Europe
Motors TV placed in financial safeguard procedure
Pan-European motorsports channel Motors TV is refinancing its operations having been placed into a financial safeguard procedure in its home country of France.
O2 Sport confirms new channel plans under rebranding drive
O2 Sport, a subscription sports channel operated by telecommunications company O2 in the Czech Republic, has confirmed the launch of three channels dedicated to football, ice hockey and tennis as part of a rebranding effort.
COP partners with SAPO for ‘pioneering’ Olympic media platform
The Olympic Committee of Portugal (COP) has partnered with internet service provider SAPO to launch a new online video platform.
CSI Sports makes Belgian move with Sport 10 deal
Media company CSI Sports, the owner of pay-television channel Fight Sports, has acquired the Sport 10 channel in Belgium.
Canal Plus runs on with Monaco’s Diamond League event
French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus has agreed a four-year extension to its rights deal for the Monaco leg of the International Association of Athletics Federations’ Diamond League series.
Polsat and Eleven Sports Network target new channel launches
Polish commercial and pay-television broadcaster Polsat and international sports broadcaster Eleven Sports Network are planning to launch new channels in the country, according to the Press.pl website.
TVE embraces virtual reality ahead of Rio 2016
Spanish public-service broadcaster TVE is set to launch a virtual reality platform ahead of its coverage of the 2016 summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Sky Sports News to go free-to-air in Germany, Austria
German pay-television broadcaster Sky Deutschland has said it will make its Sky Sports News HD channel freely available to viewers from December.
Discovery Italia makes appointments to bolster sports operations
The Discovery Italia division of media and entertainment company Discovery Communications has appointed Luigi Filippo Ecuba to lead its sports strategy in Italy, Spain and Portugal.
Atresmedia acquires International Champions Cup rights
Spanish commercial broadcaster Atresmedia has acquired rights for the International Champions Cup pre-season football tournament.
LaLiga sets out plans for best-ever viewing experience
LaLiga, the organising body of Spanish club football, and broadcast partner the Mediapro agency have outlined plans for new broadcast innovations for the 2016-17 season, including 4K coverage of games.
Canal Plus and beIN Sports seal non-exclusive deal
French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus has agreed a non-exclusive distribution deal with rival operator beIN Sports, according to the BFM news website.
Virgin Media bolsters Irish interest with UTV deal
Pay-television operator Virgin Media has furthered its investment in the Irish media sector by agreeing a deal to acquire commercial broadcaster UTV Ireland.
Bike to launch on Freesat
Bike, a television channel dedicated to cycling, has agreed a carriage deal with UK satellite platform Freesat.
Retail mogul Green linked to senior role in Dugout operation
British billionaire Sir Philip Green has pledged his support to Dugout, a new digital media platform set to launch in partnership with a number of Europe’s leading football clubs, according to Sky News.
Fox Sports scores Cup of Nations rights in Italy
Pay-television broadcaster Fox Sports has acquired rights in Italy to the next two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations national team football tournament.
EE and BT Sport unveil joint offering
UK telecommunications company BT has announced a partnership with its EE mobile network operator subsidiary, through which customers of the latter will gain free access to the firm's BT Sport pay-television channels for six months.
Sky to begin Open coverage with free-to-view initiative
UK pay-television broadcaster Sky has announced that it will begin its coverage of this year’s edition of golf’s Open Championship with a free service plan.