Europe
Webedia claims first with French esports channel
French web content specialist group Webedia has announced the launch of an esports television channel which it claims will be the first of its kind in France.
Sky to snap up exclusive Austrian Bundesliga rights
Pay-television broadcaster Sky has reached a deal to acquire exclusive rights for the Austrian Bundesliga, the top division of football in the country.
Eurosport unveils coverage plans 100 days before Pyeongchang Olympics
Eurosport has unveiled plans for its coverage of the 2018 winter Olympics to mark 100 days to go until the start of the PyeongChang 2018 Games.
BBC picks up rights to Wales football friendlies
The BBC Wales arm of UK public-service broadcaster the BBC has secured rights to Wales national football team friendly games against France and Panama next month.
Uefa launches rights tenders in Belgium, Netherlands
European football’s governing body Uefa has today (Tuesday) launched tender processes for broadcast rights to its Champions League and Europa League club competitions in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Canal Plus converts extension to Sevens Series deal
French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus has extended its rights deal for the Sevens Series, the national team competition organised by rugby union’s governing body World Rugby.
ECJ overturns UPC-Ziggo merger amid sports competition concern
The European Court of Justice has overturned approval granted by the European Commission in 2014 for a merger of Dutch pay-television operators UPC and Ziggo, citing competition in the sports media market as its key concern.
AELTC settles claims over Wimbledon’s Chinese rights deal
The All England Lawn Tennis Club, organiser of the Wimbledon grand slam championships, has settled its claims against LETV, operator of Chinese online streaming platform LeSports.
EFL rejects Sky dissatisfaction
The English Football League, which operates the three divisions below the top-tier Premier League, has dismissed suggestions that clubs in the second-tier Championship are unhappy with the body’s recently-signed rights deal with pay-television broadcaster Sky, amid reports of a breakaway league being formed by dissatisfied teams.
Liga ACB breaks into Nordic market with OZ deal
Liga ACB, the top division of basketball in Spain, has secured coverage in the Nordic market for the first time under a deal with OTT video content platform OZ.
IPC signs EBU deal for Pyeongchang 2018, Tokyo 2020
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has agreed a media-rights partnership with the European Broadcasting Union consortium of public-service broadcasters covering the 2018 winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang and the 2020 summer Games in Tokyo.
ARD, ZDF pick up rights to Uefa Nations League
German public-service broadcasters ARD and ZDF have agreed a deal with Uefa, football’s European governing body, to show live coverage of the country’s men’s national team’s matches in the new Nations League.
Eleven agrees new carriage deal in Belgium
International sports broadcaster Eleven Sports has struck a carriage deal with Belgian satellite platform TéléSat and Flemish satellite operator TV Vlaanderen.
Sport1 scoops up volleyball rights
German sports broadcaster Sport1 has acquired rights for the domestic men’s volleyball Bundesliga top division.
Activision Blizzard pens European rights deal with Groupe AB
Interactive entertainment company Activision Blizzard has entered into a rights partnership with French production and distribution company Groupe AB.
Sportkanalen picks up NBA rights
Sportkanalen, the new sports channel that has been launched by Swedish pay-television broadcaster C More, has acquired rights for the North American NBA basketball league.
Euro Media Group enhances OTT expertise with On Rewind acquisition
Broadcast and audiovisual services supplier Euro Media Group and its subsidiary NetcoSports, which specialises in the development of technical and digital solutions for the sport and media industries, has acquired On Rewind to spearhead the group’s new OTT offering.