Background on Key Players and Their Relevance
The transmission of certain matches from the final phase of the Liga MX Clausura football tournament is now in the hands of Mexico City judges, where FOX Corporation and Grupo Lauman are in a legal dispute. If the ruling of Judge 40 of Civil Court prevails, which previously barred Tubi from broadcasting Pachuca matches, the platform won’t be able to air the initial Play-In games.
Grupo Pachuca, a prominent football club, has been at the center of this controversy. In a recent mandate, Pachuca vs. America was only available for US viewers through TUDN (Televisa Univision), causing Grupo Pachuca to seek federal court intervention. The aim was to definitively suspend measures that prevented their games from being streamed on Tubi, both in open signal and free platforms, while upholding media rights.
Judge’s Decision and Its Implications
Mercedes Méndez Guerrero, head of the Sixth District Civil Court in Mexico City, granted the definitive suspension allowing Grupo Pachuca to broadcast their matches on Tubi, both in open signal and free platforms. This decision also upholds media rights. Two teams under contract with FOX Corporation, Bravos from Ciudad Juárez and Pachuca’s Tuzos, are set to play in the Play-In, granting them access to the Clausura tournament’s final phase. Bravos will host Pumas-UNAM in the border city stadium, while Pachuca travels to Monterrey to face Rayados.
Historical Context and Recent Developments
Six years ago, the IFT (Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones) ordered the sale of FOX Sports channels and programming in Mexico, following a determination that Disney’s acquisition of ESPN would create an unacceptable concentration in sports event broadcasting if both specialty channels were operated.
The COVID-19 pandemic complicated negotiations with potential buyers until May 2021, when Grupo Lauman received authorization to purchase the sports channel rights. In September 2023, FOX Corporation expressed interest in restarting operations in Mexico’s sports event market through the acquisition of Fox Sports México assets.
The IFT granted approval in June 2024, but Grupo Lauman withdrew after deeming the offer conditions insufficient and accusing sabotage and information leaks by former FOX Sports México executive Carlos Enrique Martínez Sánchez, now an advisor to FOX Corporation. This was allegedly done to diminish the value of a potential purchase.
Legal Battles and Current Status
In November 2024, Concacaf sued Grupo Lauman in the Florida District Court to compel FOX Sports to pay a $31 million debt for Concacaf League transmissions. A month later, Grupo Pachuca announced the termination of their agreement with FOX Sports México for Liga MX match transmissions, citing repeated non-payment of rights. Simultaneously, they announced a new agreement with Tubi of FOX Corporation for the same purpose.
Early in March 2025, FOX Sports México initiated legal action against Grupo Pachuca and FOX Corporation over Pachuca and León match transmission contracts, alleging damages due to the breach of preferential right that FOX Sports México previously held. In response, FOX Corporation sued Grupo Lauman in the California District Court to demand $52 million, claiming ownership of Grupo Pachuca’s transmission rights and sublicensing them to the Mexican company in July 2024. The lawsuit asserts FOX Sports México owes $13 million for this sublicense, seeking four times that amount in damages.
On March 28, Grupo Lauman announced cautious measures against FOX Corporation to prevent using the “FOX Deportes” name, arguing it violates Fox Sports México’s exclusive rights and represents unfair competition, contrary to IFT resolutions.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the current legal dispute about? The disagreement revolves around the transmission rights of certain Liga MX Clausura tournament matches between FOX Corporation and Grupo Lauman.
- Who are the key players involved? FOX Corporation, Grupo Lauman, and Grupo Pachuca are central to this legal battle.
- What is the significance of Judge 40’s ruling? If upheld, it would prevent Tubi from airing the initial Play-In games of Pachuca and Rayados.
- What are the historical developments leading to this situation? The IFT’s 2018 decision to sell FOX Sports channels in Mexico set the stage for subsequent legal disputes.
- What are the recent legal actions taken by each party? Both FOX Corporation and Grupo Lauman have initiated legal proceedings against one another, with Grupo Pachuca terminating its agreement with FOX Sports México due to payment issues.
