Quito -
Paralyzed LigaPro and with a return without spectators in the stands due to the coronavirus pandemic, the possibility of implementing the 'Pay-Per-View' (PPV) modality in the continuation of the season is not contemplated in the contract with GolTV, the owner of the broadcasting rights of the tournament.
Esteban Paz, main board member of LigaPro, commented that "the contract does not establish PPV, in the event of a case, we would have to sit down with GolTV and see how to do it, how to apply it."
The president of LigaPro, Miguel Ángel Loor, confirmed that "this year's model does not contemplate PPV, therefore, any change must be agreed and approved by GolTV."
- Split opinions between coaches and officials regarding a format change in LigaPro
The LigaPro board is aware that implementing this modality would be "attacking the subscriber to save the lack of people in the stadiums," according to Paz.
"The crisis is deep and extensive throughout the country. Perhaps the thinking may not be the fairest or the most logical, I speak from my perspective, surely we will have to sit down with GolTV and the cable companies to establish if it is convenient to implement PPV, but no matter how low it is, it will be an additional charge for the subscriber, without knowing if that will have a negative or positive effect," said the Liga de Quito executive.
'Soccer in Flames'
Due to the crisis, payments for broadcasting rights have not reached the clubs for the last two months, as confirmed by Paz, who defined the non-receipt of television rights payments as a "hard economic blow", although he justified GolTV's delay "because the cable companies are not paying either, they also have problems with their subscribers," he pointed out.
- Transferring players, the option to avoid a financial 'disaster' in Liga de Quito
In addition to the lack of income from television, the clubs face the problem of a lack of ticket sales, in addition to several club sponsors withdrawing or, in the best cases, "expressing a halt in their payments. With that, Ecuadorian football is in flames," expressed Paz.
The crisis of the clubs would extend institutionally to LigaPro, which has the continuity of the sponsor of the A and B series tournaments at risk, as confirmed by President Loor. (D)