ESPN returns to Africa following wide-ranging Kwesé TV deal
ESPN’s multi-faceted agreement with telco Econet’s Kwesé TV pay-television platform brings the sports broadcaster back to sub-Saharan Africa after an absence of more than three years.
New MP & Silva agreement for FKF following regime change
The MP & Silva agency has gone back into business with the Football Kenya Federation, a year after a deal between the two fell apart amid allegations of forgery, fraud and embezzlement against then-FKF president Sam Nyamweya.
Lagardère meets same old problems with Afcon rights
Lagardère Sports is distributing free-to-air rights to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations itself in a marked change from its previous strategy of sublicensing rights in sub-Saharan Africa to another agency.
Euroleague value bounces back in Spain thanks to new format
The Euroleague has earned an increase of almost 170 per cent on the value of its media rights in Spain, reviving the property’s fortunes in the territory after a tough sales process last time.
Türk Telekom buys up host of European basketball leagues
Türk Telekom has acquired rights to an assortment of European basketball leagues in recent weeks to compensate for its lack of Euroleague and Turkish domestic league coverage.
Saran to launch channel in response to low broadcaster bids
The Saran Media agency will become Turkey’s newest sports broadcaster in November, abandoning its role as a broker of media-rights deals in favour of exploiting rights itself.
Canal Plus Afrique makes first major domestic league play
Canal Plus Afrique made its first major investment in a domestic African football league earlier this month, acquiring rights to the Côte d’Ivoire Ligue 1.
Econet bolsters motorsport rights portfolio with WRC deal
African telco Econet Wireless has completed a deal for World Rally Championship media rights in sub-Saharan Africa, further expanding its motorsport portfolio.
Uefa to focus on free-to-air deals as EBU plays a pragmatic role
Uefa’s latest deal for its national team rights in Austria is evidence of a change in strategy for sales in Europe from 2018-19, as European football’s governing body attempts to meet its targets for both revenue and exposure.
Enemies become friends in ‘rational’ rights-sharing switch
Industry experts believe the Portuguese sports-rights market is set to stagnate for the foreseeable future after the country’s three biggest telcos took equal stakes in dominant pay-television broadcaster Sport TV, ending any possibility of competition between them.