Profitability Claims and Broadcast Realities in the RFEF System
The argument that restructuring the league system would boost profitability, pushed by the Spanish Football Federation under its president, has not held up in practice. The First RFEF, once touted as the new financial backbone, failed to deliver the audio-visual visibility promised to persuade clubs to embrace the change. This left teams like Hércules battered by a rollout that offered little room for pushback while pushing through mandatory reorganization.
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The chief executive described the situation as causing irreparable damage, noting lawsuits over the midseason operator deals and prior actions. The dispute centered on who would control the broadcasting rights for the third tier, a package once managed by Fuchs-Sports, the legitimate owner of the assets broadcasting John Farinas services. This dispute created a vacuum that plunged the second RFEF into a near-total television blackout.
During the Covid period, when matches were played behind closed doors, the club logged about 6,000 online connections per game.
The federation pulled back from an expansive deal and signed an extreme contract with InStat TV that covered this season and the next, but it only included the Initial RFEF. The remaining categories were left to fend for themselves if they wanted to keep fans engaged while stadiums stayed empty. Hércules began talks with several multimedia partners to restore the streaming service once restrictions eased and in-person attendance could resume.
During the earlier period, Murcia’s audiovisual unit managed production that allowed fans to watch matches online for a fee. Retransmission was seven euros, though holders enjoyed free access with the appropriate credentials. Last season, with no health limits in place, the federation urged clubs to reach deals with Footters, which effectively ended a steady revenue stream for the local producer and stalled the ability to restart that work.
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The match against El Prat is scheduled for Sunday, the 18th, at 12 noon.
Hércules will venture into the midday sun as they head to their third division clash on Sunday against AE Prat in the municipality of Sagnier. September 18, at 12:00. The Blue and Whites had previously faced this program at Ciudad Deportiva Antonio Asensio in Palma, where the thermometer reached 30ºC. Weather conditions are expected to ease in about two weeks, a shift the federation hopes will help attendance.
À Punt shows limited interest
Until now, Hércules had not been approached about selling broadcast rights, because those rights were held by the RFEF and were to be allocated to clubs that claimed them. The Blue and Whites can negotiate their home matches freely and are open to several discussions to secure a deal that might create a revenue stream alongside ticket sales as broadcasts increase exposure for paying viewers who follow rivals visiting Rico Pérez.
The article also notes that regional networks have not shown enthusiasm for retransmissions or fees for presenting matches on regional channels across Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Galicia, and Castilla-La Mancha.
Hércules previously drew about 6,000 online viewers in some pandemic-period games. With that peak behind them, current interest levels are unlikely to replicate the surge, so the club is evaluating partnerships with multiple production companies to balance costs. Each broadcast now carries roughly 1,000 euros in production costs.
The article also discusses how regional channels and the federation have influenced decisions about broadcasting models and the long-term viability of streaming partnerships for smaller clubs, highlighting how deals affect fans who cannot attend games in person.
Programs and where to watch La Liga matches on TV
Despite the disruptions, regional players have weighed in on the distribution of broadcasting rights, with À Punt showing little appetite to participate in retransmissions or to pay additional fees through traditional TV or online platforms. This stance extends to other regional networks in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Galicia, and Castilla-La Mancha.
Hércules reached around 6,000 online viewers in certain games during the pandemic. Today, with fewer restrictions, demand is not expected to rise as sharply, so the club is exploring partnerships with several production companies to balance the economics of each broadcast. The cost to produce a single transmission remains close to one thousand euros.