Madrid (AFP) – Spanish football fans breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday when Mediaset Espana announced they had reached agreement to broadcast matches at Euro 2016 which gets underway in France on June 10.

“Mediaset Espana concluded an agreement with CAA Eleven Marketing for the acquisition of rights to broadcast Euro 2016,” said the group in a statement.

They added that the financial arrangements were agreed after “numerous stages of negotiation”.

The group which owns the Cuatro and Telecinco channels will show live 23 of 51 games including all the matches featuring Spain, the two-time defending champions.

“This is excellent news to have found an agreement with UEFA to offer coverage to all Spaniards across our TV channels and the Internet,” said the boss of Mediaset Espana, Pablo Vasile.

Until Wednesday, no broadcaster in Spain had submitted plans to buy the rights which were expected to cost in the region of 45 million euros.

According to sources close to the business, Mediaset would have paid 40 million euros for 31 matches at Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.