Is this finally the end of GolTV?

If I only had a dollar every time someone predicted the demise of GolTV, I would be a rich man. Yet, here we are again, with news coming out of Ecuador with soccer fans in the United States wondering if this could be the final nail in the coffin for the once-beloved network.

Ecuadorian League terminates contract

This week, the Ecuadorian League announced that they have terminated their contract with GolTV, citing unpaid fees to the clubs. Miguel Ángel Loor, president of Liga Pro, stated, “The clubs have decided to authorize the president of Liga Pro to terminate the agreement with the company that owns the television rights.” This news brings up what has become a familiar question for the soccer community not just in Ecuador but also in the United States where GolTV has been a mainstay for soccer aficionados for over two decades, is this the end of the network?

For US viewers, the potential loss of GOL-TV would mean the end of an era. Since its inception in 2003, the journey has been a rollercoaster ride, with high-profile acquisitions and heartbreaking losses. One of the current jewels in GOL-TV’s crown has been its coverage of the Portuguese Primeira Liga. For fans of the “big three” – Benfica, FC Porto, and Sporting CP – GOL-TV has been a lifeline. These clubs, steeped in history and boasting passionate global fanbases, have provided some of the most thrilling matches on the network. It’s worth noting that GOL-TV’s Portuguese coverage is part of a long tradition dating back to the 1980s when a channel called RTP Int’l first introduced American viewers to the magic of Portuguese soccer.

But it’s not just the Primeira Liga. GOL-TV also holds the rights to the Dutch KNVB Cup, featuring powerhouses like Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, and Feyenoord. For fans of total football and young, dynamic talent, this has been a godsend. And let’s not forget the South American leagues: Ecuador’s Serie A (now in jeopardy), Peru’s Primera…

Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/is-this-finally-the-end-of-goltv/

Author : Ed Perovic

Publish date : 2024-06-10 21:14:26

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