Univision Nets Mexico’s National Team

Deal Through 2014 Is Blow to Rival Telemundo

By Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 5/24/2010 12:01:00 AM

New York — Univision has put a big one in the back of the net, scoring the Spanishlanguage TV and digital rights to the Mexican national soccer team in the U.S. through matches leading up to the 2014 World Cup.

The deal, which sources put at more than $50 million, secured the rights to Mexico’s World Cup qualifying matches and international friendlies, which have been televised by Telemundo over the past decade.

The pact, which Univision announced during its upfront presentation to advertisers in Manhattan on May 20, came three weeks ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup from South Africa, to which Univision holds Spanish-language U.S. rights.

Telemundo had drawn some of its biggest audiences ever with its match coverage of the Mexican team. The NBC Universalowned broadcast network used a World Cup qualifier from Mexico City between Mexico and the U.S. National Team last August, as well as a second match versus Honduras, as a springboard to upping the sports ante for its cable cousin, bicultural Latino service Mun2, which simulcast the matches in English. Subsequently, the cable network officially established Mun2 Sports as a programming destination that includes a package of Saturday-night matches from Futbol Liga Mexicana, the nation’s top pro circuit, as well as boxing and mixed-martial-arts fare, plus news and highlights shows.

“We had some conversations to retain the games, but did not reach an agreement for the renewal of our rights for MNT,” a Telemundo spokeswoman said. “We wish the team the best and look forward to expanding our sports off ering in other directions.”

Telemundo is winding down its coverage of El Tri, which has embarked on an eightmatch preparatory tour ending June 3 in Brussels, ahead of the June 11-July 11 World Cup. Telemundo has a deal covering the regularseason and playoff home matches of six top Mexican league teams.

Negotiations for the Mexican national team deal were evidently concluded around mid-day on May 20, just hours before Univision conducted its upfront — too late for inclusion within the preliminary programming schedule information packages disseminated to the press.

“Outside of the FIFA World Cup, the Mexican national soccer team is the premiere soccer attraction for U.S. Hispanic audiences,” Cesar Conde, president of Univision Networks, said in a statement. “This acquisition solidifies Univision’s position as the premiere provider of soccer programming in the United States, and we are thrilled to be able to offer the best soccer content to our loyal audiences across our television, video-ondemand, online and mobile platforms.”

As part of a $325 million agreement with futbol’s international governing body, Univision holds U.S. Spanish-language rights to the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, the FIFA 2013 Confederations Cup, the FIFA Under- 20 World Championships, FIFA Under-17 World Championships and the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011. Univision also televises soccer games involving the U.S. men’s national team, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, home games of six Futbol Liga Mexicana teams, the CONCACAF Champions’ League, Major League Soccer and SuperLiga.