Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 6y

Mexico national team extends TV deal with Televisa and TV Azteca

Broadcasters Televisa and TV Azteca have renewed their TV deal for rights to the Mexican national team until after the 2026 World Cup, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) announced on Friday.

There had been a separate and, according to various reports, more lucrative proposal from a joint bid from NBC Universal/Telemundo and America Movil -- owned by Mexican business magnate Carlos Slim.

But the previous contract with Televisa and TV Azteca contained an "automatic renewal clause" meaning that the other proposals could not be considered.

"We have come to an agreement that the renewal clause won't exist in the future and we've been able to improve the terms substantially for the different markets," Santos Laguna owner Alejandro Irarragorri, who was part of the FMF's commercialization committee, said.

Liga MX clubs owners did, however, vote on the new deal, with 12 voting in favor and four against.

In Mexico, club owners have an important say in the way the FMF is run, and they met Friday at the league offices to discuss the new deal.

TV rights at league level have opened up in recent years as rival broadcasters challenged the traditional Televisa-TV Azteca duopoly, sparking speculation that the national team would also look to open up the bidding process.

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