Champions League and Europa League still live on SRG SSR

Actually, it was assumed that SRG had lost the Uefa Champions League to the pay-TV channel Teleclub (Werbewoche.ch reported). However, neither SRG, nor Teleclub ruled out that Champions League will continue to be shown on SRF2. Apparently, the renegotiations were successful - at least as far as the Wednesday matches are concerned: Starting with the 2018/19 season, the SRG stations will broadcast live matches of the Uefa Champions League and the Uefa Europa League on 31 evenings per season. SRF, RTS and RSI will show one Uefa Champions League match live and exclusively on free-to-air TV every Wednesday. However, if the matches involving Switzerland take place on Tuesday, SRG is left with nothing to show and has to restrict itself to exploiting the highlights.

This is because the highlights of all matches will also continue to be included in the program. SRG and Team Marketing, Uefa's exclusive marketing agency, have agreed to continue the long-standing partnership between SRG and Uefa. The agreement is valid for the 2018/19 to 2020/21 seasons.

SRG has preselection rights for Wednesday games

In terms of match selection, SRG has the right of first choice over Teleclub. This means that the audience at SRF, RTS and RSI can enjoy either a match with Swiss participation or - if there is no Swiss team in action - the top international match on the respective match day.

The rights package also includes comprehensive post-production rights to all Wednesday matches. In addition, SRG has acquired extensive post-production rights to the Tuesday matches of the Uefa Champions League. This also includes the option of broadcasting matches in full on a time-delayed basis.

Uefa Europa League also continues live weekly

On Thursday evenings, Europa League fans will continue to get their money's worth on SRF, RTS and RSI, with a match involving Switzerland live on every matchday.

Even after the Swiss teams have been eliminated, SRG's stations and platforms will broadcast one match per round live. SRF, RTS and RSI can show all other matches as summaries or in full on a delayed basis. SRG's entire rights package includes use on TV, radio and online media.

31 evenings per season live on SRG stations

From the 2018/19 season, SRG stations will broadcast live matches from the Uefa Champions League and the Uefa Europa League on 31 evenings per season. As in the past, SRG has acquired these rights on a co-exclusive basis. This means that while a match can be seen exclusively on SRF, RTS and RSI on free TV, Teleclub can broadcast it in parallel on pay TV.

SRG's contractual partner is Uefa. SRG and Team Marketing, Uefa's exclusive marketing agency, have agreed not to disclose the exact content of the contract or the financial terms.

Mägerle: "I am happy for our audience".

Roland Mägerle, Head of SRG's Sport Business Unit and Head of Sport SRF, speaks of a success story for Swiss soccer fans: "The fact that we are the only free TV broadcaster in Western Europe to have succeeded in securing rights to soccer's top division makes me happy for our audience. SRG's financial resources are limited. We have an average annual budget of 51.2 million Swiss francs for all sports rights - including not only soccer, but also the Olympics, ice hockey, tennis and alpine skiing, as well as many other sports that are less in the media spotlight. We use the funds available to us carefully, and at the same time - in the increasingly tough market for sports licenses - we have secured extensive rights in European club soccer. We have proven that it is not money alone that counts. SRG has a wide reach throughout Switzerland, including all regions and national languages. And it is a reliable partner that has stood for high-quality sports productions for many years." (hae/pd)