Europe
Ofcom’s probe into Fox-Sky deal delayed
An investigation by UK media regulator Ofcom into the proposed takeover of Sky by 21st Century Fox has been delayed until after the country’s general election on June 8.
Mediaset posts record losses, blames damage of Vivendi dispute
Italian broadcaster Mediaset has reported record losses of €294.5m ($313.9m) for 2016, blaming the collapse of its proposed deal with French media company Vivendi for the state of affairs.
Mutko sets out limit for Russian World Cup rights deal
Russian broadcasters are willing to pay 20 per cent more for the 2018 Fifa World Cup than they did for 2014, according to Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko.
Vivendi fires back as regulator orders stake reduction in Mediaset or Telecom Italia
French media company Vivendi has said it is considering legal action after Italian communications authority AGCOM ordered it to cut its stake in either Italian broadcaster Mediaset or telecommunications firm Telecom Italia within a year.
GolTV picks up rights to Portugal’s Primeira Liga
US pay-television channel GolTV has acquired rights to the Primeira Liga, the top division of club football in Portugal.
Saran Media acquires League of Legends rights in Turkey
Turkish media group Saran Media has acquired domestic rights to League of Legends esports events.
SFR Sport lands Confederations Cup rights in France
French commercial broadcaster TF1 has elected to sublicense its rights for the 2017 Fifa Confederations Cup national team football tournament to pay-television broadcaster SFR Sport, according to L’Équipe.
Eleven Sports launches new Belgian channel, signs World Snooker Championship deal in US
International sports broadcaster Eleven Sports has expanded its reach in Belgium by launching a third channel, while it has acquired rights in the United States to the World Snooker Championship.
Swisscom files complaint over UPC’s MySports channel
Swiss telecommunications group Swisscom has filed a complaint against rival telco UPC to the country’s Competition Commission (Weko) over the latter’s failure to grant access to its exclusive ice hockey rights to all operators.
Swedish league gets 120% fee jump as Discovery ousts Bonnier
The Swedish football league earned an increase of about 120 per cent in the value of its media rights last month as Discovery continued its strategy of buying domestic football league rights in Scandinavia.
GAA enjoys uplift as it takes greater control of its content
Ireland’s Gaelic Athletic Association has enjoyed steady growth in commercial revenues over the last five years and is set to do so until mid-2022.
TGT picks up greyhound-racing rights
The Global Tote, a subsidiary of sports-betting provider TopBetta, has acquired rights for UK and Irish greyhound-racing coverage.
Watching Brief (Vol.151) UK Television Audiences Monday 27th March to Sunday 2nd April
UK viewing audiences for the week between Monday 27th March and Sunday 2nd April, plus a round-up of the year's most-watched live snooker programmes so far.
Euroleague registers audience increase
Euroleague Basketball registered significant year-on-year increases in its television and online audiences in the 2016-17 season following a restructuring of the body’s top league and the EuroCup competition.
Eleven to launch new OTT channel in Belgium
International sports broadcaster Eleven Sports will launch a third channel in Belgium tomorrow (Thursday).
BT Sport lands World Endurance Championship rights
UK pay-television broadcaster BT Sport has acquired rights to the World Endurance Championship motor-racing series.
Premier League makes latest anti-piracy move
Football’s English Premier League has stepped up its efforts to prevent piracy of its content by partnering with digital platform security specialist Irdeto.
Talpa takes control of SBS
Talpa Holding has acquired a 67-per-cent stake in Dutch commercial broadcaster SBS from majority shareholder Sanoma Media.