Americas
Sports rights fee increases are justified, ESPN chief says
John Skipper, president of US sports broadcaster ESPN, said that escalating live sports rights fees were justified due to the exclusive nature of the programming
NBC seals deal to broadcast historic sailing event
US network NBC acquired live rights for sailing’s America’s Cup in 2013 in a deal with race organisers, the America’s Cup Event Authority.
Fox acquires Australian rugby league rights in the US
US pay-television channel Fox Soccer acquired exclusive live rights for Australia’s National Rugby League and the regional State of Origin series in a two-year deal, from 2012 to 2013.
CBS and MSG weigh up investing in Dodgers bidding groups
US network CBS and MSG Network, the pay-television channel owned by New York sports venue Madison Square Garden, are separately considering investing in groups that want to acquire the Los Angeles Dodgers…
Record threatens legal action over Globo World Cup deal
Brazilian commercial broadcaster Record said that it would consider taking legal action after accusing Fifa, football’s world governing body, of reneging on a promise to carry out a “public, transparent and…
ESPN seals Facebook first with college basketball deal
US sports broadcaster ESPN announced a partnership with Facebook that will allow a syndicated video player from the ESPN3 internet service to be carried on the social networking website
Globo acquires World Cup rights in Brazil
Brazilian media group Globo acquired multi-platform rights to the 2018 and 2022 football World Cups in a deal with Fifa, football’s world governing body.
Nascar domestic rights renewal talks to begin in next few months
US network Fox will begin talks over a new domestic rights deal for the Nascar motor-racing series before the end of this season in November
Perform strengthens South American football portfolio
Digital media company Perform acquired rights from Uruguay-based agency the Full Play Group for club football matches in Bolivia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay and Peru in a three-and-a-half-year deal running…
Columbus Crew secures greater reach with Fox Sports Ohio deal
US regional sports network Fox Sports Ohio agreed a rights deal with local Major League Soccer team Columbus Crew covering the 2012 season
UFC fee ambitions not matched by UK broadcasters
UFC pushing for big increase in UK but ESPN is lukewarm
NFL closing in on global deal after Nordic renewal
NFL set to follow Nordic deal with IMG Media renewal
NBA bounces back from lockout with a series of deals
Lockout hurt NBA but now broadcasters are returning
EBU splits again for World Cup bids
EBU splits again over World Cup bids
USA Today teams up with MLBAM in digital initiative
The USA Today Sports Media Group and MLB Advanced Media, the interactive media and internet company of Major League Baseball, announced a joint venture to develop and produce new content and products for…
Armstrong factor draws NBC Sports Network to Ironman
World Triathlon Corporation, a global promoter of triathlon events, is in talks with NBC Sports Network, the cable-television sports channel of US network NBC, about televising live coverage of the 2012…
HBO buys rights for Mayweather v Cotto
US pay-television service HBO beat competition from rival Showtime to acquire the rights for the boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr and junior middleweight title-holder Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand…
Turner puts March Madness basketball behind paywall
US cable-television broadcaster Turner Broadcasting System is introducing a charge for viewers for online coverage of the annual National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Division I Basketball Championship…