Orange, the international telecoms operator, has recently joined RTVE and Movistar+ in broadcasting Spanish football’s Copa del Rey knockout cup competition this season. This move adds to Orange's multi-platform domestic offering.
The company announced that matches would be available at no additional cost for customers who are subscribed to the football package on its Orange TV platform. The Copa del Rey now joins other live football offerings on Orange TV, including LaLiga, UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League club competitions as well as several international competitions.
In its coverage of the games, Orange promises significant improvements in image and sound quality during the Copa del Rey matches. One such improvement is True Motion technology which doubles the number of frames per second from 25 fps to 50 fps allowing a full HD 1080p resolution comparable to IPTV decoder output. Furthermore, latency has been reduced enabling broadcasts through set-top boxes to be up to two seconds ahead of DTT (digital terrestrial television) and other IPTV services. The app also features low-latency technology reducing delay by up to 25 seconds.
Other broadcasters
RTVE recently acquired the main package of Copa del Rey rights under a deal running through 2027. As part of this agreement, RTVE will provide live and exclusive coverage of 116 matches from each competition for the next two seasons.
Pay-TV heavyweight Movistar+ will also showcase a minimum of 55 games throughout the current season after agreeing on a sub-licensing deal with RTVE. The tender process for these rights is being managed by LaLiga on behalf of RFEF national federation with an October deadline set by them. According to LaLiga's statement it achieved a 15% increase in value for primary rights package compared to the previous cycle, which could mean a deal value of around €20 million (€23.1 million).
The Spanish top flight went to market with the Copa del Rey tender at the start of this month, offering six lots. Lot 1 was awarded to RTVE and split into four options covering live rights while Lots 2, 3, and 5 cover game summary rights. Lot 4 gives broadcasters live rights to preliminary phase games and Lot 6 contains rights for exclusive public establishment broadcasts.
This move by Orange not only enhances its domestic sports offerings but also promises an improved viewing experience for its subscribers. With multiple broadcasters now involved in airing Copa del Rey matches, fans have more options than ever before.
