Steve Dainton, chief executive, and Matt Pound, marketing director, of the International Table Tennis Federation
The ITTF talks about its search for a new commercial partner.
ITTF looks to more than double commercial rights revenues with long-term partnership
The International Table Tennis Federation is set to become the latest governing body to abandon multiple short-term deals for its commercial rights in favour of a long-term strategic partnership, as it looks to at least double its commercial rights income by 2024.
Formula One switch to MBC could herald big Middle East market shake-up
Dubai-based free-to-air broadcaster MBC’s acquisition of Formula One in the Middle East and North Africa could trigger a shake-up in the regional rights market, which could lead to MBC’s backer, Saudi Arabia, becoming a legitimate player.
Fifa relaxed over World Cup rights sale in Italy after MP & Silva collapse
Italy remains the only one of Europe’s big five television markets where Fifa has yet to sell the rights to the 2022 World Cup, but world football’s governing body is understood to be in no hurry to come to market and there are several reasons why it makes sense to wait.
Football incubator project gives Mediapro calling card to lucrative Canadian market
Mediapro’s February deal with Canadian Soccer Business involves a moderate degree of financial risk for the Spanish company but the potential gains are substantial.
Rights-holder action against beoutQ: what is ‘enough’ for beIN Media Group?
BeIN Media Group’s public statement on February 8 that it had dropped Formula One because of the rights-holder’s inaction over the threat posed by the Saudi beoutQ pirate service has caused widespread concern among rights-holders. But it may not be enough to push them into legal action against beoutQ.
Serie B looking for greater visibility in new international media-rights deal
Italy’s second-tier football division, Serie B, is in talks with three agencies over its international media rights and expects to close a deal in the coming weeks, but exposure rather than revenue will b…
BeIN 2021-2024 renewal options haunt AFC; China hosting of 2023 Asian Cup should boost DDMC Fortis income
A lack of regional competition is weighing on the Asian Football Confederation’s prospects this year for securing a significant uplift in Middle East and North Africa media rights revenues in the 2021 t…
Mediapro faces delicate balancing act to make a World Cup profit in 2022
The Mediapro agency faces a challenge to refinance its investment in the media rights in Spain to the 2022 Fifa World Cup
IMG launches €50m damages claim against Serie A over free Rai coverage in Latin America
The IMG agency has initiated a damages claim against the Italian football league, Lega Serie A, for €50m ($57m).
Facebook sees non-exclusive rights as gateway to digital audience growth
Social media giant Facebook’s challenges around its Copa Libertadores coverage in Latin America have convinced it that non-exclusive rights models form “one of the best ways” of breaking into markets where entrenched viewing habits restrict the potential for exclusive rights to grow engagement with the platform.
English FA spurns higher pay-TV revenue for free-to-air Cup reach
The Football Association rejected a higher bid for domestic FA Cup rights for the 2021-25 cycle from incumbent pay-television broadcaster BT Sport in favour of commercial broadcaster ITV, SportBusiness Media understands, in a move that took the competition exclusively free to air in the UK.
LaLiga agrees early China extension amid cooling market
Spanish football’s LaLiga extended its rights deal in China with Wuhan DDMC Culture in May without going to market, where it would have faced a tough task maintaining its income, SportBusiness Media understands. The Chinese rights market has cooled since the previous deal was agreed, and DDMC is thought to be paying the league a strong rights fee.
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