SporTV, the Brazilian pay-television operator owned by commercial broadcasting giant Globo, has acquired the broadcast rights to soccer’s Saudi Pro League (SPL) competition ahead of the 2025-26 campaign’s kick-off.
The deal, which also includes the King's Cup knockout competition and the season-opening tournament, will see Sportv showcase two SPL fixtures each gameweek.
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This will begin on August 19 with the Saudi Super Cup semi-final between Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad
This move rounds out the SPL’s broadcast coverage in the country, with the league already having a deal in place to showcase the other six games per round on the YouTube channel Goat (three of these games are exclusive broadcasts).
The Goat agreement already being in place means that Globo cannot disseminate its own Saudi Pro League coverage onto its own GE TV YouTube channel, and as such, the games must remain on linear TV.
The league also has a deal in the country with free-to-air network Band, which holds a specific Saturday time slot.
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By GlobalDataThese deals were brokered by major sports agency IMG, which is the commercial partner of the SPL.
Speaking to GlobalData Sport (Sportcal) in 2024, IMG media’s managing director for soccer Robert Klein said: “If the league’s ambition is not matched [by the broadcaster] in terms of the content we’re giving to them – if some of the assets are not being utilized, this is not the right partner for us. These are intense discussions, it’s not just about the money.”
“If the league’s ambition is not matched [by the broadcaster] in terms of the content we’re giving to them – if some of the assets are not being utilized, this is not the right partner for us. These are intense discussions; it’s not just about the money.”
Klein also felt that, in terms of the metrics of both broadcast coverage and production, the SPL is already ranking up there with other renowned soccer leagues worldwide.
He said: “With the broadcast distribution we have right now, that level clearly states this is already a serious league – both from demand and distribution. When you compare it to others via certain metrics, it is already a top-10 league and maybe higher. That’s in a short space of time."
Brazil is the most-represented non-Saudi nationality in the competition, with 19 players (12.5% of the league) hailing from the country.
This includes stars like Galeno, Roger Ibanez (Both Al-Ahli), Malcom, Marcos Leonardo, Renan Lodi (all Al-Hilal), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), and more.
The consistent presence of Brazilian players in the upper echelons of Saudi soccer blends well with the league’s stated aim to expand its global footprint with Brazil as a target market.
Earlier in 2025, the league stated: “By investing in Brazil, the SPL is solidifying its global stature while also embracing the passion and heritage that define Brazilian football.
“This marks an exciting new chapter in the league’s international journey, enhancing the bond between Saudi Arabian football and one of the sport’s most influential nations.”
To this end, the SPL has established Brazil-focused social media channels with behind-the-scenes access.
