Disney close to securing LaLiga live streaming rights in the UK and Ireland

Disney is reportedly in advanced negotiations to snatch the media rights to live football streaming of top-flight Spanish matches in the UK and Ireland, marking a significant shift in the US company’s strategy towards live sports broadcasting on its streaming platform.

LaLiga, the organization that manages the top two football divisions in Spain, is nearing a deal for Disney+ to broadcast one match per week.

Sources reveal that Disney are closing in on a deal

This information comes from three individuals who are privy to the matter. However, pay-television company Premier Sports will continue to be the league’s primary broadcaster in these territories, airing over 300 matches.

The Spanish league features top English players such as Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who both play for Real Madrid, and Marcus Rashford, a former Manchester United player who is currently on loan to Barcelona.

International stars like Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal also play in LaLiga.

LaLiga looks to boost its profile post-Ronaldo/Messi era

The Spanish top flight is targeting weekend slots that do not typically feature English Premier League matches. The hope is that a partnership with Disney would bolster the Spanish league’s appeal in the post-Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo era, and help them compete against the juggernaut that is the EPL.

Before the discussions with Disney, sports agency Peak Sport Media, which collaborates with LaLiga to monetise its rights, highlighted the competition’s popularity among the 18-24 and 25-34 age demographics. These age groups are crucial for increasing subscriber numbers.

The proposed agreements would be worth less than £20 million a year to LaLiga, according to a source familiar with the deal.

In the 2023-24 season, LaLiga clubs earned just under €1.8 billion in broadcasting revenue, second only to the Premier League, which made €3.8 billion, as per Deloitte’s annual review of football finance.

Disney’s ESPN currently broadcasts LaLiga in the US in a deal worth $1.4 billion over eight seasons, running until 2028-29.

The sports live streaming revolution

Major streaming platforms across the globe are increasingly looking to acquire rights to live events globally, and they are snapping them up in many cases.

Executives view sports as unique content that can act as a valuable subscription driver in a saturated TV market.

Amazon has secured several sporting rights, including the NBA, NFL Thursday Night Football, and UEFA Champions League, while Netflix broadcasts Christmas Day NFL games, the WWE and high-profile boxing events.

Disney has been less active in this market compared to some competitors. However, it has secured the rights to broadcast the the UEFA Women’s Champions League across Europe from next season and the men’s UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League in Sweden and Denmark.

Disney now look to make a huge name for itself in arguably the most lucrative football market in the world, the UK, by acquiring these LaLiga streaming rights.

Only time will tell if the American streaming giant will be successful.

AUTHOR: Craig Resnik-Hanson, Sports Journalist

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