Europe
L’Équipe pins down rights in France to top judo events
French digital-terrestrial television channel L’Équipe has agreed a rights deal for International Judo Federation events through to the 2020 summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.
BT states Italian scandal won’t impact on BT Sport’s rights business
Telco BT has said the accounting scandal concerning its Italian division will have no impact on its British pay-television broadcaster BT Sport.
Russian broadcasters submit joint bid for World Cup rights
Russian broadcasters Channel One, VGTRK and Match TV have submitted a joint bid for the rights to football’s 2018 Fifa World Cup, which will take place in the country.
BoxNation retains UK rights to World Series of Boxing
Boxing-focused pay-television channel BoxNation has extended a rights deal in the UK for the International Boxing Association’s World Series of Boxing.
Sport1 launches HbbTV service
German sports broadcaster Sport1 has launched a new hybrid broadcast broadband television service that will provide additional content to complement its television programming.
UFC uses Telesport to sell rights in Russia
The Ultimate Fighting Championship will use the Telesport agency to sell its rights in Russia after sports media platform Match TV failed to agree terms on a renewal for the mixed martial arts series.
Shakhtar Donetsk launches live-streaming platform
Ukrainian Premier League football club Shakhtar Donetsk has joined forces with online video service provider StreamAMG to launch a new streaming platform.
BT confirms BT Sport price increase for broadband customers
UK telecommunications company BT has confirmed that broadband customers will have to pay £3.50 (€4.05/$4.35) per month for pay-television service BT Sport from April 2.
Uefa completes successful set of national team sales in Belgium
Uefa took advantage of strong broadcaster interest in Belgium, driven by the success of the national team, to secure an increase in the value of its national team rights package last month.
Lega, Infront, Mediaset and Sky exonerated over Serie A sales
The vindication last month by a Roman court of the way Lega Serie A sold its media rights for the current cycle was absolute, but not definitive.
German bank agrees surprise deal for IHF World Championship
German bank Deutsche Kreditbank (DKB) took the unusual step of acquiring International Handball Federation World Championship media rights this month.
NOS pays 10% more for Euro 2020 rights in the Netherlands
Dutch public-service broadcaster NOS has agreed to pay an increase of just over eight per cent for rights to Euro 2020, compared to Euro 2016.
ARD set to renew Tour de France rights for small fee increase
German public-service broadcaster ARD is close to renewing its non-exclusive deal for Tour de France cycling rights at a small fee increase.
Sky takes up option to renew EHF Champions League rights
German pay-television broadcaster Sky triggered a clause to renew EHF Champions League rights late last year, extending its deal until 2019-20.
PDC trebles rights fees in key Dutch renewal with RTL
Dutch commercial broadcaster RTL paid close to a three-fold increase to strike a long-term deal for Professional Darts Corporation rights in the Netherlands.
Watching Brief (Vol.139) UK Television Audiences Monday 2nd to Sunday 8th January 2017
Please enjoy the first issue of the newly designed Watching Brief, covering UK television audiences in the week between Monday 2nd January and Sunday 8th January
LaLiga claims latest victory in battle against piracy
LaLiga, the organising body of Spanish club football, has claimed another win in its fight against piracy of its audiovisual rights with prison sentences handed out to two individuals.
Tough Mudder seals content partnership with Sky
Active lifestyle and endurance events company Tough Mudder has agreed a video content partnership with UK pay-television broadcaster Sky.