Brought to you by the OTT platform in ‘positive’ bilateral negotiations over carriage deals. Getty Images Over-the-top (OTT) streaming service Eleven Sports is reportedly in talks with three telecommunications companies as part of a bid to expand the distribution of sports coverage in Portugal, including live Uefa Champions League soccer. Eleven is said to be close to finalising domestic carriage deals to European soccer’s premier club competition with Altice, Nos and Vodafone, according to the financial news outlet Eco. The UK-based media company, owned by Leeds United majority shareholder Andrea Radrizziani, has not provided an update on the development of the talks but did tell Portuguese news outlets that discussions were progressing well. An Eleven Sports spokesperson said: "The only thing we confirm is that there have been bilateral meetings, which have been very positive." It is thought that the Portuguese telco Nowo – which initially agreed to distribute Eleven’s coverage of the tournament in a deal made last summer – now wants to sell its rights. Nowo, which last September launched an IPTV service to expand its reach nationwide, only has a market share of around 10 per cent, leaving Eleven keen to broaden its exposure in Portugal The Eco report also states that an agreement could be finalised within a fortnight and upcoming Champions League knockout rounds are a key factor in the negotiations, with FC Porto, who play the first leg of their last-16 clash with Roma on 12th February, the only Portuguese club left in the competition. An agreement would effectively allow the majority of pay-TV subscribers in Portugal access to Eleven’s sports coverage, having secured domestic rights to the Champions League and La Liga, the top-tier of Spanish soccer, upon its arrival in the Portuguese market last May. Eleven’s ongoing negotiations in Portugal have taken place during a difficult period for the company’s UK and Ireland operations, which last week confirmed it had returned its set of IMG distributed domestic rights to the agency, amid concerns for its future in the market. The decision was reached after the company had to give up its Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) rights deal, with the MMA promotion activating an exit clause in the contract after Eleven failed to secure a carriage deal with a major British broadcaster. The company has retained rights to La Liga in the British and Irish territories.
Altice is said to be in talks with telecom firms Altice , Champions League and FC Porto about expanding its sports coverage distribution in Ireland . Coverage of Altice knockout rounds are reportedly at the heart of negotiations.