TV rights/Spain: Competition Authority rejects the RFEF's call for tenders for the third division

The Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC), Spain's competition regulator, has ordered the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to amend the terms of the tender it issued for the broadcasting rights to the new third division club competition "la Primera RFEF" on 16/07/2021. The RFEF published the regulations for the tender, covering the 2021-2024 cycle, with separate tenders for Spain and the rest of Europe, on 14/07/2021, with a deadline for the submission of bids set for 28/07/2021.

The CNMC again urges the RFEF to adapt its marketing proposal to the standard in the following aspects:
• Limit the powers that have been granted to "the joint marketing of audiovisual rights included in the scope of this Royal Decree-Law".
• Eliminate the mention of ownership of rights that are not recognised.
• Do not include commercial opportunities and obligations related to advertising that are not covered by the applicable legal norm and that are unjustified and contrary to the principle of free enterprise.
• Do not include reservations of rights, non-exclusive rights…