After acquiring exclusive Uefa national team rights across the Balkans (Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia) last year, pay-television broadcaster Sportklub has now sublicensed first- and second-party matches in each country, TV Sports Markets understands.
The first announcement has been made in Croatia, with Sportklub owners United Group sublicensing rights to commercial network Nova TV. Nova TV will broadcast Uefa European Qualifier matches of the Croatian national team, both home and away, for the next four seasons, from 2018-19 to 2021-22, along with Euro 2020.
In July, the sale of Nova TV by media and entertainment company Central European Media Enterprises to Slovenia Broadband was approved. Slovenia Broadband is a subsidiary of United Group.
Sportklub acquired all rights sold by Uefa in separate deals in each of the Balkan countries. In each country, it faced strong competition from public-service and commercial broadcasters to do so. It was under no obligation to sublicense rights by Uefa.
Announcements on sublicensing deals in the remaining Balkans countries are expected in the coming days.