Europe
Teleclub to launch free-to-air sports channel
Swiss pay-television broadcaster Teleclub has said it will launch a free-to-air sports channel in July.
Lagardère seeks to tap into Daley’s star power to boost Diving World Series reach
The Lagardère Sports agency has signed a media rights deal with British diver Tom Daley in a bid to enhance coverage of the 2017 Fina Diving World Series.
Football League considers its options as Sky ponders renewal
To secure an increase in the value of its domestic media rights, the English Football League must make pay-television operator Sky believe it is facing real competition and enable the bigger clubs to control their own digital services in a way that neither erodes Sky’s exclusivity nor upsets the smaller clubs.
Discovery and Bonnier battle it out for Swedish league rights
The Swedish football league is likely to double the value of its rights as media groups Bonnier and Discovery go head to head in an ongoing tender.
SFR misses Fiba, wins Diamond League ahead of bigger battles
SFR Sport lost out to French pay-television rival Canal Plus in a fourth round of bidding for International Basketball Federation (Fiba) events this month, but added the Diamond League to its slow-growing portfolio of sports rights.
Eleven picks up Bundesliga in Poland; league to sell FTA rights
Strong competition and Robert Lewandowski’s decision to remain with Bayern Munich drove a big increase in the value of Bundesliga pay-television rights in Poland last month.
Uefa earns national team growth from small Icelandic market
Uefa will earn just under €3.5m for national team rights from 2018-19 to 2021-22 in Iceland
RÚV will pay about €850,000 for rights to 24 first- and second-party Iceland matches
365 will pay €2.6m for
BT chief criticises ‘rampant inflation’ in sports-rights market
Gavin Patterson, chief executive of UK telco BT, has hit out at the “rampant inflation” in the prices being paid for sports rights, with the firm’s pay-television broadcaster, BT Sport, currently seeking to retain one of its prized assets.
Spike becomes Impact Wrestling’s new partner in UK and Ireland
Anthem Sports & Entertainment, owners of Impact Wrestling, have agreed a deal for the US wrestling series to be televised exclusively by the Spike channel in the UK and Ireland.
Watching Brief (Vol.145) UK Television Audiences Monday 13th to Sunday 19th February
UK viewing audiences for the week Monday 13th to Sunday 19th February and a look at FA Cup audiences for the season so far.
Watching Brief Vol. 145
Eurosport adds further territories to Wimbledon footprint
International sports broadcaster Eurosport has secured rights to the Wimbledon tennis championships in a further eight territories.
Mediaset and LaLiga engage in fresh dispute, Mediapro technology set for introduction
Spanish commercial broadcaster Mediaset has filed a complaint with the Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y La Competencia (CNMC), Spain’s competition regulator, against LaLiga allegedly breaching the terms of an agreement to broadcast match clips, while the organising body of Spanish club football has unveiled a new initiative to enhance coverage of games.
Bundesliga claims first with Baidu partnership
The German Football League (DFL) has entered into a strategic partnership with Baidu, through which the top-tier Bundesliga competition will have an official presence on the network of the Chinese web services company.
TVE extends F1 deal, picks up World Cup qualifiers package
Spanish public-service broadcaster TVE has agreed a one-season extension to its rights deal for the Formula One motor-racing championship, while it has also picked up a package of rights to the latter stages of the qualifying competition run by the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) for the 2018 Fifa World Cup.
Kogel to continue as Constantin Medien CEO
German media company Constantin Medien has extended the contract of its chief executive, Fred Kogel, until December 31, 2018.
DAZN apologises for J. League coverage failings, outlines ‘very aggressive’ German strategy
DAZN chief executive James Rushton has apologised for the failings of the service during the opening round of the J.League football season in Japan, and said it will be “very aggressive” in pursuing key sports rights in Germany.
Portugal Telecom confirms Sport TV investment
Telecommunications company Portugal Telecom has confirmed the acquisition of a 25-per-cent stake in domestic pay-television broadcaster Sport TV.
Discovery invests in Play Sports Group
Media and entertainment company Discovery Communications has acquired a 20-per-cent stake in digital sports media company Play Sports Group.