The Polish premier football league Ekstraklasa has launched a tender for audiovisual bookmakers’ rights for the seasons 2019/20 and 2020/21.
In a statement, it says the commercialisation of the rights is being undertaken jointly with the DTH platform nc+, the main TV broadcaster of Ekstraklasa since 1995. It adds that in the first instance licensed bookmakers operating on the Polish market will be invited to submit bids. Contracts with those selected will be signed by April 30 this year. By the end of this season the league will also sell the rights to highlights on TV and the internet, as well as the international rights.
Commenting on the development, Marcin Animucki, chairman of the board at Ekstraklasa, said: “after the success of contracts for the rights to domestic television broadcasts, we are beginning to sell smaller packages. This is very important for us due to the additional funds that will be provided to clubs and the role of promoting games among fans. This year, for the first time ever, we want to offer rights to bookmakers operating in Poland. We have already had a series of meetings with their representatives and as a result of discussions with nc + have developed packages to show Ekstraklasa games on bookmaker platforms”.
As part of the tender procedure, bookmakers will be offered two packages. The first will allow the purchase of rights to broadcast 296 Ekstraklasa football matches exclusively, and as a result showing Ekstraklasa matches for a limited period on the online bookmaker platform where bets are accepted. The second, alternative package will allow up to four licensed companies accepting bets to purchase such rights without exclusivity.
