Europe
Discovery extends distribution deal with Liberty Global
International media and entertainment company Discovery Communications has signed a long-term extension to its carriage deal with media firm Liberty Global.
L’Équipe 21 set for rebrand
French digital-terrestrial television channel L’Équipe 21 is set to be rebranded after the move was approved by the Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel, France’s media regulator.
Rooney testimonial to set Facebook first
Facebook will later today (Wednesday) stream English footballer Wayne Rooney’s testimonial match, marking the first game between two Premier League teams to be shown live via the social media platform.
Eurosport adds raft of new markets to Wimbledon portfolio
International sports broadcaster Eurosport has strengthened its coverage of tennis grand slam Wimbledon by acquiring the rights to the championships in a further 16 countries.
LFP rejects Canal Plus request for Ligue 1 schedule change
French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus has failed in its efforts to revise the programming schedule for Ligue 1, the top division of domestic club football.
Vodafone Portugal invests in Sport TV
The Portuguese arm of telecommunications company Vodafone has agreed a deal to acquire a stake in pay-television broadcaster Sport TV.
UFA Sports undergoes rebrand
The UFA Sports agency has rebranded as U! Sports, with the change taking effect from today (Monday).
Servus TV to exit Germany and Switzerland
Energy drinks brand Red Bull has said it will withdraw its commercial broadcaster Servus TV from Germany and Switzerland in order to focus on its home market of Austria.
Khabar TV strikes late Rio 2016 deal in Kazakhstan
Khabar TV, part of Kazakh satellite television broadcaster Kazakh TV, has acquired rights to the forthcoming 2016 summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
KPN loses out in Fox Sports case
Dutch cable-television provider KPN will be forced back to the negotiating table with pay-television broadcaster Fox Sports Netherlands after losing out in a court judgment.
BBC extends RideLondon contract
UK public-service broadcaster the BBC has extended a rights agreement for coverage of the RideLondon cycling event.
West Ham agrees rights deals for curtain-raiser at new home
UK pay-television broadcaster BT Sport and media rights distribution agency RDA TV have reached agreements with West Ham United for rights to the English Premier League football club’s pre-season friendly match against Italian Serie A champion Juventus.
LaLiga signs carriage deals for second-tier channel
LaLiga, the operator of the Spanish Football League, has signed carriage deals for its LaLiga 1|2|3 TV channel, which provides live coverage of matches in the country’s Segunda División second tier.
Mediaset and Vivendi at loggerheads over proposed deal
Italian media company Mediaset has rejected French media group Vivendi’s revised offer to acquire its pay-television operation, Mediaset Premium, amid heightened tensions between the two parties.
France Télévisions, Eurosport extend French Open rights deals
French public-service broadcaster France Télévisions and pan-European sports broadcaster Eurosport have extended deals to show coverage of the French Open tennis grand slam.
Sportsman lays up deal with Italian volleyball league
The Sportsman Media Group agency has agreed a four-season deal for the international audiovisual rights to the Lega Pallavolo Serie A Femminile, the top division of women’s club volleyball in Italy.
Canal Plus seeks revised scheduling as new Ligue 1 rights deal commences
The French Football League (LFP) has confirmed that pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus has put forward a revised approach for its coverage of Ligue 1, the top division of domestic club football.
MTG’s Viaplay expands into Baltics
Modern Times Group, the multi-territory commercial and pay-television broadcaster, has launched its Viaplay video-streaming service in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.