After a prolonged impasse, Canal Plus, the domestic broadcaster of the Polish Ekstraklasa, has finally reached an agreement with public-service broadcaster TVP. This deal will see the return of the Ekstraklasa to free-to-air linear television following the forthcoming international break. The sublicensing deal covers the remainder of the 2023-24 campaigns and the following three seasons.
TVP is set to pay between PLN 25m (€5.5m) and PLN 30m per year to broadcast 34 matches per season on its TVP Sport channel. The broadcaster will also be given two fixtures per matchweek at times during this season to fulfill the terms of the contract. The first game to be televised by TVP under the new agreement is likely to be Górnik Zabrze versus reigning champions Raków Częstochowa on October 22.
As part of a wider marketing agreement, the broadcaster’s logo will appear on the shirt sleeves of all Ekstraklasa clubs. The production costs in the new agreement are reported to represent around PLN40m per year. Ekstraklasa operates its Live Park production subsidiary as the host broadcaster at matches.
Previously, Canal Plus held the only pay-TV rights to the Ekstraklasa, with the league striking its own deals with TVP for free-to-air rights. However, for the first 11 rounds of fixtures this season, there has been no free-to-air linear coverage, with Canal Plus and TVP unable to come to terms on a financial agreement.
TVP also bags rights to show lower leagues, cups and women's football
In addition to the Ekstraklasa deal, TVP has also secured a new exclusive four-year media rights deal with the Polish Football Association (PZPN), replacing Polsat as the rights-holder. For the 2024-25 to 2026-27 cycle, TVP will televise the I Liga and II Liga, the men’s second- and third-tier, respectively, the Polish Cup and Polish Super Cup, as well as the women’s Orlen Ekstraliga and Orlen Polish Cup final.
The new agreement allows clubs or the PZPN to produce and broadcast selected matches not covered by the TVP contract and to make them available (with the consent of TVP), among other local broadcasters.
The new agreements are a significant step forward for Polish football. They ensure that both men’s, women’s, and youth games will reach a wide audience. The public broadcaster, reaching almost every home in the country, is a guarantee that the competition on Polish fields will be watched more and more willingly. This is expected to translate into increased attendance at football stadiums at various levels.
These new deals represent a significant milestone for Polish football, ensuring wider coverage and accessibility for fans across the country. The return of the Ekstraklasa to free-to-air television is a significant development for sports fans and sports betting fans alike, promising more exciting and accessible football action in the years to come.
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