admin
British-based La Liga fans are in danger of having no way to watch games next season with the Spanish top flight yet to find a UK buyer for its television rights.
The season is to get underway on August 16 but as things stand, there are no plans to broadcast games on television in the UK or Ireland.
Eleven Sports took the rights last summer with a three-year deal but difficulties with generating enough subscribers saw La Liga undertake a new auction of rights 12 months on.
Offers for the rights were due on July 25 but no UK-based company came forward.
La Liga plays host to some of the biggest names in the world including Lionel Messi, Eden Hazard and Antoine Griezmann but none have proved enticing enough from a UK standpoint.
“After assessing all bids and required additional documentation from participating bidders, La Liga has declared the tender null and void because no satisfactory bids were received,” Joris Evers, head of communications for the league, said via Football Espana.
“La Liga thanks all participants in the tender for their interest and shall inform soon about next steps.”
Sky Sports had been the long-standing broadcaster for the Spanish top-flight before being overtaken by Eleven Sports – prior to their issues with growing their subscriber base.
ITV took on limited rights to games from February — while pay-TV channel Premier Sports showed four games every week.
derick.khumalo