Europe
UFC on brink of UK renewal with BT Sport
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is set to complete a new deal in the UK and Ireland with incumbent broadcaster BT Sport which will more than double its current media-rights income.
Two more packages to Mediapro
Mediapro last week acquired the remaining two packages of domestic Spanish LaLiga rights for the three seasons from 2016-17 to 2018-19, after a second round of bidding.
Competition drives up Rugby World Cup revenue in Ireland
Strong competition drove up the value of rights to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Ireland this week, despite a much worse time zone than in 2015.
Dutch regulator seeks control over proposed Vodafone-Ziggo merger
The Netherlands Authority for Consumer & Markets (ACM) has asked the European Commission for permission to handle the proposed merger between Ziggo, the cable-television operator held by media company Liberty Global, and mobile phone operator Vodafone.
Killane appointed as new head of Eir sports operations
Irish telecommunications company Eir has appointed Glen Killane as its first managing director of Eir television and sport.
Sport TV to launch free-to-view channel
Portuguese pay-television broadcaster Sport TV will launch a free-to-view channel next month.
UPC unveils MySports plans after SIHF rights deal
Swiss telecommunications company UPC has unveiled plans for a new sports broadcast platform which it says will “breathe new life” into the media market in Switzerland.
SVT and TV4 extend rights partnership to Euro 2020
Swedish public-service broadcaster SVT and commercial and pay-television broadcaster TV4 have acquired rights to the Uefa Euro 2020 national team football tournament.
Sky to end US Open coverage – report
UK pay-television broadcaster Sky has reportedly decided not to show this year’s edition of tennis grand slam the US Open, bringing to an end one of its longest-running major rights deals.
Viasat reveals UHD and VR Olympic coverage plans
Viasat, the pay-television operator run by multi-territory commercial and pay-television broadcaster Modern Times Group, has unveiled plans to offer coverage of the Rio 2016 summer Olympic Games in virtual reality and ultra-high-definition formats in Sweden.
European giants join forces for new digital media venture – report
A host of elite European football clubs and players have teamed up to support a new digital media platform named Dugout, according to the Daily Mail.
BBC commits to enhanced coverage of BBL
UK public-service broadcaster the BBC has extended a rights deal with the British Basketball League and Women’s British Basketball League domestic club competitions.
FFF partners with Canal Plus, Dailymotion for Championnat National rights
The French Football Federation has agreed a three-season rights deal with pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus for its Championnat National league.
SRG-SSR secures Olympics coverage in Discovery deal
Swiss public-service broadcaster SRG-SSR has acquired free-to-air rights for two editions of the Olympic Games in a sublicensing deal with international media company Discovery Communications.
Eir extends F1 rights, rebrands Setanta Sports
Irish telecommunications company Eir has extended a rights deal for the Formula One motor-racing world championship and rebranded pay-television service Setanta Sports as Eir Sport.
Go retains Premier League, Serie A rights and picks up FA Cup
Maltese telecommunications company Go has acquired exclusive rights for football’s English Premier League, English FA Cup knockout tournament and Italian Serie A top division.
Mediaset set to offer free-to-air Champions League coverage in Italy
Italian media group Mediaset will open up its coverage of the Uefa Champions League club football competition to free-to-air television next season, according to multiple reports.
Broadcasters line up for European Athletics Championships
Broadcast coverage for this year’s European Athletics Championships, which began earlier today (Wednesday) in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam, has exceeded expectations, according to Svein Arne Hansen, president of the European Athletics governing body.