Eight Colombian football clubs challenge TV contract over revenue split

Eight prominent Colombian football clubs have announced they will not cede their image rights for a new championship broadcast contract until a revised revenue distribution model is agreed upon. The clubs argue that the current system, which splits television income equally among all teams, fails to incentivize competitiveness and hinders the league's commercial growth.

In a joint statement, América de Cali, Atlético Nacional, Deportivo Cali, Independiente Medellín, Independiente Santa Fe, Junior, Millonarios, and Once Caldas asserted that the equal distribution model "does not take into account sporting performance, level of investment, or fan loyalty." They contend this mechanism has limited Colombian football's ability to improve its competitive standing and increase the league's commercial value.

The clubs are calling for a "serious, technical, and participatory discussion" before any new television rights commercialization process begins. They point to other regional leagues that have adopted models combining solidarity with performance-based incentives, which they claim have attracted greater investment and elevated the quality of their competitions. The aim, they state, is not to favor a select group of clubs but to establish a "more objective and balanced" system that ensures the sustainability of all institutions while rewarding sporting success, investment, and fan support.

These teams have declared they will not authorize the cession of their rights for a new audiovisual contract until an agreement is reached on this new distribution model. They emphasize that this decision is intended to strengthen the league and enhance the spectacle for fans, rather than disrupt the championship's development. The clubs' unified stance comes as the second half of the season is set to commence.