Croatian football agrees record €61.7m media rights deal

The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) has struck what it describes as the most valuable television and marketing rights agreement in the history of Croatian domestic club football, locking in a long-term uplift for the SuperSport HNL.The federation signed new agreements with Hrvatski Telekom and SuperSport at a ceremony in Zagreb, with the contracts running from the start of the 2026–27 season until the end of the 2030–31 campaign.Under the deal, Hrvatski Telekom will invest €49.2 million for television and related media rights, while SuperSport will contribute €12.5 million for marketing and betting rights. The combined package secures €61.7 million across the cycle.For HNS and clubs, the agreement provides multi-year certainty at a time when rights income is becoming increasingly central to domestic league competitiveness. The federation positioned the new cycle as a platform to keep raising production standards and strengthening the overall broadcast product for audiences inside and outside Croatia.Distribution and delivery will again lean on Hrvatski Telekom’s MAXtv service, alongside extensive studio programming. The federation highlighted the scale of shoulder content produced around domestic football, pointing to around 800 shows annually as part of the output supporting the league’s media presence.SuperSport’s involvement extends beyond brand visibility, with the betting operator taking the marketing and betting rights component. The company’s board members also framed the partnership as a long-term commitment to Croatian sport, with SuperSport operating as part of the Entain Group.A notable element in the HNS messaging was the planned reinvestment into infrastructure. Part of the new investment is expected to be directed towards upgrading pitches and stadium facilities, with improved playing surfaces and venues seen as a way to enhance both match quality and the television product.HNS also pointed to the recent European performances of Croatian clubs, noting that two sides reached the spring stages of UEFA competitions this season, and suggested the new revenue base can help turn those one-off achievements into a more consistent standard.