Analysis
Digital Consortium powers KBO growth but its sports ambitions thought limited
The emergence of a ‘digital consortium’ to rival the long-standing Korea Pool of free-to-air broadcasters led the Korea Baseball Organisation to record-breaking rights income for its new cycle in the most recently concluded deals. But local industry experts see the digital consortium (DC) deal as a one-off and do not expect it to become a major player in the sports media-rights market.
ERT puts athletics at heart of sporting output with sprawling EBU deal
Greek public broadcaster ERT’s determination to make athletics central to its sporting output drove the broadcaster to join the European Broadcasting Union’s pool for a host of European and World Championship events.
Česká Televize raises Olympic hours, digital scope in new Discovery deal
Česká Televize will pay more to continue to sublicense Olympic rights from US media group Discovery but will gain more winter Games hours and an additional digital broadcast option.
Bundesliga moves on from past Nordic problems with Nent fee boost
Germany’s Bundesliga has secured an increase in the value of its media rights in the Nordics in its renewal with Nordic Entertainment (Nent) Group. This follows the hit it took in the region after the collapse of its previous deal with the now defunct MP & Silva agency.
Pitch sees clear path to WSL football international rights deal
Agency Pitch International did not face serious competition in the English FA’s tender for international Women’s Super League media rights, SportBusiness Media understands.
Disney’s pivot to India-focused Hotstar strategy opened door to Sky-IPL reunion in the UK
Disney’s decision to refocus Star India’s Hotstar OTT platform on its domestic market paved the way for the return of Indian Premier League cricket rights in the UK to pay-television broadcaster Sky.
Streamlined Copa del Rey rights process tempts ESPN Brasil into three-year deal
With Copa del Rey rights now available in one package, ESPN Brasil was comfortable agreeing a three-season deal for a competition that has historically been a tough sell in the territory.
Tour, Vuelta deals good for EBU and Discovery but ASO incentive uncertain
The latest rights deals for cycling’s Tour de France and La Vuelta a España represent good business for the buyers, the European Broadcasting Union and Discovery Communications, industry insiders familiar with the deals told SportBusiness Media.
WWE earns another big fee rise from Sony in India
World Wrestling Entertainment’s media-rights income from the Indian subcontinent has increased about 80 per cent in a deal being finalised with pay-television broadcaster Sony Pictures Networks, SportBusiness Media understands.
FanCode targets ‘long-tail’ content for Indian subscription video launch this year
Indian online sports media platform FanCode is launching a subscription video product this year, built on content not currently covered by Indian broadcasters.
Uefa closes Euro 2020 sub-Saharan Africa rights round with TVMS fee increase
Uefa secured a 40-per-cent headline increase on the value of its sub-Saharan Africa free-to-air European Championship package in a third successive deal with the TV Media Sport agency.
NFL faces challenge to grow linear, OTT revenues in key non-US markets
The NFL League is at a pivotal moment in its distribution of media rights outside the US. Deals in two of the league’s most important overseas territories, the UK and China, are up for renewal. The league is also thought to be looking for a new partner for its rights across Europe.
IBU doubles global media-rights value after exclusive EBU talks
The International Biathlon Union has doubled the value of its global media-rights in a ‘four-plus-four’ deal agreed in exclusive negotiations with the European Broadcasting Union.
Serie A delays domestic tender to April to allow clearer market landscape to emerge
Italy’s Lega Serie A will launch a tender in April for its domestic media rights for the three seasons from 2021-22 to 2023-24, SportBusiness Media understands. The delay opens space for the resolution of several outstanding issues that have, so far, complicated the process.
Nent’s colossal Premier League deal shakes up Nordic market
Nordic Entertainment (Nent) Group’s monster six-season English Premier League deal signed this month has shocked the Nordic media market and left TV2 in Norway reeling.
WWE gains full-spectrum UK coverage for 2020-23 cycle with Channel 5 deal
Channel 5’s free-to-air highlights deal with World Wrestling Entertainment will run for the same four-year period as WWE’s primary UK broadcast contract with BT Sport, SportBusiness Media understands.
TVI pins hopes on Euro 2020 sublicense to regain viewership
Portuguese commercial broadcaster TVI’s acquisition of free-to-air rights to this summer’s Euro 2020 competition was driven by its desire to regain its status as Portugal’s most-watched terrestrial channel, SportBusiness Media understands.
Uefa raises lower-tier club rights income more than 40% in German RTL deal
Uefa has increased the value of its lower-tier club competition media rights in Germany by over 40 per cent through commercial broadcaster RTL’s acquisition of exclusive, multi-platform rights to the Europa League and newly created Europa Conference League.