Americas
NHL’s Sabres make broadcast breakthrough with Bell deal
NHL ice hockey franchise the Buffalo Sabres have agreed a television rights deal with Canadian telecommunications company Bell, giving the team a major broadcast footprint in the Southern Ontario region for the first time.
Red Bull Media House seals landmark US deal with Fox Sports
Global media company Red Bull Media House has agreed the largest US licensing deal in its history after signing a three-year partnership with the Fox Sports division of the Fox network.
NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes seal local rights deal
NHL ice hockey franchise the Phoenix Coyotes have agreed a one-year local television rights deal with independent broadcaster 3TV and its sister station CW6.
NBC set to repeat tape-delay strategy for Sochi 2014
US network NBC will show the majority of its television coverage of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games on a tape-delayed basis despite the criticism it received for employing a similar strategy for the London 2012 Olympics.
FIC Sports to boost Pac-12’s global reach
Pac-12 Networks, the content and multi-platform media company for the Pac-12 US college sports conference, has signed an exclusive multi-year agreement with Fox International Sports Channels, a division of 21st Century Fox’s international multi-media business, to distribute Pac-12 sports programming worldwide.
Nascar to retain ESPN and TNT partnerships through 2014 season
Nascar has said it will retain its current cable-television partners, ESPN and TNT, until the end of the 2014 season amid reports that the US motor-racing series’ new television deal could be brought forward to commence next year.
ESPN maintains commitment to distribution of US X Games events
US pay-television broadcaster ESPN has said it will continue to distribute rights to the US events of its X Games extreme sports franchise around the world after announcing the end of the series’ international events.
PGA Tour and USA Today partnership expands into digital content
The US PGA Tour golf organisation has expanded its multi-year marketing partnership with the USA Today Sports Media Group to include new digital content initiatives.
Fox Sports signs deal with Barclays Center for college basketball contests
The Barclays Center sports and entertainment arena has agreed a deal with the Fox Sports division of US network Fox for the rights to its upcoming Brooklyn Hoops college basketball season.
Chicago Fire scores rights deal with Time Warner Cable Sports
Major League Soccer club the Chicago Fire has signed a rights deal with cable-television operator Time Warner Cable Sports covering the Wisconsin region.
Fox Sports converts rights to USA Rugby showpiece game
The Fox Sports division of US network Fox has agreed a deal with USA Rugby for the rights to the United States’ game against the New Zealand Maori All Blacks, which will be played in Philadelphia on November 9.
NBCU breaks record for Winter Olympic ad sales
US media company NBCUniversal has sold a record $800m (€600m) in advertising for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, according to the AdAge.com website.
Comcast prepared to step in for struggling Houston network
US media and technology corporation Comcast has said it is prepared to bid for Comcast SportsNet Houston, the exclusive home of Houston Astros MLB baseball and Houston Rockets NBA basketball games, if it can force a sale of the financially-troubled regional sports broadcaster.
Nascar reaches out to young fans by teaming up with The Whistle
US motor-racing series Nascar has agreed a content partnership with youth-orientated sports media platform The Whistle.
Fox favourite to land Copa
Fox closes in on rights for Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana
Rio on target to double London fees
NBC deal for 2014-16 Paralympics help to push up revenues
Twitter strikes video content deal with NFL
Social networking website Twitter has agreed a deal with American football league the NFL to make game clips and other content available through its Amplify platform, according to the Wall Street Journal.
European Tour tees up new contract with Golf Channel
The European Tour golf organisation has extended its association with the Golf Channel by signing a new 10-year rights deal with the US pay-television broadcaster.