Eastern Europe

Polish commercial and pay-television broadcaster Polsat has confirmed the launch of a new channel dedicated to boxing and combat sports.

O2 Sport, a subscription sports channel operated by telecommunications company O2 in the Czech Republic, has confirmed the launch of three channels dedicated to football, ice hockey and tennis as part of a rebranding effort.

Polish commercial and pay-television broadcaster Polsat and international sports broadcaster Eleven Sports Network are planning to launch new channels in the country, according to the Press.pl website.

Tour de France organiser Amaury Sport Organisation has said the 2016 edition of the cycling race will have new broadcast partners as it prepares to commence tomorrow (Saturday).

Romania’s public-service broadcaster TVR and general entertainment channel Antena 1 failed in a last-gasp attempt to block a deal by commercial broadcaster Pro TV for free-to-air rights to 23 Euro 2016 matches.

Polish pay-television broadcasters Cyfrowy Polsat and Telewizja Polsat have been asked to provide information about their activities in relation to coverage of the ongoing Uefa Euro 2016 national team football tournament by the president of Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection.

US media and entertainment company Discovery Communications has sealed its eighth sublicensing deal for Olympic Games rights in Europe through an agreement with Hungarian public-service broadcaster MTVA.

Modern Times Group has renewed its English Premier League rights in the Baltics, paying a decent increase compared with its current deal.

Crisis-hit Bosnia and Herzegovinian Radio and Television has reached a last-minute agreement with the European Broadcasting Union consortium of public-service broadcasters that will allow it to show the Uefa Euro 2016 national team football tournament.

The Ukrainian Premier League, the top division of football in the country, appears poised to switch to a collective broadcast rights model following a vote of its member clubs.

The European Broadcasting Union consortium of public-service broadcasters has said it is “deeply concerned” after its member in Bosnia and Herzegovina, BHRT, announced it would cease operations at the end of the month due to financial difficulties.

Czech pay-television operator Digi Czech Republic (Digi CZ) is considering launching a new sports channel after acquiring rights for English football’s second-tier Championship.

International sports broadcaster Eleven Sports Network has partnered with digital video technology company NeuLion to launch a new digital sports service in Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Singapore and Taiwan.

The Basketball League of Serbia has sealed a deal to launch a video subscription platform in partnership with online services provider StreamAMG.

The Fight Channel Group has agreed a carriage deal for its Fight Channel and Fight Channel World HD pay-television channels with Macedonian cable television operator Blizoo.

Polish public-service broadcaster TVP has acquired a share of Euro 2016 rights from Polsat in what local experts believe is an excellent deal for the latter.