Since last year a new trend started to emerge around Liga MX, and we are not talking about the controversial competition format the Mexican League currently plays on, or the disappearance of promotion/relegation. A more serious issue has taken the league by storm, which will have serious consequences on the long run for an already on decline league.
TV Rights Makes It Impossible To Watch
Liga MX started to get gritty since last season, and tv-rights holders started to make almost all of their broadcast of the matches available only on their own alternative streaming platforms, or “premium” channels which makes the price to watch the league increasingly high. Which means not only have games broadcasts on open tv practically disappeared, but even on cable or satellite tv broadcasting rights holders have migrated Liga MX matches to 3rd party exclusive platforms, so users cant even watch their favourite team on cable TV.
Audiences across the country have started to complain about this serious issue, because not only has it become expensive to watch the league, but it has become a headache to find out which app, premium channel, or if anyone will broadcast your favourite team’s game, which makes everyone lose interest right away.
To make things worse, the majority of broadcasts on “premium” platforms, with some minimum exceptions, are just plain terrible. Narrators and analysts make the matches even less appealing because of their horrible delivery. One would like to think that with the high prices you pay for watching the league, you would at least get quality content.
No Appeal For Regulars Or New Audiences
Club owners and TV Broadcaster seem to ignore, or even care about their main audience. In Liga MX the most faithful regulars are lower-middle class adults 40+, who don’t really have the time, money, or patience to figure out which “Streaming App” will have their team’s game, so if this trend continues to play out, it’s a matter of time for regulars to start losing interest.
Another concerning issue is that young audiences have very low interest in Liga MX, since International Football (Premier League, La Liga, Champions League) are far more appealing (and accessible) options for them, and even in social media, which is the main attraction for young audiences, Liga MX is very conservative as well, since they don’t allow any creator to use or distribute any content, so this kills all of the the Mexican league presence in social media. Huge Mistake.
It’s no mystery as to why emerging leagues such as MLS have grown at such a higher rate. Liga MX should take a look at it’s neighbour business model, because as it stands it’s only a matter of time for Liga MX to become an obsolete, expensive product with no growth, projection, or future.
