Europe

UK viewing audiences for the week between Monday 8th May and Sunday 14th May. We also include a round-up of available audiences for this season's European Rugby Challenge Cup. Watching Brief Vol.
Ice Hockey

Modern Times Group, the multi-territory commercial and pay-television broadcaster, has reached an agreement with public-service broadcaster SVT to share rights in Sweden to two major ice hockey competitions for the period spanning 2018 to 2023.
Cricket

UK telecommunications company BT has confirmed it is interested in the broadcast rights being marketed by the England and Wales Cricket Board, with an eye towards a free-to-air strategy.
Football

Modern Times Group, the multi-territory commercial and pay-television broadcaster, has acquired exclusive rights in Finland to a range of national team events organised by Uefa, European football's governing body.
Rugby Union

European Professional Club Rugby, the organising body of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup rugby union competitions, has extended its rights deals with French pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports and public-service broadcaster France Télévisions.

Maltese telcos Melita and Vodafone have agreed a merger in a bid to provide a greater challenge to fellow telco Go.
Horse Racing

Ascot Racecourse has agreed an exclusive broadcast rights deal with the Sina Sports division of Chinese internet operator Sina covering the forthcoming edition of British horseracing showpiece Royal Ascot.
Football

The Russian Premier League, the top division of domestic football, has opened talks over extending its rights deal with privately-held broadcaster Match TV.
Football

Spanish police have today (Tuesday) arrested Sandro Rosell, former president of LaLiga football club Barcelona, in connection to an investigation regarding his business activities in Brazil.

International sports broadcaster Eleven Sports has secured rights in Poland for the 2017 Individual Speedway Junior World Championship.
Multi-sport

Internet company Amazon will start offering live television channels, including Eurosport, via its Prime Video subscription service in the UK for an extra fee.
Football

DAZN, the OTT service operated by digital sports media company Perform, is set to acquire live coverage of Uefa Champions League football matches in Germany alongside pay-television broadcaster Sky, according to reports.
Motorsport

French public-service broadcaster France Télévisions has renewed a rights deal for the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance motor-racing event.
Esports

German sports broadcaster Sport1 has agreed a deal with video game developer EA Sports to stream live coverage of the Fifa 17 Ultimate Team Championship Series esports competition.
Football

Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni (Agcom), the Italian communications regulator, has approved the rules for the sale of the next cycle of domestic rights to Serie A, the top division of football in the country.

UK viewing audiences for the week between Monday 1st May and Sunday 7th May. We also include April's most-watched sports programmes that were broadcast free-to-air. P
Ice Hockey

The Mediapro agency has agreed a deal to return North American ice hockey league the NHL to Spanish television screens.
Football

European football’s governing body Uefa has launched tender processes for broadcast rights to its Champions League and Europa League club competitions in Italy, Spain and Slovenia.