Colombia’s biggest clubs put TV deal on the line
Eight of Colombia’s biggest clubs have threatened to withhold their television and image rights from the next broadcast deal unless Dimayor agrees to overhaul how media revenue is distributed.
Eight leading Colombian clubs have challenged Dimayor’s media rights model, refusing to authorise the sale of their television and image rights until talks begin over a new revenue distribution system.Atlético Nacional, América de Cali, Deportivo Cali, Millonarios, Independiente Santa Fe, Junior, Once Caldas and Deportivo Independiente Medellín are understood to be supporting the action.The group want the league to recognise differences in audience size, commercial contribution, sporting performance and brand value when distributing income from the next domestic broadcast agreement.Colombian football currently divides a large proportion of central media revenue equally among Dimayor’s 36 affiliated clubs, including teams in the second division.Top-flight clubs receive additional payments, but the eight dissenting teams believe the overall structure does not sufficiently reward those generating the largest audiences and most valuable matches.Their refusal to transfer their rights could disrupt Dimayor’s preparations for the next tender and weaken its ability to offer broadcasters a complete centralised package.The existing agreement between Dimayor and Win Sports is due to expire in 2026, increasing pressure on the league to resolve the dispute before negotiations over the next cycle advance.Centralised selling normally allows leagues to package all matches together, offer broadcasters consistent access and use collective bargaining power to maximise rights value.That model depends on clubs granting control of their audiovisual and image assets to the league. A coordinated holdout by eight of the competition’s most commercially important teams could reduce the value of any proposed package.The clubs argue that the existing approach has not kept pace with the financial and competitive needs of Colombian football.A revised model could include a guaranteed equal share alongside variable payments linked to league position, television appearances, audience figures or wider commercial contribution.Such a system would move Colombia closer to revenue-sharing structures used by several major European leagues, although it could also widen the financial gap between the largest clubs and smaller teams.Supporters of equal distribution believe it protects competitive balance and provides essential income to clubs with limited matchday and sponsorship revenue.The dispute therefore creates a broader strategic question for Dimayor: whether its next rights cycle should prioritise solidarity across the professional system or provide greater rewards to the clubs driving viewership.The eight teams have not withdrawn from league competition, but their position gives them significant leverage before the next broadcast contract is awarded.Dimayor will need to open negotiations over the distribution formula or risk taking one of Colombian football’s most important commercial assets to market without the guaranteed participation of its biggest brands.