Belgacom and OBN win UEFA rights

Belgacom has secured the Belgian and Luxembourg rights to UEFA Champions League football for the next three seasons.

In addition to the exclusive broadcasting rights for the 112 matches granted by UEFA to pay TV, Belgacom has been granted the non-exclusive pay rights to 34 matches traditionally reserved for national channels, meaning that this is the first time in Belgium that an operator will broadcast all 146 matches of each UEFA Champions League season.

The deal adds to Belgacom’s roster of football rights, which include the Spanish and Portuguese championships and the Copa del Rey, as well as five matches weekly from the Belgian Jupiler Pro League and the home matches of four Division 2 clubs

Separately, Chellomedia-backed free-to-air channel OBN has secured UEFA Champions League football rights for Bosnia-Herzegovina for the next three seasons.

OBN won a competitive bid, and acquired the exclusive first pick of the Wednesday night matches as well as the highlights, semi-finals and final.

Mike Moriarty, managing director, Chello Central Europe said in a statement: “We are thrilled to have the Champions League on OBN and to bring this event to its many followers and fans in Bosnia. We will be showing group games, as well as the semi-final and final; it will be a great event for families to join together and enjoy the premier competition in European football. This is just the sort of first class programming we are delighted and committed to bring to OBN and its viewers.”