National Sports Productions (Prodena) announced a massive increase in broadcasting rights fees for the National Juvenile Baseball Championship, just 10 days before the season's start. Affected parties indicate that Prodena, a company linked to Corporación Medcom and TVN Media, changed the fees from $6,000 to $10,000 for local broadcasters, a 66% increase, and from $4,000 to $6,000 for those in the interior, a 50% hike. The increase is too steep, and the announcement only 10 days before the competition could lead to a significant reduction in broadcasts. The surprising announcement has sparked a strong reaction among broadcasters, commentators, and even the fans for whom baseball is the 'king' sport in Panama. Broadcasters have stated that it is a fatal blow to their budgets and a serious hit to their image, as they already have contracts with advertisers. However, this is not the first time Prodena has made a move of this kind. A similar situation was experienced during the World Cup qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup. However, an agreement was reached that prevented the price increase. This new attempt at a price increase by Prodena has been considered an oligopolistic, questionable, and even illegal maneuver. The concern is that juvenile baseball could be left without coverage, and fans will see how the passion of young talents gets trapped in the money bag of a few.
