February 13 – While the spat between Mediapro and Canadian Soccer Business (CSB), the sponsorship and broadcast rights holder for Canada’s national teams and leagues, isn’t over, the OneSoccer streaming service that looked on the brink of closure will continue.
Crucial to the continuance is that OneSoccer will be streaming both Concacaf’s W Gold Cup and the revamped Champions Cup.
The dispute began between CSB filed suit against Mediapro claiming the Spanish owned media giant had not fulfilled contractual obligations, failing to pay 2023 licensing fees of $6 million or delivering on a sub-licensing commitment for linear television broadcasting that would have seen Canadian soccer broadcast on cable television channels.
CSB cancelled the agreement, saying in a statement: “By taking back full control of our rights, we will immediately have the opportunity to do so with new partners who have the ability to reach larger audiences.”
Mediapro’s response is that Canadian Soccer has breached its terms within the agreement by only delivering, so far, 25% of a guaranteed minimum to 2,042 CPL and Canadian Championship games by 2028.
The CPL had promised to expand to 10 teams by 2020 and 16 by 2024, but is currently stuck at eight.
“The league has remained stagnant at eight teams since 2020 and shows signs of decline rather than growth,” said a Mediapro statement.
Mediapro said it had invested £60 million in Canadian Soccer to date.
With the dispute now heading towards the Ontario Supreme Court, insiders say that the two parties are potentially getting closer to a resolution.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1713960695labto1713960695ofdlr1713960695owedi1713960695sni@n1713960695osloh1713960695cin.l1713960695uap1713960695