Americas
Sportsnet enhances NFL deal, launches new streaming product
Canadian pay-television broadcaster Rogers Sportsnet has expanded its Thursday Night Football rights deal with American football league the NFL and has launched a new live streaming service.
Mexican regulator considers retroactive approach to major rights deals
Mexico’s telecommunications regulator, the Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFT), is considering forcing Televisa and América Movil to share programming covered by existing ‘exclusive’ rights deals after blocking the media companies from striking such agreements in the future.
NESN to utilise fans’ video content during Red Sox broadcasts
US regional cable-television broadcaster NESN has linked up with mobile video technology company Burst to introduce fan-generated mobile video content into its live coverage of Boston Red Sox MLB baseball games.
World Cup set to create new audience landmarks – Ericson
New technology and fan-friendly scheduling is set to result in the 2014 World Cup generating a record global television audience, according to Fifa’s director of television Niclas Ericson.
NBC seeking record figure for Super Bowl ads – report
US network NBC is seeking a record sum of around $4.5m (€3.3m) for a 30-second advertisement during its coverage of the 2015 Super Bowl American football game, according to the Variety magazine.
Turf TV bolsters US racing content
Turf TV, the horseracing channel for betting shops in the UK and Ireland, is to add a third US fixture to its existing broadcast package.
Agency to increase fee following Bolivian top-tier expansion
The Game, the agency that markets media rights for the Bolivian Professional Football League, will pay $250,000 (€184,000) more per year following an expansion of the top division.
BT Sport snaps up rights to Caribbean Premier League
UK pay-television broadcaster BT Sport has agreed a two-year rights deal for exclusive live coverage in the UK and Ireland of the Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 cricket tournament.
US could help centenary event double TV income
The centenary version of the Copa América, which will take place in the US in June 2016, looks likely to earn at least twice as much in media rights income as the 2015 Copa América.
DTM seals rights deals in North America, UK
The CBS Sports division of US network CBS network and UK pay-television broadcaster BT Sport have acquired rights for the DTM German touring cars series.
Fox Sports snaps up Pachuca rights
Pay-television broadcaster Fox Sports Latin America has struck a multi-year media rights deal with Pachuca and extended a rights deal with rival Mexican football club León.
NWSL secures ESPN exposure
US pay-television broadcaster ESPN has sealed a one-year rights deal for the National Women’s Soccer League, the top division of women’s football in North America.
NFL Now adds new partners
American football league the NFL has sealed carriage deals with the Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Kindle Fire digital platforms for NFL Now, a new online service that will launch in August ahead of the 2014-15 season.
Chivas USA signs up Spanish-language rights partner
Cable-television operator Time Warner Cable Sports has become the official Spanish-language local rights-holder of California-based Major League Soccer club Chivas USA.
Tennis Channel launches new digital service
US pay-television broadcaster Tennis Channel has launched a digital subscription service, Tennis Channel Plus.
Universal Sports Network to show women’s Tour de France race
US sports broadcaster Universal Sports Network, a subsidiary of the NBC network, has acquired rights for the inaugural La Course by Le Tour de France cycling race on July 27.
ESPN considering MLS for new online rights model
US sports broadcaster ESPN is considering selling online access to live Major League Soccer games to consumers without pay-television subscriptions, according to Reuters.
ACC secures Louisville rights deals
Regional US broadcasters Wave-TV and WHAS-TV have acquired exclusive local rights in Louisville to show the Atlantic Coast Conference college sports competition.