Chile: beIN Media Group, ESPN and Fox Sports are fighting to buy local channel Canal del Fútbol

The Qatari pay-TV entity beIN Media Group is negotiating the acquisition of all or part of "Canal del Fútbol", the pay-TV channel which broadcasts the Chilean professional competitions, according to local economic media on 07/10/2015.

Two other audiovisual groups have made an offer: ESPN and Fox Sports Americans. The channel "Canal del Fútbol", launched in 2003, is owned by the ANFP (Chilean Professional Football League, 80% stake) and the company Gestión de Televisión, owned by Chilean businessman Jorge Claro Mimica.

beIN Media Group have made a total bid for "Canal del Fútbol" for $1.3bn (€1.15bn at 08/10/2015), but the presidents of Chilean football clubs prefer similar offers from ESPN and Fox Sports: the repurchase of the 20% held by Jorge Claro Mimica for $190m (€168m) and the payment of $1bn ($885m) over 12 years for an operations lease during the same time.

The two American groups would also be willing to take care of the $30m (€26.5m) in debts that Chilean clubs have built from local banks since 2013. The council of club presidentss, which performs the functions of the…