Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid chief calls for fairer TV rights deal

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 11 February 2015

Miguel Angel Gil Marin, the chief executive operator of Atletico Madrid, wants to see a change in the way TV money is distributed between clubs in La Liga.

Atletico Madrid chief executive operator Miguel Angel Gil Marin has demanded a change in the way TV rights money is shared between clubs in La Liga.

As things stand, each team in the Spanish top flight must negotiate their own deal with a broadcasting partner, which has in the past led to giants Barcelona and Real Madrid earning €140m (£103.8m) each, while the likes of Elche, Valladolid and Rayo Vallecano have had to settle for a sum in the region of €18m (£13.3m).

The league aims to introduce a fairer system which will provide better balance when it comes to distributing cash from such deals, although these new plans have yet to be fully agreed.

"The main unresolved current issue in our sector regards the construction of a strong, competitive and fair league brand," Gil Marin is quoted as saying by ESPN. "To do this, modifying the current system of selling and distribution of TV rights is required.

"The government - through the secretary of state for sport - committed in different moments, and in different forums, to implement during 2014 new legislation which will regulate the collective sale of TV rights. They have not done this. I am aware of pressures received on the part of all those agents who want to have control the day after the legislation.

"But it is the obligation of the government to uphold the general interest of the fans, the viability of the clubs, and the competitiveness of our league. The TV operators need to know if they are going to be managing the TV rights in four months or not, as much the Spanish operators as those abroad."

Forty out of 41 clubs voted for a change in legislation during a meeting held last week between Spanish clubs, with Athletic Bilbao the only exception.