Analysis
BCL basketball takes financial hit in France to retain exposure
The Basketball Champions League has suffered a setback in France despite retaining exposure in a two-season renewal of its deal with pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus, SportBusinessMedia understands.
Sport spearheads Djarum’s bid for ‘premium player’ status in Indonesian media
OTT platform Mola TV has lit a fire under the Indonesian sports-media industry in the last year with the rapid rollout of its new service and a string of media-rights acquisitions. In an exclusive interview, Mirwan Suwarso, a representative of the company, tells SportBusiness Media that sports content is the spearhead of a wider plan by parent company Djarum to create a major domestic and international media business.
BT looks to secure sports future with huge Champions League renewal
BT’s huge outlay for Uefa club competition rights in the 2021-24 cycle was driven by the UK telco's need to retain a viable sports broadcasting proposition.
Canal Plus set to recoup Tokyo 2020 outlay in France with Eurosport deal
French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus is set to recoup its outlay on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic rights in a deal with Discovery-owned Eurosport, SportBusiness Media understands.
Nova raises fee to secure three-year Wimbledon extension in Greece
Greek pay-television broadcaster Nova has paid over a 10-per-cent increase to secure a three-year extension for the rights to grand slam tennis tournament Wimbledon.
ORF fends off aggressive Servus interest to secure skiing from Infront
Austrian public-service broadcaster ORF has fought off aggressive competition from commercial broadcaster Servus TV to seal a deal with the Infront agency for a host of major events operated by the International Ski Federation (Fis).
Mediaset wins battle for domestic Copa del Rey rights as legal battle looms
The Spanish Football Federation’s (RFEF) decision to award the domestic rights to club knock-out competition the Copa del Rey to commercial broadcaster Mediaset could spark a legal battle following production group and agency Mediapro’s allegations that the decision was politically motivated.
Sky quells Spark insurgency with blockbuster Sanzaar renewal
The battle between Sky and Spark for control of New Zealand’s sports broadcasting and streaming market has resulted in a major revenue increase for rugby union rights-holders New Zealand Rugby and Sanzaar.
SPFL sees robust international rights guarantee despite betting absence
The Scottish Professional Football League has secured a strong minimum guarantee from Infront for international rights to Scottish league football. The deal is robust by historical standards, given that betting streaming rights were not included.
DAZN’s ‘logical’ interest in UK launch is hard to square with commercial realities
In October, DAZN executive chairman John Skipper described the UK as “a logical DAZN market”, pinpointing three potential avenues of entry: rights to the English Premier League, boxing, and tennis. But experts and insiders surveyed by SportBusiness say DAZN should treat the UK market with caution.
Caf-Lagardère dispute throws market into confusion, agency mulls legal options
Frank Dunne and Callum McCarthy take a look at the implications of the dispute between the Confederation of African Football and its global sales agency Lagardère Sports.
Digiturk and LaLiga end deal in Turkey amid currency crisis
Pay-television broadcaster Digiturk and Spanish football’s LaLiga have ended their contract in Turkey due to the former's difficulties meeting its financial obligations amid continued weakness in the country’s currency, SportBusiness Media understands, leaving the league without a broadcast partner.
Canal Plus faces financial hit on French rugby Top 14 rights distribution
Pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus is facing a big loss on international rights to the French Top 14 rugby union competition following difficulties securing distribution in key markets.
Canal Plus has clear run to NHL ice hockey renewal in France
French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus faced little competition in renewing its NHL rights, SportBusiness Media understands.
ERT leverages lack of competition to secure Greek Super League 2 fee cut
Greek public broadcaster ERT has exploited a lack of competition and its dominant position in negotiations to secure a significant reduction in the amount it will pay to the clubs in the second-tier Super League 2 for the 2019-20 season.
Antenna latest beneficiary of ERT struggles with Euro 2020 rights acquisition
Greek digital terrestrial broadcaster Antenna has become the latest broadcaster to benefit from cuts to public broadcaster ERT’s funding by outbidding it for the rights to the Uefa Euro 2020 finals.
Infront begins to cover IIHF costs in exclusive Nordics Nent deal
Infront has sealed a big increase in value for International Ice Hockey Federation rights across the Nordics, in a deal with the Nordic Entertainment (Nent) Group that will help cover the increased costs of its own recently-signed global rights agreement.
Plan B in talks to sublicense Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Thailand
The Plan B Media agency is in talks with multiple broadcasters in Thailand to sublicense the Tokyo 2020 Olympics rights, which it acquired from the Japan-based Dentsu agency in a surprise move this summer.