Europe
Revamp of Premier League rights model still on agenda, claims Liverpool chief
Leading teams in the English Premier League remain keen on obtaining a larger proportion of centrally-sold commercial rights revenues, according to outgoing Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre.
Canal Plus nets Fiba rights extension
French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus has renewed its rights agreement with the International Basketball Federation (Fiba).
Telesport acquires Olympics in Russia but World Cup still far off
TV Sports Markets understands the Telesport agency has acquired rights in Russia to four Olympic Games, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and is currently in negotiations with Fifa for rights to the 2018 World Cup.
MTV3 renews IIHF rights as Finnish market waits on SM-Liiga
Finnish commercial and pay-television broadcaster MTV3 acquired a package of ice hockey rights from Infront Sports & Media, negotiating a slightly reduced fee, as local broadcasters wait on the upcoming sale of domestic ice hockey rights.
Deutsche Telekom pays up to expand domestic rights portfolio
The German football federation earned an increase of almost 50 per cent in the value of its domestic third-tier 3. Liga rights following deals with Deutsche Telekom and ARD last week.
Uefa wins big as Sky pays top dollar for Nations League rights
Uefa’s change in format and centralisation of all national team rights from 2018-19 onward has helped European football’s governing body increase the value of its rights in the UK by about 84 per cent.
RCS and IMG earn big increases for Giro d’Italia in new deals
Italian public-service broadcaster Rai and sports broadcaster Eurosport have renewed their deals for the Giro d’Italia, but the shorter domestic contract length and dramatic fee increase in both deals illustrates a more aggressive approach from commercial rights-holder RCS Sport.
World Cup rights value expected to decline in tough Greek market
The value of Fifa World Cup rights in Greece is likely to fall in any new deal, TV Sports Markets understands. A tender is currently open for rights to the 2018 tournament.
Sport1 back in the hot seat with Red Bull Air Race
German sports broadcaster Sport1 has renewed a rights deal for the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in its home country, along with Austria and Switzerland.
Meo deal widens NBA’s reach in Portugal
Meo, the pay-television platform of Portugal Telecom, has agreed a carriage deal for NBA TV, the cable and satellite television channel operated by the North American basketball league.
Copa90 deal marks first investment for new Turner division
The Turner International division of US media company Time Warner has made an equity investment in London-based digital media sports firm Bigballs Media (BBM), parent company of football-focused digital video platform Copa90.
Sunset+Vine awarded London 2017 contract by IPC
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has appointed UK sports production company Sunset+Vine as host broadcaster for the 2017 Para Athletics World Championships, which will take place in London.
Olympics rights deals secured in six European markets
Polish public-service broadcaster TVP has acquired rights for the 2018 and 2020 Olympics in a sublicensing deal with media and entertainment company Discovery Communications, which has also secured agreements for the Games in five other European markets.
German TV market waits on two big deals
After two days at the Spobis conference in DĂĽsseldorf it is clear the German media-rights industry is waiting on the outcome of two key TV deals which will be agreed in the next six months.
EBU renews rights deals for UCI WorldTour events
The European Broadcasting Union consortium of public-service broadcasters has renewed rights-distribution agreements for the Tour of Flanders, Amstel Gold Race, Clasica San Sebastian and Cyclassics Hamburg UCI WorldTour cycling events.
Discovery strikes new carriage deal with Sky
Discovery Communications and Sky have agreed a new carriage deal that will allow Discovery's Eurosport channels to stay on Sky's platforms in the UK and Germany.
Women’s Super League to receive live television coverage
UK pay-television broadcaster Sky has committed to live coverage of the second season of domestic women’s Twenty20 cricket competition the Super League.