The promotion divisions of Argentine soccer will be broadcast through a proprietary streaming service of the governing body, with one free month and then a paid subscription
After several weeks of uncertainty, Asociación del Fútbol Argentino finally decided to keep the broadcasting rights for the lower divisions and to air the matches through its own platform. The decision was announced this Tuesday during the Executive Committee meeting held at the Lionel Messi complex in Ezeiza and marks a historic change in the broadcasting of the lower divisions.
According to the information released, Primera Nacional matches will be broadcast on the streaming channel of the Liga Profesional, identified as LPF Play. The first month of broadcasting will be free for users and, subsequently, a paid subscription system will be implemented to monetize the product.
El ascenso se transmitirá solo por LPF PL
The new scheme includes a guaranteed monthly income for the clubs. Primera Nacional teams will receive 65 million pesos, while B Metropolitana clubs will receive 20 million and Primera C and Federal A clubswill receive 12 million each. In the case of the second division, the amount represents a significant increase compared with the latest payments, since in the previous second half of the year they received 54 million and in the first half of the year, 25.
Until the subscription system is operational and begins to generate direct revenue, the money for the clubs will come from AFA's own coffers. It should be clarified that the paid model will not be applied on the first matchday of the tournament, scheduled for next weekend, after an initial postponement that was linked precisely to the definition of the broadcasting.
The measure also implies the end of an era, since the long-standing relationship that TyC Sports had with the lower divisions is coming to an end. The current contract, held by Tele Red Imagen S.A. (TRISA), a company made up of Clarín and Torneos, expired on December 31 and AFA chose not to renew the proposal that had been submitted.
TyC Sports dejará de transmitir el ascenso
In the previous weeks, the governing body of Argentine soccer had launched a tender for the lower-division rights with the expectation of quadrupling last season's revenue, which was around 6,000 million pesos. In the end, the leadership chose to move forward with a proprietary model, a decision that has a direct impact on the finances of the clubs, for many of which broadcasting represents their main source of income during the season.
