Univision Communications Inc. has scored exclusive and expanded Spanish-language rights in the U.S. to the upcoming Copa America tournament.
Under the deal with Traffic Sports U.S.A., terms of which were not disclosed, Univision will hold the broadcast and cable TV rights to Copa America 2011, the top international soccer tournament for national teams in South America. The company also televised the 2007 tournament.
The Spanish-language media giant also holds rights to interactive and video-on-demand platforms throughout the 2011 event, which will take place in Argentina from July 1-24.
Traffic Sports U.S.A., which markets and organizes events in North and Central America, and the Caribbean, controlled the rights to the tournament, which features the 10 national teams from South America, as well as two invited international squad, which next year will showcase Mexico and Japan. The tournament is organized by CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American soccer.
"Univision is the leading provider of soccer programming in the United States and with the acquisition of Copa America 2011 we are thrilled to reaffirm our position," said Cesar Conde, president, Univision Networks, in announcing the rights acquisition. "We are committed to offering the best soccer content to our loyal audiences across our television, interactive and on-demand platforms."
Noted Traffic Sports USA vice president Enrique Sanz de Santamaria: "With the 2011 edition of Copa America Argentina on the horizon, we are thrilled that Univision will once again be covering the action alongside Traffic Sports. Even more exciting, this edition will feature more capabilities in expanding the coverage of the tournament with the new digital media, including mobile, internet and on-demand capabilities, and for the first time ever all the games will be broadcast in HD."
