A Madrid court has ordered Mediapro should pay €97 million in a breach of contract dispute with rival Audiovisual Sport (AVS) over the live rights to top flight Spanish football.
The ruling means Mediapro must now give up the rights to first and second division matches to its Sogecable-owned rival.
AVS, in which regional broadcaster Televisión de Cataluña also owns 20%, had sought to recognize the validity of a contract signed by AVS, Mediapro, Sogecable and Televisión de Cataluña in July 2006. It sought to maintain the continuity of football coverage, the absence of which has hit PPV revenues on Sogecable’s Digital+ platform.
The damages cover the period from the start of the 2006/07 season through until February 2008. Mediapro must also pay legal costs including those from a counterclaim brought during the dispute.
It is expected Mediapro will appeal, potentially stretching out the dispute for another two years.
About Julian Clover
"In an industry that experiences rapid change and often a confusing subsequent
constant supply of news, it is often refreshing to read an insightful perspective. Broadband
TV News and its editorial team regularly provide a context and
helpful analysis to breaking news.”
Broadband TV News is the must-read publication for those working in the Business of the Multiscreen Television. We deliver news, insight and data direct to your desktop. As well as our constantly updated website you can sign-up to our Daily and Weekly email bulletins. 
Connected TV Forecasts NEW REPORT. The number of TV sets connected to the Internet will reach 551 million by 2016 for the 40 countries covered in this report from Digital TV Research, up from 124 million at end-2010. The report states that this translates to 20% of global TV sets by 2016, up from only 6% at end-2010. Published in November 2011, this 83-page PDF report is the most geographically comprehensive to ever be published.