RTVE Spain secures domestic handball rights after nine-year absence

Spanish public broadcaster RTVE has secured live rights to Spain’s top flight handball league, Liga Asobal. The deal commences this week with a fixture between Ademar León and Guadalajara; to be aired on RTVE sports channels Teledeporte.

The deal brings Liga Asobal back to RTVE after a nine-year absence – with games available for free. The league’s decision to partner with a freely distributed platform supports its strategic ambition to prioritise the pursuit of sponsorship revenue. In November 2022, the league secured energy firm Plenitude as its title sponsor.

Under the terms of the deal, Teledeporte will broadcast one game a week during the current 2022/2023 season. No price has been revealed and it is not clear whether the partners have an option to extend beyond the current season.

Liga Asobal is currently preparing to go professional in 2023/24, according to local media reports. The belief is that professionalising the league will provide financial stability and open a pathway to new revenue streams. At the end of the 2021/2022 season, Liga Asobel said it had generated around €1m in rights revenue – up 11% year on year. This came via deals with LaLigaTV, Gol and local TV stations.