Canada

North American cable and satellite television network Velocity has acquired rights in the US and Canada to the International Motorcycling Federation’s (FIM) Endurance World Championship.

Canadian pay-television broadcaster Rogers Sportsnet has unveiled a six-week virtual reality trial in what it claims will set a first for broadcasts of ice hockey league the NHL.

Canadian pay-television broadcaster CTV has said Super Bowl LI, the showpiece game of the NFL season, will be broadcast on a triple-simulcast basis for the first time as the American football league said it has raised the issue of a contentious ruling by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission with the newly-formed US government.

The North American NHL ice hockey league has signed a long-term strategic partnership with Chinese internet company Tencent.

Major League Baseball has signed a content partnership with Hispanic-focused digital network Mitú which is designed to target the Latino youth market.

Canadian French-language broadcaster TVA Sports has acquired rights in the country to Major League Soccer.

Canadian pay-television sports broadcaster TSN has extended and expanded its deal for English-language rights to Major League Soccer.

Virtual reality broadcast technology company NextVR has moved to widen its international reach by partnering with internet company Google and broadening its existing relationship with North American basketball league the NBA.

NBA TV, the cable and satellite television broadcaster operated by the North American basketball league, has extended an agreement to broadcast the Euroleague continental club competition.

The NBA Digital division of the NBA basketball league has partnered with daily fantasy sports operator FanDuel to develop a mobile game that will seek to provide fans with a second-screen experience during television broadcasts of matches.

BAMTech, the video technology business of Major League Baseball’s Advanced Media division, will pay Riot Games a minimum of $300m (€287m) through to 2023 for the streaming rights for the company’s League of Legends esports tournaments.

Bob Bowman has stepped down from a leadership role at BAMTech, the video technology business of MLB Advanced Media, according to multiple reports.

The NFL has signed a partnership with virtual reality technology provider Voke to create VR highlights of the American league.

Mixed martial arts promotion the Ultimate Fighting Championship has further bolstered the content available through its digital subscription service, UFC Fight Pass, by agreeing a global partnership with Canadian series TKO MMA.

Premiership Rugby, the organising body for the top division of club rugby union in England, has agreed television rights deals with operators in Latin America, Canada and the Caribbean.

Canadian broadcast group Asian Television Network has acquired rights to a host of cricket properties, including deals with the England and Wales Cricket Board and Twenty20 franchise competition the Caribbean Premier League.