Benfica TV

Quality 0.50 · 2 views · Updated 2 months ago

S.L. Benfica television channel

title: "Benfica TV" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["s.l.-benfica", "television-stations-in-portugal", "television-channels-and-stations-established-in-2008", "portuguese-language-television-stations", "2008-establishments-in-portugal", "sports-television-in-portugal", "mass-media-in-lisbon"] description: "S.L. Benfica television channel" topic_path: "geography/portugal" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benfica_TV" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary S.L. Benfica television channel ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox television channel"]

FieldValue
nameBenfica TV
logoBTV Red.svg
logo_size230
logo_altBTV logo
launch_date
picture_format576i (16:9) (SDTV)
720p (HDTV)
ownerS.L. Benfica
countryPortugal
areaAngola
Canada
Cape Verde
England
France
Luxembourg
Mozambique
Portugal
Switzerland
United States
headquartersEstádio da Luz - Door 27
languagePortuguese
websiteslbenfica.pt/btv
webcast
online_serv_1FuboTV
online_chan_1IPTV
::

| name = Benfica TV | logo = BTV Red.svg | logo_size = 230 | logo_alt = BTV logo | launch_date = | picture_format = 576i (16:9) (SDTV) 720p (HDTV) | owner = S.L. Benfica | country = Portugal | area = Angola Canada Cape Verde England France Luxembourg Mozambique Portugal Switzerland United States | headquarters = Estádio da Luz - Door 27 | language = Portuguese | website = slbenfica.pt/btv | webcast = | online_serv_1 = FuboTV | online_chan_1 = IPTV Benfica TV (BTV) is a Portuguese sports-oriented premium cable and satellite television channel operated by sports club S.L. Benfica. Its headquarters are located at the Estádio da Luz, having a second studio at Benfica Campus. Its first broadcast was on 2 October 2008, and regular transmissions began on 10 December. The channel was originally made available for free on all of its cable operators until June 2013.

Unlike other football club TV channels, BTV markets and broadcasts the club's own home league matches. When BTV became a premium channel in July 2013, Benfica purchased content such as the English Premier League, the Italian Serie A, the French Ligue 1, and Ultimate Fighting Championship events, broadcasting it on a second channel, which ended in June 2016. BTV rights belong to NOS since July 2016 and until end of June 2027.

In Portugal, BTV is available on MEO, NOS, Nowo and Vodafone. Internationally, it is available in Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, England, Canada and the United States. Moreover, it is available via streaming.

History

Introduction

The concept of a television channel specifically covering Benfica and its members was first mentioned in 2005 with Luís Filipe Vieira's announcement of a new membership campaign called Kit Sócio ("Member Kit"). A year later, Vieira mentioned creating the channel again in his presidential campaign, as a way for the club to better communicate with its members and fans. After nearly two years, in April 2008 Benfica selected the first production companies to create the channel's content; former SIC Radical executive producer Ricardo Palacin was appointed as director and began the process of negotiating with cable operators to broadcast the channel. A studio at Estádio da Luz and another at Benfica Campus were constructed, with the channel's broadcast to launch in November. Club administrator Domingos Soares Oliveira disclosed that negotiations with ZON TV Cabo (now NOS) had stalled, preventing them from broadcasting the channel,

On 1 October, Benfica announced an experimental broadcast for the following day, showing the second leg of the 2008–09 UEFA Cup first round against Napoli. The test occurred without any incidents, and 100,000 people tuned in to watch the game.

Regular broadcasts started on 10 December at 10:00 WET with a news report. According to Domingos Soares Oliveira, the channel was expected to have operating costs of €4 million per year, and advertising alone would be enough to cover them. Two days after the first broadcast, Benfica announced that it would start transmitting all of their amateur sports home games, because TV rights were free and no exclusivity deal existed. The first live game broadcast was a match of the basketball section against Ovarense.

Expansion

In the channel's early years, Benfica focused on expanding the availability of Benfica TV, broadcasting through the Cabovisão, AR Telecom and Clix cable providers in January 2009. ZAP was added in March 2009, and the Dish Network in July 2010. By end of its second year, Benfica TV was available in more than 1 million homes. In July 2011 Benfica began broadcasting more than just their own games with the purchase of 180 games from various teams, including Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool. Further expansions in both availability and content gained the channel significant profit. They entered the French network Orange in April 2012, and in August 2012 purchased the TV rights for 82 Brasileirão matches.

At the same time, Benfica was negotiating a new TV rights deal with Olivedesportos, as the former deal, valued at €7.5 million, expired on 30 June 2013. In March 2012 Benfica announced that they had rejected a five-year, €111 million offer (€22.2 million per year), asking for €40 million per year instead. After months of exploiting alternative means of broadcast, on 25 October 2012 Benfica publicly confirmed they were transmitting their Primeira Liga home games on Benfica TV. On the club's 109th anniversary, Vieira divulged that Benfica had acquired the Premier League TV rights through 2015–16. The following day, Domingos Soares de Oliveira confirmed that the purchase was necessary for the need of "better content" and that Benfica TV would become a subscription-based channel, since it could not longer be a "free channel inserted in a network package." The subscription fee would be under €10 per month.

Premium channel

On 1 July 2013, Benfica TV became a premium channel, available in standard-definition and high-definition. The price was €9.90 per month and included the aforementioned Benfica home games, Premier League and Brasileirão, plus Major League Soccer and the Super League Greece. and added Farense home games to their content. They closed their first month with 100,000 subscribers, which Vieira praised as "a good answer for the strategic shift he made and serves as fuel for the future." Benfica TV made their first home game broadcast on 25 August, beating their direct competitors in rating and share. Expansion continued in the second and third month, adding Vodafone to their list of cable operators and finishing September with over 200,000 subscribers. Due to the increased amount of available content, Benfica launched a second channel in October, and signed with another cable provider, Premier Sports, in November. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Logo_Benfica_TV.png" caption="The channel's original logo"] ::

In January 2014, Benfica added LiveMatch, an internet pay-per-view option, that allowed residential customers to watch a live stream of home games. In the same month, the channel beat historic rating records and surpassed 300,000 subscribers. In the following months, Benfica added Ultimate Fighting Championship to their programming and shortened the channel's name to "BTV". In November, Benfica disclosed that BTV had generated €28 million, with expenses rising to €11 million, for a net profit of €17 million, making it their main source of income. It was more than double that of previous income from TV rights, but still less than the rejected offer from Olivedesportos.

By the end of 2014, BTV was available internationally in the Portuguese-speaking countries Angola, Cape Verde and Mozambique, as well as to the significant Portuguese populations in France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, England, Canada and the United States. In July 2015 Benfica added two more major leagues to its programming, Serie A and Ligue 1, signing a three-year deal that would last until 2018. At the same time, changes in the leadership at the Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional brought forward the question of centralizing TV rights to one owner. Soares de Oliveira agreed that "we need a centralized TV deal", while Vieira said that he did not oppose and assured that BTV would continue, if not Benfica home games, then their other relevant content. On 2 December 2015, Benfica sold its first-team TV rights as well as the distribution and broadcasting rights to NOS in a three-year deal, receiving €40 million per season, with the option to extend the contract to a maximum of ten seasons, totalling €400 million. NOS later opted to keep Benfica's first-team matches on BTV, still as a premium channel. They also opted to remove all other premium content, namely the UFC, Ligue 1 and Serie A, subsequently closing the second channel (BTV2) on 30 June 2016.

On 9 February 2017, BTV was awarded with the Prémio Cinco Estrelas (Five Star Award) for the best TV Sports Channel in Portugal.

Programming

BTV covers Benfica's daily activity with four regular news reports at 10:00, 14:00, 21:00 and 24:00 WET. They comment on daily newspapers, as well as recent events in Portugal. Occasionally, for unscheduled breaking news related to Benfica, more news reports can occur. However, the channel's main content is the broadcast of football matches, specially Benfica's Primeira Liga home games. From the start, Benfica has also broadcast its home matches for the five best-known amateur sports: basketball, futsal, roller hockey, handball and volleyball, with teams in both senior and youth categories, male or female.

Some of the original programs produced by BTV, not including post-game analysis, are:

  • As Lanças Apontadas, a 55-minute program where host Ricardo Palacin and guests review the week's main sports events
  • Aquecimento, a 90-minute show presented by Hélder Conduto discussing upcoming matches
  • Jogo Limpo, a 50-minute show with Fernando Seara, where he interviews, discusses and debates with guest athletes
  • Direito Desportivo, a program focused on the technicalities of sports law
  • Alta Fidelidade, a 30-minute show presented by Carlos Dias da Silva, interviewing a Benfica athlete
  • Sport Lisboa e Modalidades, a 60-minute program related to the club's amateur sports, including interviews, fun facts, and analysis of athletes
  • Canela até ao Pescoço, a 60-minute humour show, presented by Quimbé, Frederico Pombares, Mário Bomba and Alexandre Ovídio
  • Vitórias & Património, a 60-minute documentary about Benfica history, notable events and players
  • Em Linha da Noite, a show about recent events, where viewers can call and comment
  • Isto é Mística, a mini-show related to the club's fans
  • Jornal O Benfica, a preview of the club's newspaper, O Benfica, presented by Pedro Guerra
  • Tempo Corrido, 25-minute interview of various notable fans
  • Pelas Casas do Benfica, a 30-minute show regarding the Houses of Benfica, the fans' gathering places, with facts, pictures and interviews

Criticism

In 2020, BTV was criticized by Bernardo Silva, António Bagão Félix, and other Benfica members for not covering the club's elections that year nor promoting debates between candidates to presidency. Benfica had previously justified the absence of electoral coverage and debates on BTV with the exact same absence regarding the three previous elections at the club, saying their decision was due to an editorial option unanimously approved by the club's social bodies.

References

References

  1. "Distribuição Internacional BTV". S.L. Benfica.
  2. (2 June 2005). "Luís Filipe Vieira quer 300.000 sócios até Outubro".
  3. (10 November 2006). "Benfica com maior número de sócios do mundo". [[TSF (radio station).
  4. (4 April 2008). "Benfica TV vai ter estúdios próprios".
  5. (29 August 2008). "Benfica TV arranca em Novembro com lançamento exclusivo no mercado".
  6. (July 2008). "Perspectivas de Implementação da Televisão Digital em Portugal". Obercom.pt.
  7. (1 October 2008). "Palacin: "Imagens e espaços nunca antes vistos"". [[Record (Portuguese newspaper).
  8. (3 October 2008). "Canal benfiquista já transmite vitórias". [[Record (Portuguese newspaper).
  9. (10 December 2008). "Benfica TV arrancou hoje com bloco noticioso". Expresso.
  10. (25 November 2008). "Benfica TV com emissões regulares a partir de 10 Dezembro". [[Record (Portuguese newspaper).
  11. (10 December 2008). "Benfica TV arrancou hoje com bloco noticioso". [[Expresso (newspaper).
  12. (12 December 2008). "Benfica-Ovarense transmitido em directo na Benfica TV e na Sport TV". [[Expresso (newspaper).
  13. (9 January 2009). "Benfica TV na Cabovisão, AR Telecom e Clix Smart TV". [[Jornal de Negócios]].
  14. (13 March 2009). "Benfica TV passa a estar disponível a partir de hoje na ZAP TV". [[Jornal de Negócios]].
  15. (22 July 2010). "Benfica TV to Debut Nationwide Exclusively on DISH Network". [[Dish Network]].
  16. (18 November 2010). "Canal do clube chega a mais de um milhão de lares". [[Record (Portuguese newspaper).
  17. (18 November 2010). "Benfica TV chega a um milhão de lares". [[Diário de Notícias]].
  18. (15 July 2011). "Benfica TV vai transmitir "overdose" de jogos internacionais". [[Record (Portuguese newspaper).
  19. (8 November 2011). "Benfica TV com lucro histórico". [[Correio da Manhã (Portugal).
  20. (5 April 2012). "Benfica TV pode ser vista em França através da operadora Orange". [[S.L. Benfica.
  21. (19 August 2012). "Águias compram jogos do campeonato brasileiro". [[Record (Portuguese newspaper).
  22. (15 February 2011). "Benfica recusa 41 milhões de Oliveira". [[Correio da Manhã (Portugal).
  23. (3 March 2012). "Benfica rejeita proposta de 22,2 milhões por época da Olivedesportos". [[Público (Portugal).
  24. (21 March 2011). "Domingos Soares Oliveira: "A marca Benfica vale entre 250 e 300 milhões de euros"". [[Jornal de Negócios]].
  25. (6 March 2012). "Benfica recusa 111 milhões da Sport TV". [[Expresso (newspaper).
  26. (25 October 2012). "Comunicado". [[S.L. Benfica.
  27. "Benfica TV seals Premier League rights in Portugal". premierleague.com.
  28. (1 March 2013). "Benfica TV com mensalidade até dez euros". [[Público (Portugal).
  29. (1 March 2013). "Benfica TV vai passar a ser um canal pago". MaisFutebol.
  30. (28 June 2013). "Comunicado: Benfica TV canal premium na MEO, ZON e ZAP".
  31. (28 June 2013). "MEO transmite canal premium Benfica TV". Sapo Desporto.
  32. (10 July 2013). "Comunicado". [[S.L. Benfica.
  33. (17 January 2014). "Cronologia Benfica TV". [[Público (Portugal).
  34. (29 July 2013). "Benfica TV ultrapassa os 100 mil assinantes". [[S.L. Benfica.
  35. (26 August 2013). "Benfica TV bate Sport TV Live no primeiro confronto 'a sério'". Zapping.
  36. (12 August 2013). "Benfica TV disponível a 12 de Agosto na Vodafone TV". [[S.L. Benfica.
  37. (24 September 2013). "Luís Filipe Vieira: "Benfica TV já ultrapassou os 210 mil assinantes"". [[S.L. Benfica.
  38. (23 August 2013). "Segundo canal da Benfica TV arranca em Outubro". [[Público (Portugal).
  39. (13 November 2013). "Benfica TV now available in North America". [[S.L. Benfica.
  40. "SLB Live Match". [[S.L. Benfica.
  41. Pinto, Pedro. (13 January 2014). "Benfica TV atinge resultado histórico e chega a vice-liderar audiências". ZappingTV.
  42. (10 February 2014). "Benfica TV exceeds 300,000 subscribers".
  43. (27 May 2014). "Ultimate Fighting Championship chegou à Benfica TV". [[S.L. Benfica.
  44. (3 July 2014). ""Benfica TV" muda denominação para "BTV"".
  45. (8 January 2015). "Relatório de Contas Benfica SAD 2013-14". [[S.L. Benfica.
  46. (1 November 2014). "Benfica TV rendeu 17 milhões de euros "limpos"". [[Público (Portugal).
  47. (10 November 2014). "BTV já emite em HD também no estrangeiro".
  48. (4 July 2015). "Benfica TV com ligas italiana e francesa". [[Expresso (newspaper).
  49. (4 July 2015). "BTV transmite Ligas Francesa e Italiana". [[S.L. Benfica.
  50. (27 July 2015). "Proença: "Futebol está condenado a ser uma atividade empresarial". Sapo Desporto.
  51. (5 July 2015). "Domingos Soares Oliveira: "Precisamos da centralização dos direitos televisivos"". [[Record (Portuguese newspaper).
  52. (23 July 2015). ""Nada a opor à centralização dos direitos de TV"". [[Record (Portuguese newspaper).
  53. Curado, Paulo. (2 December 2015). "400 milhões de euros por 170 jogos do Benfica na Luz". Público.
  54. Santos Guerreiro, Pedro. (2 December 2015). "O maior negócio do futebol português: Benfica na NOS por €400 milhões". Expresso.
  55. (30 May 2016). "Jogos do Sport Lisboa e Benfica vão manter-se na Benfica TV na próxima época".
  56. Ribeiro, Sara. (1 July 2016). "Benfica encerra BTV2 em todas as operadoras". Jornal de Negócios.
  57. Durães, Pedro. (7 July 2016). "Sport TV recupera exclusividade das transmissões de combates UFC".
  58. (28 July 2016). "Liga Francesa e Italiana passam para a Sport TV a partir de agosto". Dinheiro Vivo.
  59. (8 February 2017). "BTV melhor canal desportivo". [[S.L. Benfica.
  60. (4 July 2015). "Oficial: Benfica TV garante transmissão das ligas italiana e francesa". MaisFutebol.
  61. (26 May 2015). "BTV transmite final da Taça do Rei". Sapo.
  62. (20 December 2014). "Supertaça Italiana na Benfica TV". redpass.blogs.sapo.pt.
  63. (18 June 2014). "Taça de Honra de Lisboa com transmissão na "Benfica TV" e "Sporting TV"". NovidadesTV.
  64. (8 July 2015). "BTV adquire direitos do UFC em exclusividade". [[Record (Portuguese newspaper).
  65. "Programas".
  66. "Youtube channel of Canela até ao Pescoço".
  67. (18 October 2010). "Ricardo Palacin: "Vamos ver muitos momentos de glória do Benfica"".
  68. (8 January 2013). "Bagão Félix é o convidado do novo programa da Benfica TV".
  69. (27 July 2020). "Benfica: Bernardo Silva critica falta de debates entre candidatos na BTV". Maisfutebol.
  70. (25 June 2020). "BTV não promove debates nem faz cobertura da campanha eleitoral". Maisfutebol.
  71. (13 October 2020). ""Insuportável" e "inenarrável" o que se está a passar na Benfica TV, diz Bagão". Bancada.
  72. (11 October 2020). ""É inacreditável o que faz a Benfica TV. É mais fácil ouvir algo no Porto Canal"". Bancada.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

s.l.-benficatelevision-stations-in-portugaltelevision-channels-and-stations-established-in-2008portuguese-language-television-stations2008-establishments-in-portugalsports-television-in-portugalmass-media-in-lisbon