The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has officially launched a tender for domestic rights to Super Lig and First Lig matches. This move marks the beginning of a new three-year cycle that covers the 2024-25 to 2026-27 seasons.
Interested parties are expected to submit their bids by 2pm on February 14. The bids will then be evaluated by a Tender Commission established by the TFF and Club Association Foundation. The winner or winners of these coveted rights will be announced later in the month on February 29.
Currently, BeIN Sports, an international sports broadcaster based in Qatar, along with its subsidiary Digiturk hold rights to both leagues. This is under a two-year partnership extension signed in June 2022 running from the 2022-23 season through to 2023-24.
This agreement was valued at TRY2.2 billion ($127 million), significantly lower than BeIN’s previous $500 million five-year deal that spanned from the 2017-18 season through to the end of the 2021-22 season.
The reduced fee came after prolonged negotiations where BeIN initially threatened to withdraw its bid due to concerns over digital piracy within Turkey which it had been battling against independently.
During this period, TFF offered these rights alternatively to Saran Media Group and TRT - Turkey's public-service broadcaster. However, ultimately they were awarded back again to BeIN Sports.
BeIN Sports' previous tenure was very controversial due to allegations of manipulation with VAR
BeIN faced backlash from Fenerbahce fans who accused them of manipulating VAR decisions and selecting camera angles that portrayed them negatively during highlights reel production. In response, Fenerbahce altered BeIN’s logo on their pitchside advertising boards and team apparel to read ‘beFAIR’.
BeIN officials responded by taking an emergency injunction against the club’s actions due to a breach of intellectual property and requested a rebate on its rights deal with TFF.
As the new tender process begins, TFF is hopeful for higher fees and smoother negotiations. The federation will be keen to avoid the controversies that marked previous negotiations, aiming for a more straightforward process this time around.
The outcome of this tender will have significant implications not only for Turkish football but also for sports broadcasting in general, as it could set precedents for future rights deals in other leagues and countries.
