Ecuavisa Secures U.S. Broadcast Rights to Ecuador’s ‘Primera A’

Ecuavisa, the leading TV network in Ecuador, has acquired the exclusive, long term U.S. broadcast rights for the top ‘Primera A’ division in Ecuador, whose matches will be aired live in the U.S. through its Ecuavisa International feed.

The teams included in the exclusive agreement include Barcelona (currently ranked #1 in Ecuador), Emelec (#2), Deportivo Quito (#8), Deportivo Cuenca (#10) and Universidad Católica (who re-entered Division A in 2008). The announcement was made today by Ecuavisa CEO Xavier Alvarado.

“Securing the exclusive U.S. broadcast rights for these leading teams secures Ecuavisa’s dominance as the network of choice for Ecuadorians living in the U.S. and football fans regardless of their ethnicity,” said Alvarado. “Passionate about our hometown teams, Ecuadorians living in the U.S. will now be able to turn to Ecuavisa for all of their Primera A football coverage.”

“We can now ensure our viewers that Ecuavisa will be broadcasting the matches of the top performing football teams in Ecuador’s Primera A division,” added Ecuavisa General Manager Guillermo Hidalgo. “Fans will be able to watch their team’s matches live, cheer for their favorite players and have plenty of opportunity to analyze and debate every play. That is, afterall, what is most important to sports fans, second only to winning!”

Ecuadorian football clubs have fought hard for international success. The first club to reach the finals of an international tournament was Barcelona, who reached the finals of the 1990 and 1998 Copa Libertadores, but lost both. In 2001, Emelec became the second club to reach the finals of an international tournament at the 2001 Copa Merconorte, but they too lost. In 2008, LDU Quito became the first club to win an international title by becoming the 2008 Copa Libertadores champion and went on to win the Recopa Sudamericana and the Copa Sudamericana, both in 2009. Perhaps 2013 will be the year Ecuadorian teams earn the opportunity to compete on the world field.