Sky Sports had been the long-term home of Spanish football in the UK but lost the rights last summer, when Eleven Sports signed a three-year contract. However, the subscription-based online service failed to gain enough members by December, meaning that the rights were auctioned once more this season. “We have no plans to offer Spanish Football via our Channels,” Sky confirmed via social media.
Despite ITV picking up the rights to show one league match for the opening weeks of the campaign, no permanent buyer has been found and the majority of Liga matches are not available in the UK. That followed on from a bidding process in which no offers to show it in the British Isles was accepted by the league’s authorities.
Premier Sports confirmed they had made an offer to show games, earlier this month: “We are hopeful of securing these rights but still no confirmation of their (La Liga’s) decision.” The broadcaster currently has rights to Serie A matches in the UK and Ireland while it bought packages from broadcaster Eleven Sports for Spanish football last campaign.