Telefónica’s limitations after the purchase of Digital+ are about to end. In fact, all the restrictions you had at the end of this month will be lifted. However, we still do not know the final decision of the National Market and Competition Commission on whether Movistar will be able to enjoy the two extra seasons it signed with LaLiga or, finally, it will keep the three seasons it can have by law.
At the end of 2021, the operator signed an agreement with LaLiga to exclusively have 55% of the matches of the Spanish soccer competition from the 2022/2023 season to 2026/2027, that is, five seasons. However, the last two seasons are pending from the CNMC. Basically, everything will depend on the final resolution of the commission, since there is a maximum duration of the contracts that precisely limits this. Although, Movistar has football assured until the 2024/2025 season.
Movistar’s limits for football
Although Telefónica’s contract with LaLiga establishes up to five seasons with 55% of the matches exclusively in the Spanish first division of football, everyone is awaiting the CNMC’s decision.
At the end of this month, the telecommunications restrictions will end after the acquisition of Digital+, so it remains to be seen if the resolution that limits the maximum duration of the contracts is finally lifted or modified. And it is that, if everything continues the same, Movistar could only give football until the 2024/2025 season with that percentage of exclusivity and not until 2026/2027, as signed with LaLiga.
However, there are still a few weeks left for these restrictions to disappear for Telefónica. What is clear is that the regulatory body did not view favorably from the outset that a five-year contract was signed for the broadcast of LaLiga matches. More than anything, because they understood that it could affect the competition, as can be the case of Orange with football.
You will not have the obligation to share football
The operator had to share football with the rest of the operators (who paid) until 2023, that is, until this year. For this very reason, the Orange company may be one of the most affected by the end of the restrictions on Telefónica.
In its day, the telephone company already submitted a letter to the National Commission for Markets and Competition to lift this commitment to share rights. However, it was established that it would have to be complied with, at least, until 2023. Although, with the end of these limitations, we could witness how Orange finally dispenses with all football, just as Vodafone did in its day (in 2018 stopped broadcasting the Partidazo and the Champions League, and in 2019, LaLiga).
However, we have to wait, at least until the end of this football season approaches and, above all, for the CNMC to rule on the matter. So, until the end of this month, we may not have more news about it. What is clear is that, if to date Movistar had the obligation to sell the rights to other alternative operators at a regulated price, if this restriction were eliminated, the situation could be very different.
