Portugal to centralise TV rights in first-ever tender aimed at fairer split | OneFootball

The Portuguese league will stage its first collective TV rights tender by the first quarter of 2027, with centralised deals starting in 2028-29. The overhaul targets a bigger pot and a fairer split beyond Benfica, Sporting Portugal and FC Porto.

According to L'Équipe, clubs have until now negotiated individually with access providers, while Sport tv long monopolised televised sport. The arrival of major media groups has shaken the market and the forthcoming tender is expected to be transformative.

Current TV income is estimated at €190m to €200m, with at least 70% flowing to the three giants. Targets include roughly €300m a year and a more even redistribution to enable lasting structural reforms and greater competitiveness.

André Mosqueira do Amaral is overseeing the process. Seven potential buyers have been identified, a scenario that could create genuine competitive tension.

The first five-year cycle aims to halve the gap between the best and least rewarded clubs. Thereafter, the goal is to approach the European average, where the top side earns between three and 4.5 times the bottom from TV rights.

The stakes are sporting as well as financial. Since the war, only Belenenses in 1946 and Boavista in 2001 have broken the dominance, and broader funding could make new challengers more likely.

Source: L'Équipe