Fox, the American television broadcasting network, has acquired the media rights of the UEFA national competitions. In this deal, Fox will be telecasting a total of 1,500 matches in six years, with the deal starting from next year in June when the National League will be held.
Currently, all these media rights are under ESPN, who have been telecasting the UEFA Euro since 2008. While the broadcasting company paid 115 million for the telecasting rights of the Euro 2020.
However, UEFA was seeking a 300 million deal earlier this week keeping in front the Euro 2024 and 2028, and the most favourite to sign the deal was Fox. While, on Thursday, 4th November Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch, has made the signing of the deal official by taking over the earlier broadcasters ESPN.
Speaking about the deal, FOX Sports CEO and executive producer Eric Shanks, said: “We are thrilled to welcome UEFA’s most-coveted events to Fox Sports’ unrivaled soccer portfolio. The Euros fit perfectly into the world’s greatest tournaments – including the FIFA Men’s and Women’s World Cups, CONMEBOL Copa América and Concacaf Gold Cup – solidifying Fox Sports’ summer of soccer through 2028.”
The six-year deal will see Fox telecasting the UEFA European Championship 2024, UEFA European Championship 2028, UEFA Nations League, FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Euro Qualifiers, and lastly all the friendly matches controlled by the UEFA. In this agreement, Fox has broadcasting rights in all languages, except, Spanish and Portuguese.
Apart from this, Fox also has the US rights to telecast the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cup. While, last year the broadcasting company signed a six-year deal with Conmebol, which includes, three women’s Copa America and the men’s Copa America in 2024.