Europe

Football

A complaint lodged by German pay-television broadcaster Sky Deutschland against federal cartel office the Bundeskartellamt over the implementation of a ‘no single buyer rule’ for the domestic rights process to the Bundesliga, the top division of German football, has been dismissed.
Rugby Union

Irish pay-television broadcaster Eir Sport has acquired rights to the national rugby union team’s upcoming tour of Japan and the United States.
Ice Hockey

The Swiss Competition Commission (Weko) has opened an investigation into the pay-television market for ice hockey in the country, stating there have been “indications” of antitrust violations by telecommunications company UPC.
Multi-sport

French media group Vivendi has secured European Union antitrust approval for its plan to gain control of Telecom Italia after the European Commission said it has agreed to sell the Italian telecommunications company’s majority stake in broadcasting services group Persidera.
Tennis

Public-service broadcaster France Télévisions has bolstered its tennis coverage by acquiring rights to men’s ATP events the Paris Masters and World Tour Finals.

The European Broadcasting Union consortium of public-service broadcasters has appointed Noel Curran as its new director general.
Cricket

Over-the-top content provider YuppTV has acquired live digital rights for the International Cricket Council’s upcoming Champions Trophy event.
Tennis

International sports broadcaster Eurosport has stepped up its Wimbledon coverage by acquiring rights to the qualifiers for this year’s edition of the tennis grand slam.
Rugby Union

Social video production, editing and sharing platform Tellyo has entered into a partnership with rugby union league the Pro12.
Football

The CAA Eleven agency has launched new tenders in 13 markets for rights to Uefa national team properties.

Eleven Sports Network said this week its strategy of targeting second-tier rights in larger markets, and running a ‘lean and mean’ business operation, would succeed in Italy, despite the country’s pay-television market having proved difficult for other players.
Football

Modern Times Group paid an increase of about 16 per cent to maintain its grip on Uefa Champions League rights across Scandinavia earlier this month.
Basketball

The Euroleague will face a litmus test for its new product this summer as it takes its media rights to market in France and Italy – two markets from which the competition is desperate to earn greater revenue.
Football

Lega Serie A, the governing body of the top division of Italian football, has issued a domestic rights tender for the three seasons from 2018-19 to 2020-21.
Football

Russian state-controlled commercial broadcaster Channel One and privately-held broadcaster Match TV have secured rights to the forthcoming Fifa Confederations Cup national team football tournament, according to Sport-Express.
Cycling

The Hammer Series, a new cycling event created by the Infront Sports & Media agency and the Velon collective body of pro cycling teams, will be live streamed for free via social media platform Facebook and video-sharing website YouTube when it launches next month.
Cricket

UK public-service broadcaster the BBC has acquired highlights rights to the International Cricket Council’s upcoming Champions Trophy event.
Football

UK pay-television broadcaster Sky has acquired rights to the Premier League Asia Trophy pre-season football tournament.