Canadian Soccer Business (CSB) has alleged that Mediapro ‘failed to meet significant contractual obligations’, with the disagreement launching a court case.
CSB and its media partner Mediapro will present a dispute over contractual obligations in front of the Ontario Superior Court, with both parties blaming one another for the termination of their contract.
Mediapro became the media partner of CSB in 2019 as part of a ten-year deal that would see One Soccer – a streaming service owned by the Barcelona-based multimedia company – air both the Canadian Premier League (CPL) and Canadian National team games.
CSB, who looks after marketing and broadcast rights for both the CPL and Canada Soccer, has decided to pursue legal action after accusing the media company of failing to meet contractual obligations.
CSB stated: “Mediapro has failed to meet significant contractual obligations, including defaulting on the majority of its rights fees due for 2023 and failure to secure broader audiences for Canada’s national teams, the Canadian Championship and the Canadian Premier League.
“Our decision to pursue legal action was not one we took lightly, but we felt it was necessary to protect the tremendous investments we have made to build the game in Canada.
However, One Soccer has replied to the allegations with a social media post in which it raises issues of its own.
One Soccer posted: “Despite the huge passion Canadians have for soccer, it has become clear that CSB has been and will be unable to fulfil its side of our commercial agreement,” it said in a statement.
“We have made best efforts to work with the CSB on a constructive path forward, but have come to a position where we have no choice but to seek to terminate our agreement.
“We continue to be excited by the many great things happening in Canadian soccer, but have taken this step in the interests of our global business and our many partners around the world. As this matter is now before the Ontario Superior Court, we will have no further comment.”
Although the CPL has become the core content for One Soccer, Mediapro has the rights to several leagues and competitions across the world, including a deal with regional football governing body Concacaf to broadcast major tournaments in South and Central America.
Following the dispute, CSB are without a media partner ahead of a busy schedule of football in the country.
The Canadian women are in action next month at the CONCACAF W Gold Cup, the Canadian men’ are playing in a Copa America playoff in March and the sixth season of the CPL is set to kick off in April.
CSB added: “By taking back full control of our rights we will immediately have the opportunity to do so with new partners who have the ability to reach larger audiences.”
