaLiga was once more held up as an example of good practice and explained its work in these areas to the Ukrainian officials.

LaLiga chief Tebas and Mr Soler gave UPL president Volodymyr Geninson and the league's representatives an insight into the main advantages associated with the centralised sale of broadcasting rights. They also outlined how the switch to this modus operandi had come about in LaLiga and the positive impact that this decision has had on Spanish football and its clubs.

"One of the biggest problems in the Ukrainian league is the fact that broadcasting rights aren't sold collectively. The centralised sale of these rights is not currently in place in Portugal, Cyprus or Ukraine," said president Tebas. "The centralised-sale system helps the football industry improve and strengthens its clubs," he added, noting that it had not taken long for Spain to see the benefits of moving away from broadcasting rights being sold on an individual basis.

"Before, smaller clubs would sell their matches to broadcasters with barely no heed being paid to the quality of broadcasts," remarked Tebas. "Thanks to the centralised sale of rights, all the broadcasters now offer the same quality throughout: there is uniformity in terms of the production, effects, replays and interviews." The LaLiga representatives also explained the pricing structure according to which different broadcasting packages are sold in Spain and spoke about the complexities of the football business and its revenue streams, as well as the need for investment in order to leverage the opportunities provided by the game.

"The Ukrainian league has the potential to become one of the most attractive divisions in Europe. However, it will have to develop a suitable strategy and join forces to achieve that goal," concluded president Tebas.