Financial pressure forces Band to end coverage of Campeonato Brasileiro

Brazilian broadcaster Rede Bandeirantes has said it will end its coverage of Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A, the top division of domestic football.

Rede Bandeirantes, otherwise known as Band, has broadcast Serie A for the past 10 seasons in association with the league’s rights-holder, media company Globo.

However, in a joint statement issued by Band and Globo, the two parties said they were unable to agree on a sublicensing deal for the 2016 season, which commences on May 14, due to the “worsening economic crisis” experienced by Band.

The statement added: “Globo and Band reiterate that this decision was taken in agreement and in the highest spirit of cooperation that has characterised their relationship for many decades and that continues in other sporting and institutional events.”

Globo currently has the pay-television and free-to-air Serie A rights until the end of the 2018 season. The announcement means that the 2016 Serie A season is set to receive free-to-air coverage via Globo only.