Reginald Ajuonuma

Match-choice restrictions placed by Spain’s LaLiga on the free-to-air package in its UK and Ireland rights tenders for the 2019-22 cycle may limit interest from broadcasters, according to industry experts spoken to by SportBusiness Media.

Pay-television broadcaster BT Sport took advantage of Sky’s long-running concerns over wrestling body WWE’s OTT service to grab WWE rights in the UK and Ireland from its rival at a steep discount, SportBusiness Media understands.

Inside this issue: TENNIS: Perform makes last-ditch attempt to outbid IMG for ATP Tour betting, data rights TENNIS: French Open tender gambit unlikely to boost FFT revenues

Infront faces a challenge to refinance its spend on English Premier League free-to-air rights in sub-Saharan Africa, despite spending half as much on the 2019-22 rights compared to the 2016-19 cycle.

The French tennis federation’s (FFT) decision to hold its first tender in six years for domestic rights to the French Open is unlikely to significantly boost incomes or break the broadcasting duopoly of France Télévisions and Eurosport, according to industry experts spoken to by SportBusiness Media.

Inside this issue: MULTI-SPORT: Facebook sees non-exclusive rights as gateway to digital audience growth FOOTBALL: Canal EPL sublicence deal in France linked to Altice carriage agreement

Pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus’s surprise move to share all its English Premier League rights in France for the 2019-22 cycle with telco Altice was related to a carriage deal secured late last year with the company, SportBusiness Media understands. This deal enabled Canal’s platform to show RMC Sport channels, allowing it access to the Uefa Champions League.

The rights value in Italy for the pre-season International Champions Cup football tournament was weighed down by a combination of lower inventory, a busy summer sports calendar and a tough market environment, SportBusiness Media understands.

Peter Hutton talks about Facebook Watch's recent performance, partnership agreements, and the ‘experimental’ purpose of its traditional rights deals.

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.

Inside this issue: FOOTBALL: Star poised for Premier League discount in uncompetitive India FOOTBALL: 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.