Europe
Watching Brief (Vol.131) Special Focus: 2016 Olympic Games
David Svenson, research analyst for SportBusiness Intelligence, examines television audiences in selected European markets for the 2016 Olympic Games.
TVP expands ice hockey portfolio with NHL, World Cup rights
Polish public-service broadcaster TVP has acquired rights for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey, an international ice hockey tournament, as well as the NHL North American ice hockey league.
Drone Racing League pens deals with ESPN, ProSiebenSat.1
Pay-television sports broadcaster ESPN has acquired rights in the Americas for the Drone Racing League, while German media company ProSiebenSat.1 has invested in the league as part of a coverage agreement in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Sky Deutschland set to launch free sports portal
German pay-television broadcaster Sky Deutschland has said it will launch a new free-to-access digital sports platform next year focusing on video content.
L’Équipe strikes up partnership with Saint-Étienne
French digital-terrestrial television channel L’Équipe has agreed a content partnership with Ligue 1 football club Saint-Étienne.
Sky invests in Drone Racing League
UK pay-television broadcaster Sky has today (Wednesday) announced that it has invested $1m (€890,000) in the US-based Drone Racing League.
BoxNation to offer pay-per-view event through Sky
UK pay-television broadcaster BoxNation will offer pay-per-view coverage of a boxing event via pay-television operator Sky for the first time next month when Tyson Fury takes on Wladimir Klitschko in a heavyweight world title rematch.
RTL, Sky pick up remaining Bundesliga rights packages
Commercial broadcaster RTL and pay-television broadcaster Sky Deutschland have acquired the two remaining rights packages on offer for German football’s Bundesliga over the next four-season cycle, from 2017-18 to 2020-21.
NC Plus scores Polish handball rights, Eleven Sports launches third channel
Polish pay-television operator NC Plus has acquired exclusive rights to the Superliga, the top division of handball in the country, while international sports broadcaster Eleven Sports Network has launched its third channel in Poland.
Numero 23 adds Pro A to sports line-up
French free-to-air television channel Numero 23 has secured rights to the Pro A, the top division of domestic basketball.
Fiba targets further multi-cast deals after Swiss Basketball link-up
Fiba, the global governing body of basketball, is keen to explore further multi-cast partnerships with national federations following a successful two-game collaboration with Swiss Basketball.
ISG enhances production offering with Skibbly Media acquisition
Sports media agency Interregional Sports Group has agreed a deal to acquire sports production company Skibbly Media.
Premier Sports takes to the ice for World Cup of Hockey
UK pay-television broadcaster Premier Sports has acquired rights to the forthcoming World Cup of Hockey tournament.
Eurosport serves renewed German cycling interest with UCI Road Worlds deal
International sports broadcaster Eurosport has acquired rights in Germany to this year’s edition of the International Cycling Union’s (UCI) Road World Championships.
Vodafone seals Telefónica deal for F1, MotoGP coverage
Vodafone Spain has sealed an agreement with rival telecommunications company Telefónica that will allow it to show coverage of the Formula One motor-racing championship and the MotoGP motorcycle-racing series.
Eleven Sports Network set to bid for Pro League rights
International sports broadcaster Eleven Sports Network has signalled its interest in acquiring rights to the Pro League, the top tier of club football in Belgium.
L’Équipe lands rights to Golovkin v Brook
French digital-terrestrial television channel L’Équipe has acquired rights to Saturday’s boxing title fight between Gennady Golovkin and Kell Brook.
Former BBC executive appointed to new Eurosport role
International media company Discovery Communications has appointed Ralph Rivera as managing director of the digital operation of its pan-regional sports broadcaster, Eurosport.