PRISA wins the football wars

• Mediapro ordered to pay 97 million euros to AVS
• Mediapro also ordered to pay court costs
• The court recognizes the validity of the contract signed in 2008

Magistrates at a Madrid court of first instance (Juzgado de Primera Instancia nº 36) have ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by Audiovisual Sport  (80% held by Sogecable with 20% held by Televisión de Cataluña) against Mediapro. The court's ruling, made public today, rules in favor of the claim presented by AVS in July, 2007, against Mediapro and rejected a counterclaim filed by Mediapro against AVS, Sogecable and Televisión de Cataluña.

The ruling also recognized the validity of the contract signed by AVS, Mediapro, Sogecable and Televisión de Cataluña in July, 2006, which guaranteed the continuity of the system in place governing football transmission rights. The court also found that Mediapro was in breach of said contract and ordered Mediapro to pay 97 million euros in damages to AVS for the period covering the beginning of the 2006/2007 football season up to February 2008 (halfway through the 2007/2008 season).

The court also ordered Mediapro to cover all legal costs, including those occasioned by the lawsuit filed by AVS, and those caused by Mediapro's counterclaim.

Legal counsel for AVS and Sogecable was provided by Cortes Attorneys.