Japan’s U-Next secures LaLiga in five-season deal

Japanese streamer U-Next has signed a distribution partnership deal with Spain’s LaLiga giving U-Next rights to distribute Spanish top-tier footgall for the next five seasons.

In addition to live streaming of all 380 matches of the Spanish soccer league, which will start on August 12, in full HD (1080p), U-Next subscribers can watch six playoff games and special programmes including El Classico specials.

U-Next will also air the Spanish Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de España.

U-Next said football would sit alongside an expanded sports offering featuring golf and baseball with a revamped UI.

“We at La Liga have always sought the best partners on our road to bring Spanish football to fans all over the world. With the new contract with U-NEXT announced today, we are confident that everyone in Japan will be able to enjoy La Liga football to their heart’s content,” said LaLiga audiovisual director Melcior Soler.

“We are very happy to be able to deliver La Liga, the world’s best soccer league, on U-Next. As you know, La Liga is a soccer league that attracts the attention of Japan and the world. We are very pleased to be able to deliver the world’s best play to Japanese fans through U-NEXT, and to be a place where soccer fans gather. In addition to delivering matches safely and with high quality, based on our partnership with La Liga, we will deliver the sport of soccer in a more attractive and multifaceted manner,” said U-Next president and CEO Tenshin Tsutsumi.