November 22 – Digiturk, the Turkish digital TV platform has retained the broadcast right to the Turkish Super League in a $3 billion five year deal – $600 million a year – that is almost double the previous amount Digiturk paid in 2010 in a one-year deal that was extended for three years in 2011.
Five companies competed for the rights, with rival platform Turkcell Superonline being the most competitive to Digiturk. Turkcell was only bidding for mobile and online broadcasting rights, but in the end the league sold all the rights as one package.
In 2015 Qatar-based beIN Media Group acquired Digiturk for $1.4 billion controlled from the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) who had been in control since May 2013 after previous owner Çukurova Group ran into trouble servicing its debt.
The new TV deal for the Turkish Super League make it Europe’s sixth biggest league TV rights deal behind England’s Premier League (€2.55 billion), Spain’s La Liga (€983 million euros), Italy’s Serie A (€943 million), France’s Ligue 1 (€726 million) and Germany’s Bundesliga (€628 million).
Digiturk has broadcast rights for the 1. Lig (the top division) and the second division.
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