Europe
EFL opens new revenue stream with live-streaming service
The English Football League, which operates the three club divisions below the top-tier Premier League, is to launch a new live-streaming and content platform for overseas fans.
Premiership Rugby makes free-to-air breakthrough with Channel 5 deal
Premiership Rugby, the governing body of the top division of English rugby union, has struck a four-season rights deal with UK commercial broadcaster Channel 5 which will grant it live exposure on terrestrial television for the first time.
Premier Sports to showcase Polish, Swedish speedway
UK pay-television broadcaster Premier Sports has acquired rights to the Ekstraliga and Elitserien, the top-tier speedway leagues in Poland and Sweden, respectively.
Highlight Event and Entertainment approves capital increase amid Constantin reports
The Highlight Event and Entertainment company has approved an ordinary capital increase and the extension and increase of its authorised share capital amid reports that chairman Bernhard Burgener will seek to use this to drive a takeover bid for German media company Constantin Medien.
Telenet and Voo big winners in Pro League rights auction
Pay-television operators Telenet and Voo have been awarded live rights for the Pro League, the top division of club football in Belgium.
Discovery links up with ProSiebenSat.1 for OTT joint venture
German commercial broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 has linked up with media and entertainment company Discovery Communications to launch an OTT 50:50 joint venture in the country.
France Télévisions to cover all-French Women’s Champions League final
Public-service broadcaster France Télévisions has agreed a rights deal for the final of the 2016-17 Uefa Women’s Champions League, which will be contested by two French football teams for the first time.
Swedish investment firm becomes main owner of Com Hem
Swedish investment firm Kinnevik has acquired an 18.5 per cent stake in Swedish cable-television operator Com Hem in a deal that makes it the biggest owner of the company.
Bike Channel picks up Mountain Bike World Cup rights
UK pay-television broadcaster Bike Channel has acquired rights to this year’s Mountain Bike World Cup.
TVE seals badminton, tennis deals
Spanish public-service broadcaster TVE has signed a rights deal for events operated by the Spanish Badminton Federation and has renewed an agreement to produce and manage the worldwide live feed for coverage of the Conde de Godó ATP World Tour men’s tennis tournament in Barcelona.
L’Équipe, Eurosport retain biathlon rights in France
International sports broadcaster Eurosport and French digital-terrestrial television channel L’Équipe have retained rights in France to events organised by the International Biathlon Union.
Competition heats up in France with three big tenders out
Strong competition is expected between France’s main pay-television broadcasters for Uefa Champions League, Formula One and European rugby rights, with all three properties currently on the market.
DAZN completes US sports portfolio with MLB acquisition
DAZN last month secured Major League Baseball rights, the only major US sports property missing from its portfolio in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Polsat comes out of nowhere to take Champions League rights
Polsat has shocked the Polish sports-rights market by acquiring Uefa Champions League rights, paying a huge premium to wrest them from long-term incumbent NC Plus.
SM-Liiga seeks new partner as Nelonen opts against extension
SM-Liiga, the top division of ice hockey in Finland, will require a new rights partner from the 2018-19 season after media group Sanoma said its commercial and pay-television broadcaster, Nelonen, will not extend its contract.
Watching Brief (Vol.153) UK Television Audiences Monday 10th April to Sunday 16th April
UK viewing audiences for the week between Monday 10th April and Sunday 16th April, plus March's leading free-to-air audiences. Please note that viewing data for Sky Sports F1 is currently unavailable.
Watching Brief (Vol.152) UK Television Audiences Monday 3rd April to Sunday 9th April
UK viewing audiences for the week between Monday 3rd April and Sunday 9th April, plus March's leading pay-television audiences.
Eleven Sports picks up US rights to darts events, backs LaLiga Legends game
International sports broadcaster Eleven Sports has acquired exclusive rights in the United States to 14 darts competitions taking place between May and November.