By Clara-Laeila Laudette

MADRID (Reuters] – Orange’s Spanish subsidiary will not bid on television rights for LaLiga soccer, according to its chief executive. The announcement came after mixed third-quarter results.

Orange Spain, however, will not negotiate with any companies to broadcast the matches of the highest tier Spanish soccer league from 2022 forwards. This was stated by Jean Francois Fallacher Chief Executive at an event to discuss Quarterly Earnings.

Fallacher indicated that his company was one of two providers of soccer in Spain and would closely monitor the tender process. Fallacher also stated that scenarios could include splitting between different parties, or rival Telefonica (NYSE 🙂 purchasing all the broadcast rights.

Last week, Spain’s CNMC competition monitor approved LaLiga’s plan to sell future television rights to multiple operators. However, it rejected the notion of four- or five year contracts.

Orange Spain reported that third quarter revenue and retail sales were down by 4.4% and 8.8%, respectively, from the previous year. This was attributed to a competitive market.

However, the operator saw a rise in FTTH operations and its mobile client base over this time. To connect nearly 16 million households, its fibre coverage increased 4.5% over last year.

Fallacher stated that Orange Spain was negotiating with Masmovil to obtain third-party access agreements that Euskaltel and Orange had. Masmovil purchased Euskaltel, a Basque operator for 1.99 billion euros ($2.32billion).

Fallacher stated that Orange Spain’s 100% renewable energy supply and power purchase agreements would ease the impact of rising energy costs on European companies.

Orange reported a 0.7% decline in core earnings for the third quarter and reiterated its financial goals for full year.

($1 = 0.8593 euros)