The Hungarian public media provider MTVA has secured a one-year agreement to broadcast domestic football matches for 6 billion forints, according to reports from Telex. This deal marks a reduction from the previous season’s 10 billion forint contract, covering the 2026–2027 professional football schedule across various leagues and cup competitions.
Broadcast Rights and Financial Scope
The 6 billion forint fee covers the acquisition of broadcasting rights only, with production costs to be billed separately, as confirmed by MTVA in response to inquiries from 24.hu. This agreement ensures that M4 Sport remains the home for a broad slate of Hungarian football, including the OTP Bank Liga (NB I), the Merkantil Bank Liga (NB II), and the women’s top-tier league. The package also includes coverage of both men’s and women’s futsal leagues and national cup tournaments, alongside non-exclusive UEFA-related Hungarian national team matches.
Did you know?
The current contract represents a decrease in the rights fee compared to the previous year’s 10 billion forint expenditure.
Why the Agreement is Limited to One Year
The decision to limit the contract to a single season stems from the fact that MTVA currently has temporary leadership. Horváth P. András is in a role that will continue until the Independent Public Media Board appoints a new leader.
Competitive Landscape for Hungarian Football Rights
The bidding process for these rights was competitive. Press reports indicate that alongside M4 Sport, other major media players—specifically RTL and AMC, the owner of Sport TV—competed for the rights. The finalization of the deal faced multiple delays before the public broadcaster ultimately retained the portfolio.
Pro Tip: Tracking Sports Rights Economics
When analyzing sports broadcasting deals, always distinguish between “rights fees” and “production costs.” As seen with the MTVA deal, the rights fee is only a portion of the total financial commitment required to bring live sports to the screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What leagues are covered under the new MTVA agreement?
The agreement covers the OTP Bank Liga (NB I), Merkantil Bank Liga (NB II), women’s NB I, men’s and women’s futsal, and both men’s and women’s Hungarian Cup matches.
Why did the rights cost decrease this year?
The contract value dropped from 10 billion forints last year to 6 billion forints for the 2026–2027 season, though MTVA has not provided public comment on whether they expect the deal to be profitable.
Who is currently leading MTVA?
Horváth P. András is currently serving in a temporary leadership capacity at MTVA pending the appointment of a new head by the Independent Public Media Board.
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