Maciej Glazik: which match excites and who will broadcast playoffs (interview)

Blocked matches, the right of first choice, and changes in the speedway editorial team. An interview with Maciej Glazik, head of the CANAL+ Polska speedway editorial team at ekstraliga.pl.

Ekstraliga.pl: How does the procedure for selecting TV matches in the PGE Ekstraliga and METALKAS 2. Ekstraliga look from the perspective of the main broadcaster?

Maciej Glazik (head of the CANAL+ Polska speedway editorial team): The league schedule is arranged by the governing body of the competition, which is the Speedway Ekstraliga. In the case of the PGE Ekstraliga, our broadcast days and the distribution of matches with the sublicensee are specified in an agreement, which provides that CANAL+ has the right to choose PGE Ekstraliga matches first. Our day is Sunday. Translated into practice – when the schedule, in terms of dates, was already ready in the Speedway Ekstraliga, I made a preliminary selection of TV matches for CANAL+. Then there were brief consultations within our editorial team, and this is how matches were also automatically selected for the sublicensee, which take place on Fridays.

Does this mean that changes cannot be made between broadcasters?

According to the agreement, the main broadcaster’s package in the PGE Ekstraliga allows CANAL+ to change matches in each round no later than 5 weeks before the scheduled date.

The sublicensee of the PGE Ekstraliga games is ELEVEN SPORTS. To clarify, every Friday in the 2025 season, two PGE Ekstraliga matches will be broadcast on ELEVEN SPORTS channels, and every Sunday, another two matches on CANAL+. Do we know how this will look in terms of times?

At the moment, we have not determined the broadcast times within CANAL+ Sport. From the 2025 season, CANAL+ is the exclusive rights holder for METALKAS 2. Ekstraliga games, all matches of this class will be broadcast on our CANAL+ Sport5 channel. I mention this because there will be match weekends where, on our channels, within one day, four matches of two different classes will be broadcast, so consultations with the Speedway Ekstraliga regarding the timing of their holding really await us. I remind you that in the 2024 season, we didn’t have such a problem, considering that the previous TV agreement in the METALKAS 2. Ekstraliga required us to broadcast at least two matches on linear TV, and with some of the matches, we then moved to the online service. In the new season, all METALKAS 2. Ekstraliga matches will be available on CANAL+ Sport5.

Clarifying, CANAL+ is the main broadcaster of the PGE Ekstraliga, and the licensing agreement concluded by CANAL+ with the next broadcaster, ELEVEN SPORTS, covers the 2025 season. CANAL+ has also acquired TV rights for PGE Ekstraliga matches for the years 2026 – 2028, but this agreement will only be implemented after the 2025 season. Do we already have information about the sublicensee here?

I can only say that we have a sublicensee for the PGE Ekstraliga games, as per the previously concluded agreement, which was also the subject of a press release, for the years 2022 – 2025.

What guides your choice of matches, considering the first and second choice matches within the PGE Ekstraliga, which will be broadcast on Sundays?

We try to consider two aspects: the similar sporting potential of the teams and predicting which matches will be most significant at a given stage of the season. I won’t hide that it’s always “appealing” to show the PGE Ekstraliga rookie on our air for their first home match. In this new season – from our perspective – the inauguration in Toruń is really exciting, where KS APATOR will face BETARD SPARTA Wrocław, and thus we had no problem with the first round. You could say that I have almost fully revealed our reasoning for match selections, but let’s not forget that there are also “blocked” matches on the schedule due to, for example, the availability of a particular venue, as something else might be happening in the city on the same weekend. In these cases, sometimes, but rarely, one of the matches is already “reserved” for a certain date before the season.

What will be the division of matches after the main season between CANAL+ and ELEVEN SPORTS?

We will communicate this separately. One thing is certain, as every year, CANAL+ will broadcast both PGE Ekstraliga 2025 final matches on its CANAL+ Sport channel, and our sublicensee will broadcast the matches for the bronze medal, i.e., for third place. CANAL+ – this is covered by the agreement – also has rights to the playoff matches between the seventh team of the PGE Ekstraliga 2025 and the second team of the METALKAS 2. Ekstraliga 2025. The two-leg match will definitely be broadcast on our air.

Will the format of PGE Ekstraliga and METALKAS 2. Ekstraliga magazines change?

As a rule, there will be no changes in the PGE Ekstraliga, the roundup magazine will be broadcast from the stadium where the second Sunday match is held. As for the METALKAS 2. Ekstraliga magazine, we plan some modifications, but I don’t want to talk about the details yet.

Changes within the speedway editorial team and the group of experts are probably still at the stage of internal arrangements?

There will be changes, but we also want fans to count on surprises during the first broadcasts, and there is no point in mentioning names. Of course, for obvious reasons – due to returning to the role of coach – Piotr Świderski will bid farewell to us. However, I can reveal that we are talking to several former speedway riders to suitably replace him, and we will see what comes of these conversations.

For several years, winter with CANAL+ has not been boring, as fans can count on your series. Past and present heroes of the speedway tracks, such as Nicki Pedersen or Patrick Hansen, have been subjects of documentaries, and a club theme also appeared in “The Law of the Derby.” What’s next with the series?

There will be more, that much I can say, as each year brings new ideas. If I said that we are tempted by club themes, I wouldn’t be lying, if I added that the heroism of the struggle for a goal and the story we want to tell is the primary guiding principle in choosing a hero or team – that would also be true. Like in previous years, we plan to produce two series for the next autumn – winter period.