Meo, the pay-television platform of Portugal Telecom, has signed up to the partnership formed in the country for the sharing of sport broadcast rights.
The agreement ends a stand-off that had existed between Meo and telecommunications company Nos. It should mean that Meo customers will have access to the prize rights associated with Primeira Liga football club Benfica and its Benfica TV channel.
Primeira Liga clubs sell their rights on an individual basis and Nos in December signed a deal with Benfica that will run for a maximum of 10 seasons, from 2016-17 to 2025-26.
In return, Nos customers shall gain access to Porto Canal, the channel for FC Porto games. Meo holds media and sponsorship rights to Porto and recently signed a 10-season deal from 2018-19 to 2027-28.
A statement issued by the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) confirmed the signing of an agreement between Nos Comunicações, Nos Lusomundo, telecommunications group Vodafone Portugal, pay-television operator Cabovisão, and telco Altice, which owns Portugal Telecom and Meo.
Nos and Vodafone agreed a Memorandum of Understanding in May, with Cabovisão joining the pact earlier this month. The agreement calls for sharing the broadcast and distribution of sports and club channels held by the signatory parties, along with the sharing of costs relating to this content.