Europe
AMI pays increase for LaLiga rights across Baltics and ex-CIS
LaLiga has increased the value of its rights in 13 European and Asian markets by about 20 per cent in a single deal with the Advisers Media International agency.
Discovery strikes Telia deal for SM-Liiga rights
The Discovery Networks Finland division of US media company Discovery has struck a sublicensing agreement with Finnish telco Telia for rights to SM-Liiga, the top division of domestic ice hockey.
Watching Brief (Vol.208) UK TV Audiences 23rd to 29th April
Mediapro appeals Serie A court ruling, hits out at Sky
The Mediapro agency has confirmed it has appealed a court ruling which cancels its tender for rights to Serie A, the top division of Italian football, stating that the Sky Italia-led action stems from “fear” from the pay-television broadcaster of losing its dominant position in the market.
German telcos express concern over Vodafone’s €18.4bn Liberty deal
German telcos Deutsche Telekom and Telefonica Deutschland have hit out following Vodafone’s announcement of a proposed €18.4bn ($22.2bn) takeover of media company Liberty Global’s European assets.
BT to axe 13,000 jobs amid cost-cutting plan
UK telco BT, which operates pay-television broadcaster BT Sport, has today (Thursday) announced plans to cut around 13,000 jobs over the next three years as it admitted its structure is too complex and “overweight” when compared to rivals.
Sky hails court’s cancellation of Serie A tender process
Pay-television broadcaster Sky Italia has said it is ready to make an “important offer” to resolve the dispute surrounding Mediapro’s rights for Serie A after a judge today (Wednesday) ruled that the agency’s tender for the top division of Italian football must be scrapped.
Sport1 secures rights to World Cup, Formula 2
German sports broadcaster Sport1 has acquired rights to this summer’s Fifa World Cup national team football tournament and the Formula 2 Championship motor-racing series.
Breeders’ Cup extends with UK rights partner
Pay-television channel At The Races, which is set to rebrand as Sky Sports Racing, has struck a three-year extension to its rights deal in the UK and Ireland for US horseracing showpiece the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Facebook makes latest senior appointment for push into sports market
Social media company Facebook has made its latest high-level appointment as its seeks to further bolster its presence in the sports rights market, with Rhys Beer joining from US media group NBCUniversal.
Mediapro considers domestic LaLiga coverage exit – report
Spanish agency Mediapro is considering withdrawing its interests in domestic football coverage due to escalating rights fees, according to daily financial newspaper El Español.
Euroleague pens North American rights deal
Euroleague Basketball, which organises continental club competitions in Europe, has signed a multi-year rights deal with sports-streaming service FloSports.
Sky renews Ladies European Tour rights deal
UK pay-television broadcaster Sky has extended its rights deal with golf’s Ladies European Tour.
Lega Serie A secures uplift in rights fee as Rai retains Coppa Italia
State broadcaster Rai has retained domestic rights to the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana club football competitions, with Lega Serie A gaining a 60 per cent uplift in the value of the contract.
Eleven linked to UK bid for Premier League rights
International sports broadcaster Eleven Sports is considering a bid to acquire rights in the UK to football’s English Premier League, according to the Independent.
BT set to announce job cuts
BT, the UK telco that operates the BT Sport pay-television sports broadcaster, is set to announce plans to cut 6,000 jobs worldwide next week.
Sport1 renews World Endurance Championship deal
German sports broadcaster Sport1 has renewed a rights deal for the FIA World Endurance Championship motor-racing series.
Motorsport Network to provide DTM support
Motorsport Network, the digital media platform, has agreed a partnership with the DTM German Touring Car Championship.