ITV strikes deal with La Liga for free-to-air coverage

British broadcaster ITV has struck a deal with Spanish football league La Liga, to show one game a week on free-to-air channel ITV4 until the end of the season.

Having kicked off this past Sunday (24 February) with Levante v Real Madrid, the channel will continue to carry weekly matches, along with a midweek highlights programme.

The best of the action from La Liga, including games involving Spanish footballing giants such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, will feature in ITV4’s coverage until the end of the season in May.

The deal will make La Liga available to 27m TV homes in the UK, increasing its visibility in Britain, after Sky Sports ended its 20-year-long coverage of the league in 2018.

Javier Tebas, LaLiga president, said: “This is a fantastic moment for La Liga in the UK and Ireland. The best league in the world will be available to more fans than ever before. We are delighted to welcome Premier Sports and ITV Sport to our broadcaster stable in the UK and Ireland which already includes Eleven Sports. We are reaching the exciting conclusion to the season and millions of viewers will be able to enjoy the best teams and players in the world, as well as the passion and drama of La Liga.”

Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, added: “This is good news for football fans who will be able to see on free to air television some of the world’s best players in action for some of the world’s biggest clubs in a league known for its high levels of skill and entertainment from now until the end of the season.”