La Liga Talk is reporting that Al Jazeera Sports Network has won the US TV rights to La Liga, beginning with the 2012-13 season, according to a source.
The shocking news means that GolTV’s flagship league will no longer be shown on the Miami-based network. Al Jazeera Sports Network’s acquisition of La Liga rights comes hot on the heels of similar acquisitions by Al Jazeera Sports Network worldwide including winning the bid to show Ligue 1 in France from 2012-13 through 2018-18, as well as the rights to show UEFA Champions League in France from 2012-2015.
The news of Al Jazeera Sports Network winning the rights will send shockwaves through the media networks in the United States and United Kingdom. The head of ESPN EMEA has already gone on record by saying that Al Jazeera could be a force to be reckoned with:
“We’re expecting another Premier League auction in April or May. An Al Jazeera bid is a realistic prospect.”
Whether Al Jazeera would also consider bidding for the US TV rights to the Premier League is unknown at this time, but it could create a bidding frenzy.
Question marks remain over the strategy for Al Jazeera Sports Network in the United States. For example, whether they’ll offer a separate English-language sports channel or provide an English-language audio feed in the United States and Canada.
Representatives from GolTV and Al Jazeera Sports Network were unable to be reached for immediate comment.
More details about the announcement can be found on sister site La Liga Talk.
