ESPN Renews Broadcasting Rights For Copa Del Rey

Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has agreed on a five-year broadcast deal with US sports broadcasters, ESPN for the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup.

The deal sees ESPN gain exclusive rights to broadcast the competitions in northern America on linear channels, including ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN Deportes and streaming platform, ESPN+.

ESPN obtained the broadcasting rights from BeIN Sport in 2020, who last year also obtained the Spanish LaLiga rights on an eight-year deal valued around the US $1.4 billion (AUD $2 billion).

Commenting on the renewal of the right, ESPN senior director for programming and acquisitions, Sonia Gomez, said: “Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup, together with LaLiga, are the three jewels of Spanish soccer.”

“Having these three premier properties cements ESPN+ as the home for Spanish soccer in the US and reinforces our position as the country’s leading media destination for soccer fans,” Gomez said.

Additionally, the deal means ESPN will broadcast all 65 Copa del Rey fixtures, 380 matches for the Spanish LaLiga as well as selected Segunda Division games and promotion playoffs.

RFEF started the rights tender in early June and was initially looking for a three-year deal worth US$24 million (AUD$34 million) but was open to a longer-term agreement.