Callum McCarthy

Football

Canal Plus Afrique has agreed a direct deal for rights to the 2018 Fifa World Cup, staving off the challenge of rival StarTimes.
Multi-sport

Polish public-service broadcaster TVP has paid an increase of over 40 per cent to acquire rights to the 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games from media group Discovery Communications.

Multi-sport

TV Sports Markets understands the Telesport agency has acquired rights in Russia to four Olympic Games, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and is currently in negotiations with Fifa for rights to the 2018 World Cup.

Econet Media chief executive Joseph Hundah has told TV Sports Markets its Kwesé TV pay-television operation must make money quickly on the back of launches in Ghana, Rwanda and Zambia, after 18 months of acquiring sports rights at a considerable cost.
Cycling

Italian public-service broadcaster Rai and sports broadcaster Eurosport have renewed their deals for the Giro d’Italia, but the shorter domestic contract length and dramatic fee increase in both deals illustrates a more aggressive approach from commercial rights-holder RCS Sport.
Mixed Martial Arts

South African mixed martial arts promotion the Extreme Fighting Championship will have its events shown live on public-service broadcaster the SABC for the next two years, increasing its exposure in its home market.

Interview with Joseph Hundah, chief executive, Econet Media, on the launch of Kwesé TV, Kwesé Free Sports and the challenges that lie ahead.
Football

Lagardère Sports has completed 18 free-to-air deals in sub-Saharan Africa for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, pushing deals over the line with discounted prices and the inclusion of several other tournaments.

Football

Kwesé Sports and SuperSport will share pay-television rights to the 2018 Fifa World Cup in sub-Saharan Africa after both broadcasters agreed to acquire the rights non-exclusively outside South Africa, TV Sports Markets understands.

Football

Second-round bids for Portuguese Primeira Liga international rights have once again fallen below Sport TV’s expectations, despite a five-way agency shootout.