Real Madrid has refused to install cameras in the team's changing rooms as part of some changes in television broadcasting, despite the potential financial gain. Among the changes that Spanish league followers will witness in match coverage is the installation of cameras in the changing rooms, face-to-face cameras with coaches, and additional cameras and microphones in tunnels and near benches, providing extra opportunities for interviews with players and staff before, during, and after matches.
However, Real Madrid opposes these changes, which will cost the team €13 million. All La Liga clubs have cooperated with the new broadcasting initiatives except for Real Madrid, which has decided to boycott all interactions with rights holders.
According to "The Athletic," the goal of these features, which have been implemented this season, is to make La Liga more exciting for viewers, aiming to increase the amounts paid for broadcasting rights in the future. As an incentive for clubs to be more open and allow cameras into changing rooms, a significant portion of the total broadcasting revenues from the 2023-2024 season will be shared, based on participation in these new “voluntary” broadcast additions.
There were no cameras in Real Madrid's changing room last Saturday against Athletic Bilbao, and there was no informal televised conversation before the match between coach Carlo Ancelotti and Ernesto Valverde. In a clear protest against the new approach, no one from Real Madrid, including Emilio Butragueño, Ancelotti, or the players, fulfilled their usual media duties with rights holders before or after the match. Instead, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, and Dani Carvajal each spoke only to Real Madrid television from the mixed zone of the stadium, while Ancelotti attended his usual post-match press conference.
According to "The Athletic," Real Madrid's refusal is another step in what can be seen as yet another battle in the long-standing conflict between Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez and La Liga president Javier Tebas. Since Tebas became the president of La Liga in 2013, he quickly introduced the collective sale of television broadcasting rights. This step meant that the league as a whole earned more money, but Real Madrid felt penalized for being unable to sell its matches individually as it had done in the past.
The newspaper reported that "over the past decade, Real Madrid has filed more than 20 different lawsuits against La Liga’s procedures, including several objections to the distribution of television money, but judges have regularly sided with La Liga." "The Athletic" added that it remains to be seen whether Real Madrid will change its mind starting with the upcoming match against Almería next Saturday.
