Flow Sports nets CONCACAF rights deal in Caribbean

Flow Sports nets CONCACAF rights deal in Caribbean
Asociated Press / Rebecca Blackwell, File

Flow Sports has agreed a multi-year broadcast rights deal with CONCACAF, the governing body for soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean, for a host of major club soccer tournaments, according to reports.

Under the terms of the agreement, the pan-Caribbean broadcaster will show the 2018 editions of the continent’s premier club soccer competition, the Concacaf Champions League, as well as the CONCACAF League, the annual continental knockout club soccer competition, and the newly launched Caribbean Club Championship competition, SportsPro Media said on Tuesday.

It said Flow Sports’ agreement with CONCACAF also includes rights to other tournaments organized by the confederation during the term of the deal.

“The integration of our regional assets and platforms to benefit all of the Confederation is a key pillar of our One CONCACAF Vision,” said Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF.

“This partnership with Flow Sports – both in terms of the expanded broadcasts of CONCACAF tournaments to the Caribbean and the support for the new, expanded Caribbean Club Championship — is the result of our collective efforts and additional fuel for the growth of the game in the region,” he added.

Flow Sports has also acquired title sponsorship rights to the Caribbean Club Championship which, along with the accompanying Caribbean Club Shield, will feature 20 clubs from 16 Caribbean member associations, SportsPro said.

It said the competitions will be divided in two tiers, with the Championship for fully professional clubs, and the Shield for clubs from Caribbean leagues still working towards fully licensed, professional status.

The new regional qualifying championships are to serve as the Caribbean qualifying tournament for the CONCACAF League and the Champions League, and aim to encourage wider participation of Caribbean clubs in confederation championships, SportsPro said.