La Liga and Host Broadcasting Services (HBS) have agreed to a five-year deal to produce and distribute matches from Spanish football’s top two divisions, replacing long-time partner Mediapro.
HBS, which is owned by Infront, was originally set up to handle the TV and radio production for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan — and it’s been involved in every World Cup since.
These days, HBS also works across a range of major sports events, including the Rugby World Cup and the Roland Garros tennis tournament.
To take on its new role with La Liga starting in the 2025/26 season, HBS has teamed up with Italian company NVP through a joint venture.
HBS chief executive, Dan Miodownik, mentioned the great responsibility this is for HBS.
“It is a great privilege for HBS to have been appointed by La Liga,” he said via press release.
“We are very proud of our track record globally, and entering a new territory and partnership with such an esteemed client is an exciting opportunity.
“Along with NVP we look forward to working with La Liga to bring innovative and engaging coverage to audiences over the coming years.”
NVP Chief Executive Massimo Pintabona, expressed his excitement to collaborate with HBS.
“We are extremely proud to partner with HBS on this prestigious project,” he said via press release.
“This achievement confirms our commitment to excellence, continuous development and innovation.
“We look forward to contributing to the continued success of La Liga with our expertise and dedication.”
Mediapro, which has been working with La Liga as its production partner for over two decades, has strongly criticised the decision.
While La Liga claims that HBS scored highest in both technical and financial evaluations, Mediapro insists its proposal was stronger and more cost-effective.
In a detailed statement, the company questioned HBS’s ability to handle the contract and said it plans to formally challenge the outcome.
‘It is unprecedented that LaLiga has instead awarded the contract to a more expensive bidder — a Swiss-based supplier with no technical infrastructure in Spain and no prior experience in producing a full-season football competition of this scale,’ Mediapro said via press release.
‘Laliga’s decision is neither fair nor objective and we believe that it may jeopardise the production of the matches at the start of the season. It will undoubtedly harm the clubs and the competition both economically and in broadcast quality.
‘[Mediapro] is committed to defending its reputation — and that of its professionals — and will contest the outcome of the tender process through all available channels, both nationally and internationally.’
Mediapro will continue as La Liga’s international media agency through the 2028/29 season, handling the sale of the league’s international broadcasting rights.
The deal was renewed in 2023, but it no longer covers the Middle East, North Africa, or North America, as La Liga now works with different partners in those regions.
Mediapro also holds the rights to broadcast one La Liga match per week on its free-to-air channel, Gol TV.
This comes after a string of setbacks for Mediapro, including the loss of its contract with French Ligue 1, which led to the shutdown of its Telefoot subscription channel in 2020, and more recently, the sale and exit of its OneSoccer platform in Canada.
