Europe
ITV extends French Open rights deal
UK commercial broadcaster ITV has struck a three-year extension to its rights deal for tennis grand slam the French Open.
Amazon enters Premier League market, BT Sport adds to rights portfolio
Internet company Amazon and pay-television broadcaster BT Sport have today (Thursday) acquired the final set of domestic rights to the English Premier League, with the football competition also wrapping up its rights line-up in Ireland.
Premier League’s elite secure change to TV revenue distribution model
The ‘big six’ clubs from football’s English Premier League have today (Thursday) succeeded in forcing through a change to the rules which will grant them a greater share of revenue the competition generates from international broadcast rights.
Watching Brief (Vol.212) UK TV Audiences 21st to 27th May
Sky Italia opens up sports access with new services
Pay-television broadcaster Sky Italia has moved to widen its customer base by launching a new 15-channel digital terrestrial television service which will include access to its premium sports content.
EBU extends deal for FIS Ski Flying World Championships
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the International Ski Federation (FIS) have extended a media-rights deal for the FIS Ski Flying World Championships.
Belgian Cup gains uplift in value through new rights deals
Public-service broadcaster VRT, French-language commercial broadcaster RTL-TVI and Flemish-language counterpart VTM have acquired domestic rights to club football competition the Belgian Cup.
L’Équipe retains youth tournaments in Uefa rights portfolio
French free-to-air sports broadcaster L'Équipe has extended its deal with Uefa, European club football’s governing body, for rights to the European Under-19 Championship.
UK government clears path for Fox-Comcast bidding war for Sky
The UK government has given the green light to a potential bidding contest between media companies 21st Century Fox and Comcast for pay-television broadcaster Sky.
Lega Serie A rejects latest move by Mediapro on rights agreement
Lega Serie A, the governing body of the top division of Italian club football, has today (Tuesday) reaffirmed its decision to scrap its rights agreement with Mediapro after the Spanish agency yesterday said it had presented financial guarantees for the contract.
Eurosport to broadcast hockey showpieces in Spain
International sports broadcaster Eurosport has agreed a rights deal in Spain with the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
Premier League set for new rights partner, BT adds content
The English Premier League has reportedly secured a new domestic rights partner in the form of an undisclosed online operator, with telco BT securing the other remaining package left on the table.
World Cup rights deal sealed in Bosnia and Herzegovina
BHRT, the public-service broadcaster in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has confirmed a rights agreement for the 2018 Fifa World Cup.
Cosmote strikes fresh deal for Uefa national team properties
Greek pay-television broadcaster Cosmote has extended its rights deal to national team properties operated by Uefa, European football’s governing body.
MUTV continues to diversify with rights to Belgium games
MUTV, the in-house television channel of English Premier League football club Manchester United, has acquired exclusive rights in the UK and Ireland to the Belgian national team’s three warm-up matches ahead of the 2018 Fifa World Cup.
Watching Brief (Vol.211) UK TV Audiences 14th to 20th May
Mediapro reveals plans for new French football channel
Spanish agency Mediapro has said it has no intention of sublicensing rights to Ligue 1 and will instead rely on striking carriage deals for its planned new channel for the top division of French club football, while telco Altice has unveiled a new look to its sports media offering in France.
Eleven signs first partner for Portuguese entry
International sports broadcaster Eleven Sports has signed its first partner to support its entry into the Portuguese market after agreeing a deal with telco NOWO.