Carlos Ortiz, speaking in a debate on Onda Cero, expressed frustration over the lack of visibility for futsal. Which has become a significant problem for many fans, including himself. He noted that it is increasingly difficult to track when and where league matches are played, as he feels disconnected from his sport. Ortiz’s concerns resonate with thousands of Spanish futsal fans who remember the sport’s popularity in the 90s when journalist José María García dubbed it “the sport of the moment.” Today, however, the sport is overshadowed, largely due to the inadequate audiovisual management by the RFEF (Royal Spanish Football Federation).
As the 2024-2025 season begins, Spanish futsal, still reeling from Spain’s disappointing performance in the World Cup in Uzbekistan, faces continued invisibility. Last season, the entire matchday of the First Division was available exclusively on FEF TV, with one match broadcast on Teledeporte. The audience figures show the sport’s decline as an audiovisual product. For instance, the 2023-2024 season averaged only 711 viewers per game, with a total of 170,689 viewers across the entire season. Viña Albali Valdepeñas, the most-watched club on FEF TV, garnered 12,498 views, but this was still far below the 17,511 views achieved in 2019 on LaLiga TV. Moreover, other clubs like Industrias Santa Coloma and Servigroup Peñíscola barely surpassed 9,000 views for their matches.
drop in viewership
The drop in viewership is also linked to ATM Broadcast’s reluctance to collaborate with regional TV stations, unlike LaLigaSports TV, which had fruitful partnerships with various channels. FEF TV now charges regional stations a fee to broadcast match summaries, further limiting its reach. The situation worsens with inconsistent scheduling and little promotion on Teledeporte, where futsal has struggled to maintain a steady audience.
Historically, futsal matches on La Primera, such as the 2008 World Cup final, attracted millions of viewers, but those days seem distant now. The decline began after the RFEF took over competition management from the LNFS in 2019, resulting in legal disputes and a fragmented broadcasting strategy. This shift has caused futsal’s visibility to suffer, with fewer matches on mainstream TV and more reliance on platforms like RTVE Play.
Carlos Ortiz emphasized that futsal cannot grow without stability, both at the league and federation levels. He pointed out that while fans still follow the sport, there are few new ones, and this needs to change for futsal to thrive. The RFEF’s poor handling of the sport’s media presence has directly affected the clubs’ revenue and fan engagement, as seen in the recent decline in viewership and media returns. Although the RFEF has made efforts to enhance coverage, such as a new collaboration with Radio Marca, futsal’s future on mainstream TV remains uncertain, with many hoping for a return to LaLiga TV next season.
