SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
International sports law firm Couchmans LLP has been advising Spain’s top football leagues on their data strategy over the past year, culminating in the recently announced “official data partner deal” between Liga de Futbol Profesional (LFP) and UK company Satellite Information Services (SIS).
Under the official data partner deal, SIS has been appointed as LFP’s official partner to collect and exclusively distribute live match data to the betting industry from more than 2,500 matches per season in Liga BBVA, Liga Adelante, Segunda Division B, the Copa del Rey and Supercopa.The new data strategy is one of a number of recent ground breaking initiatives designed to support the LFP’s goal to be the world’s most successful football league.
The Couchmans team, including Steven Burton and Jody MacDonald, worked with LFP to create and devise the strategy for a new package of data rights. It also conducted an independent tender process, drafted new rules and regulations and negotiated the final contracts between the parties.
Couchmans has also advised LFP on a number of related areas including betting integrity, use of data in media/editorial markets (including the LFP’s professional coaching system), venue regulations, ticket conditions and other commercial contracts. Steven Burton, Head of Sports Data & Betting at Couchmans LLP, said:
“It was particularly pleasing that the LFP involved us from an early stage to help devise and deliver their data strategy. This deal demonstrates our ability to provide a unique combination of industry expertise and technical legal services to open up new, long-term revenue streams for international sports leagues and federations. This is an exciting period of international development and growth for both LFP and Couchmans.”
Javier Tebas, President of LFP said:
“We have been impressed by the expertise and professionalism of the Couchmans team which has enabled LFP to protect and commercially exploit its Official Data and develop betting integrity measures in line with the top sports organisations worldwide.”
