[4] However, the big confrontation happened in 1979 when the main representatives of the clubs agreed with the president of the Federation not to broadcast live any match and thus encourage attendance at the fields.
The great financial problems of the clubs, the lack of attendance at the playing fields and the refusal of TVE to increase the economic offer motivated this decision.
The tranquility was broken by an unforeseen event: the appearance of regional television stations that from the beginning opted for football broadcasts (whether live matches or highlights).
In the 1986-87 season, renewed the agreement signed the previous year, while TVE confirmed the broadcast of a minimum of ten and a maximum of 12 live matches.
[3] On May 3, 1988, the Private Television Law was approved, which gave authorization for the appearance of the first commercial TV networks and the breakup of the TVE monopoly that had lasted longer than thirty years.
[4] With the arrival of private channels (Antena 3 in 1989 and Telecinco and Canal Plus from 1990), a new stage opened in the fight for the television rights of the La Liga.
This conflict had both media and political repercussions, and several complaints and accusations were made against different directors of the companies involved since Canal Plus was categorically opposed to any modification of the contract of July 6, 1990.
[3] The private channel (through the company Gestora de Medios Audiovisuales) decided to offer yo clubs a contract of 27 billion pesetas for five seasons starting in 1998.
Canal Plus (through the company Gestport) decided to make another offer of 31 billion pesetas for 7 seasons and the fight began to obtain the signatures of the teams.
[4] After several confrontations, companies reached an understanding and signed an agreement to establish Audiovisual Sport SL, in which 40% would be owned by Sogecable (Canal Plus), 40% by Antena 3 TV, and 20% by TV3.
[4] On July 5, 1997, the government approved the so-called 'football law', which harmed Canal Plus and established the obligation to broadcast at least one free-to-air match of the day whenever there was an interested operator.
After tense situations that included the prohibition of entry of cameras, on July 24, 2006 the parties ended up agreeing on a new version of the Christmas Eve Pact.
On July 9, 2007, Audiovisual Sport announced the filing of a lawsuit against Mediapro to demand compliance with its payment obligations and compensation.
On October 9, 2007, a court approves precautionary measures requested by AVS and prohibits Mediapro from exploiting the audiovisual rights of first division clubs.
GOL Televisión will continue to broadcast one match per day on FTA, with the limitation that it will never be one in which a club from European competitions participates.
The agreement did not include, of course, neither Barcelona – nor the three teams that Telefónica had in its portfolio (Celta de Vigo, Real Sociedad and Espanyol).
The proposal did not satisfy La Liga either with the amount, which was below what they would obtain with the intermediation of Mediapro, or with the formula: while the Catalan audiovisual group only acted as an intermediary in exchange for a commission, the multinational telecommunications company would take ownership and resell them to third parties without the obligation to consult.
Until that moment, could negotiate directly and in some countries or markets decide not only based on the economic offer, but also according to the level of media exposure guaranteed by television.