GolTV has inked its second major rights renewal in the past two months, securing extensions to keep top-level Brazilian futbol on its dial.
The bilingual, soccer-centric network has re-upped its multimedia rights deal with Globo TV for continued coverage of Brasileirão, Brazil's premier championship soccer league, and Campeonato Paulista, the nation's elite and longest standing soccer league. Financial terms of the four-year agreement were not disclosed.
The pact with Globo TV follows Gol TV's deal with DFL Sports Enterprises for rights to Germany's top soccer circuit, the Bundesliga, for three more seasons. That deal gives Gol TV multimedia Bundesliga rights in the U.S. and Canada for the 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.
Brasileirão produces some of the best soccer players in the world, as the winning teams from each regional Brazilian league face-off after completing regular season play. Campeonato Paulista features many of Brazil's top soccer stars including Neymar, Luis Fabiano and Liedson, and several of Brazil's most successful clubs such as Corinthians, São Paulo, Palmeiras and Santos, the team that launched the career of international soccer legend Pelé.
"This renewal allows GolTV to air the Brazilian league matches through 2015," said Constantino Voulgaris, executive vice president of programming and business development at GolTV, in a statement. "GolTV also is producing a new highlights show capturing the most exciting moments from Brasileirão and Campeonato Paulista, making GolTV the top destination for Brazilian soccer fans across North America.
Th renewal comes as Brazil prepares to host the 2014 World Cup. "For Brazilians, soccer is more than a sport. It is a way of life," said Voulgaris. "GolTV is the only place for obsessed soccer fans to find the top matches, world class commentary and online community they crave."
