Media Group Ukraine (MGU) has denied that one of its two football channels will close.
It has also clarified its position on the rights to the Ukrainian Football League (UPL).
Speaking in a Q&A published by the company, Alexander Denisov, the director of the TV channels Futbol 1 and Futbol 2, dismissed rumours that the latter would be closed due to there being insufficient content to fill both channels.
Besides highlighting the point that MGU holds the rights to both the Champions League and Europa League, he also said that two channels do not mean equivalent spending budgets, with the cost of the second being lower.
Commenting on reports that a rights tender by the UPL had failed, Denisov said that Futbol 1/Futbol 2 was the only TV partner to participate in the tender and also to advise the UPL.
He also stressed the importance and necessity of the centralisation of rights.
Significantly, Denisov said one possible scenario could now see Futbol 1/Fubol 2 negotiating directly with Ukrainian football clubs.
