Analysis

Andrea Radrizzani, one of the founders of the MP & Silva agency, is set to launch his own football channels under the Eleven brand. It had long been anticipated that Radrizzani would create his own business outside the agency, but the nature of the project has surprised many in the industry.

Football

Eurosport’s acquisition of Champions League rights in Singapore is a message to rights-holders and platforms about the broadcaster’s growing ambitions, according to chief executive Peter Hutton.

Football

All of the industry’s major rights agencies were present in Bahrain this week at the Asian Football Confederation annual congress to try to agree media-rights deals with Asian federations.

Football

Uefa last month secured a strong increase in the value of its Champions League rights in Portugal, while the value of its Europa League rights stayed steady.

Rugby Union

World Rugby, rugby union’s global governing body, has earned a strong increase in the value of its Rugby World Cup media rights in Latin America.

Football

Greek pay-television broadcaster Nova moved closer to renewing its domestic football rights last month, after a majority of clubs agreed to an extension of the existing contract.

Football

UK pay-television operator BT will maintain its investment in England’s Football Conference, the tier below the Football League.

Rugby Union

Strong commitments – in both financial and attention terms – offered by the RDA Television and IEC in Sports agencies persuaded World Rugby to eschew larger players in its search for a new distribution partner for its second-tier properties.

Football

Modern Times Group this month capitalised on a U-turn by MTV3 to pick up the pay-television rights to the Uefa Champions League in Finland.

Golf

German pay-television broadcaster Sky Deutschland was forced into an increase to renew rights to a host of golf properties, consolidating its position as the dominant pay-television broadcaster in the country.

Football

The European Broadcasting Union is in advanced stages of negotiations with Uefa over a deal for Euro 2016 football rights in 27 territories, TV Sports Markets understands.

Football

The rights-trading subsidiaries of sports marketing company Lagardère Unlimited look set for a double boost. World Sport Group is close to renewing its contract with the Asian confederation, while Sportfive remains favourite to renew its deal for African confederation rights.

Football

The Polish football league, the Ekstraklasa, is to launch a league channel in a joint venture with its media-rights adviser MP & Silva after offers from broadcasters fell below expectations, TV Sports Markets understands.

Skiing

The Infront Sports & Media agency has secured fee increases in skiing deals with public-service broadcasters in both Austria and Norway.

Football

Major League Soccer will enjoy a substantial increase in exposure in Brazil in the 2015 season, which got under way at the end of March.

Football

Italian state broadcaster Rai is the strong favourite to land the rights for Euro 2016, which were put out to tender this week, and is expected to do so at a substantial discount.

Football

The aggressiveness of telco Telekom Srbija was a driving factor in increases in the value of the rights to the Uefa Champions League and Europa League in the Balkans.

Cricket

The Pakistan Cricket Board is understood to view this month’s five-year deal for its rights as the best that was possible in current market conditions.