Analysis

Football

The Asian Football Confederation said this week there were three main reasons why the value of its media and marketing rights would increase in the next cycle.
Ice Hockey

Finland’s SM-Liiga defied expectations by substantially increasing the value of its media rights last week thanks to telco Telia’s entrance into the Finnish sports media-rights market.
Football

SuperSport is understood to have paid an increase of about 30 per cent to retain its English Premier League rights in sub-Saharan Africa, beating competition from Econet and StarTimes to win in the first round of bidding.
American Football

Perform’s expertise in digital content was key to winning NFL distribution rights in this month’s deal.
Football

Canal Plus’ loss of Champions League rights – announced late this week – is a blow to the broadcaster, softened slightly by its recent extension of Formula One rights.
Multi-sport

The International Olympic Committee will earn about 40 per cent more from sub-Saharan Africa compared to the previous two-Games cycle, taking advantage of Kwesé Sports’ strong desire for Olympic association, TV Sports Markets understands.
Football

Kwesé Sports is understood to be close to a deal for English Football League rights with Pitch International, but has not met the agency’s original asking price.
Football

Lagardère Sports last month agreed to distribute international media rights to events organised by the Football Association of Thailand.

Basketball

The International Basketball Federation (Fiba) is set to more than double its annual media-rights income compared to the previous cycle, boosted by a lucrative deal in China and strong increases in key markets.

Football

SuperSport’s termination of its Nigeria Professional Football League deal due to a breach of contract may not be as final as the broadcaster’s withdrawal in Kenya, TV Sports Markets understands.

Basketball

Indonesian media group Elang Mahkota Teknologi (EMTK) has acquired exclusive NBA media rights in the country.

UK viewing audiences for the week between Monday 24th April and Sunday 30th April. We also include the month's most-watched programmes on Eurosport and across all pay-television broadcasters

UK viewing audiences for the week between Monday 17th April and Sunday 23rd April, plus leading rugby league audiences on pay-television for the season to date. Watching Brief Vol. 154
Boxing

Saturday’s world heavyweight title bout between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko is expected to earn between $33m (€31m) and $37m in global media-rights and pay-per-view revenue, TV Sports Markets understands.
Rugby Union

Six Nations international media rights are currently on the market with the incumbent, Pitch International, facing competition from rival agency IMG.
Football

Strong competition is expected between France’s main pay-television broadcasters for Uefa Champions League, Formula One and European rugby rights, with all three properties currently on the market.

OSN’s acquisitions of rights to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, MotoGP and the Superbike World Championship represent a more aggressive strategy from the pay-television operator, but doesn’t herald the beginning of fierce competition for top-tier rights with beIN Media Group.

Golf

The BBC has held on to its Masters golf rights, confounding speculation it was going to be displaced by an aggressive Sky bid for exclusive rights. Sky must now decide whether it makes sense to continue sharing the event with the BBC and, if so, at what price.