Americas
ESPN extends rights for Collegiate Bowl
US pay-television broadcaster ESPN has extended a rights deal for the 2015 edition of the annual Collegiate Bowl American football game.
Senators tackle NFL’s blackout rule
The National Football League’s (NFL) controversial ‘blackout’ policy has come under further pressure after senators from both US political parties warned the American football competition to end the rule or risk congressional action to restrict its lucrative antitrust exemption, which allows teams to negotiate television broadcast rights together.
ESPN acquires Canadian curling series rights
US pay-television broadcaster ESPN has acquired rights to the Canadian Curling Association’s Season of Champions events for the 2014-15 season.
Formula E secures rights deals for Argentine and Uruguayan races
Formula E has signed rights deals in Argentina and Uruguay that will provide free-to-air coverage of the motor racing series’ upcoming races in the South American countries.
ESPN3 to show Mosconi Cup
US pay-television broadcaster ESPN has acquired rights for the 2014 Mosconi Cup pool event.
ESPN to introduce complete HD service in Latin America
Pay-television broadcaster ESPN International has said its entire output will be broadcast in high-definition across Latin America from 2015.
Fis welcomes EBU breakthrough
The international skiing federation this week welcomed the European Broadcasting Union’s deal in the US for Austrian World Cup skiing events.
Fox Sports adds a zero to change Mediapro’s agenda
Spanish agency Mediapro will dilute the exclusivity of its new Formula One channel in Latin America with a sublicensing deal because it felt the offer from Fox Sports was too good to refuse.
USSA hails ‘game-changing’ deals with NBC Sports and Universal Sports
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association has extended its rights deals with the NBC Sports Group division of media company NBCUniversal and Universal Sports Network, a subsidiary of the NBC network.
Millicom to launch Tigo Sports in Bolivia
Swedish telecommunications and media company Millicom has launched its pay-television channel Tigo Sports in Bolivia.
Sports stars invest in Grabyo
Social video platform Grabyo has secured fresh funding of $2m (€1.6m) to aid its future growth, with a “significant majority” of this investment coming from top athletes.
Sun Sports lays up Miami Heat renewal
NBA basketball team the Miami Heat has signed a long-term extension to its local television rights agreement with Sun Sports - a regional subsidiary of the Fox Sports network.
Japanese wrestling promotion secures US exposure
The New Japan Pro Wrestling organisation has secured its first rights deal in the US by agreeing a partnership with digital cable and satellite television broadcaster AXS TV.
Bidders line up for Infront
US private investment group Providence and two Chinese companies, including property firm Wanda, are considering bids for the Infront Sports & Media agency, according to the Financial Times.
Aereo files for bankruptcy in wake of MLB and NFL battle
Online streaming company Aereo has filed for bankruptcy protection in the wake of June’s US Supreme Court ruling that it breaches the copyright of major sports leagues and their broadcast partners.
ESPN eyeing Cricket World Cup for online streaming in US – report
US sports broadcaster ESPN will utilise the 2015 Cricket World Cup to begin a new initiative of selling stand-alone streaming subscriptions for some sports programming, according to the Re/code website.
IAAF agrees to OBS request for morning finals at Rio 2016
The Rio 2016 summer Olympic Games will feature athletics finals during morning sessions following a request by the local organising committee and Olympic Broadcasting Services, which serves as host broadcaster for all editions of the Games, to the IAAF, the global governing body of athletics.
DeporTV seals broader availability in Argentina
DeporTV, the sports channel operated by the Argentinian government, will launch on the country’s cable-television platforms next week.