Movistar bolsters sports lineup, leaving fans wondering what's next
Spanish streaming giant Movistar Plus+ is quietly but significantly expanding its sports offerings, sparking excitement and a touch of confusion among subscribers. The change, seemingly driven by a deepened partnership with DAZN, brings back the coveted ACB basketball league and injects a dose of international football – Serie A and Bundesliga – into the existing package, all without a formal announcement.
A sudden return to the court
Just yesterday, subscribers were treated to a surprise: the return of ACB action, a league many had missed since its previous, limited availability via Teledeporte. The sudden appearance of two ACB games, broadcast across channels Vamos and Movistar Plus+, was immediately noticed by users, who took to social media to document the unexpected development. The games – Força Lleida vs. La Laguna Tenerife and Casademont Zaragoza vs. Barcelona – were broadcast on Sunday, April 5th, fueling speculation about a broader shift in Movistar’s strategy.
While the ACB had previously been accessible to miMovistar subscribers since December, its absence from the broader OTT platform had been a point of contention for many. The current move suggests a potential easing of those restrictions, though Movistar Plus+ has yet to confirm the details.
Beyond basketball: a football feast
The ACB revival isn't the only piece of good news for sports fans. Movistar Plus+ is also now showing matches from Serie A (Italy) and the Bundesliga (Germany), with upcoming games featuring Juventus vs. Genoa and Milan vs. Udinese, and Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayer Leverkusen respectively. This influx of international football effectively enhances the value proposition for subscribers paying €9.99 per month – or €99.90 for an annual subscription.
The lack of an official announcement from Movistar Plus+ is the key sticking point. While the programming clearly indicates the expanded coverage, the absence of a press release or formal communication leaves subscribers in a state of cautious optimism. Social media chatter is rife with questions, as evidenced by inquiries on the Movistar community forums regarding the ACB’s presence and potential future NBA coverage.
The expansion, facilitated by the broadened agreement with DAZN, signals a clear intent by Movistar to retain its position as a dominant force in Spanish sports streaming. But the ambiguity surrounding the rollout raises questions about long-term strategy and potential future changes. The fact that only two ACB games were scheduled for this weekend, despite user eagerness, suggests this might still be a trial run, a calculated assessment of subscriber engagement before a full-scale commitment.
Ultimately, the situation underscores a growing trend in the streaming landscape: a dynamic, often opaque, relationship between content providers and distributors. For Movistar Plus+ subscribers, the immediate reward is access to more live sports, but the long-term implications remain to be seen.