Europe
MTG invests in Engage Sports Media, unveils new channel launch
Modern Times Group, the multi-territory commercial and pay-television broadcaster, has acquired a 22-per-cent stake in digital services provider Engage Sports Media and announced the launch of a new premium sports channel in Sweden.
Leicester denied top spot in Premier League revenue table
Arsenal has become the first club to break the £100m (€127.2m/$144.1m) barrier in revenue received from the English Premier League.
LaLiga claims Facebook first with live streaming of women’s game
LaLiga, the organising body of Spanish club football, will live stream Saturday’s Primera División de Fútbol Femenino match between Atlético Madrid and Athletic Club on social media platform Facebook.
Premier Sports and Sony score Copa América Centenario rights
UK pay-television broadcaster Premier Sports and Sony Pictures Networks India, formerly known as Multi Screen Media, have acquired rights to the Copa América Centenario, the special edition of the national team football tournament which is being hosted by the United States next month.
YLE on the slopes with Ski Classics deal
Finnish public-service broadcaster YLE has acquired rights for the Ski Classics long-distance championship.
Eurosport serves up virtual reality app
International sports broadcaster Eurosport has launched a new virtual reality mobile application to coincide with this year’s French Open grand slam tennis tournament, which began on Sunday.
Swisscom to fight fine for ‘abusing’ dominant sports position
Switzerland's Competition Commission has fined telecommunications group Swisscom CHF71.8m (€64m/$72.5m) for abusing its dominant position in live sports broadcasting on pay television.
EBU extends rights deal with IBU
The European Broadcasting Union consortium of public-service broadcasters has extended its rights partnership with the International Biathlon Union.
NBC Sports adds Royal Ascot to horseracing portfolio
The NBC Sports Group division of US media company NBCUniversal has acquired exclusive media rights in the country to UK horseracing showpiece Royal Ascot under a multi-year deal.
ARD and ZDF keep running with German Athletics Association
The German Athletics Association (DLV) has agreed a multi-year extension to its rights deal with public-service broadcasters ARD and ZDF.
IMG pounces for in-flight, in-ship Euro 2016 rights
The IMG agency has acquired global in-flight and in-ship rights for the Uefa Euro 2016 national team football tournament.
Regulator to delay ruling on Canal Plus-beIN Sports deal
France’s competition authority, l'Autorité de la Concurrence, has said it will delay its ruling into the carriage deal signed between Canal Plus and rival pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports.
Homeless World Cup scales up broadcast coverage with QTV partnership
Digital sports content provider QTV Sports has signed a host broadcast partnership with organisers of the 2016 edition of football’s Homeless World Cup.
Infront brokers rights deals for ice hockey showpieces
The Infront Sports & Media agency has brokered long-term rights deals with broadcasters in Canada, Denmark and Germany for a number of leading ice hockey events.
Eurosport links up with Tennis Channel for French Open
International sports broadcaster Eurosport has entered into a partnership with US pay-television broadcaster Tennis Channel ahead of this year’s French Open tennis tournament.
BT Sport extends and expands WTA rights deal
UK pay-television broadcaster BT Sport has retained its rights to a number of leading Women’s Tennis Association tournaments under a new three-year deal.
New T20 competition the key for ECB’s next rights contract
England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves has said the governing body is seeking to commence talks with broadcasters at the end of the year to agree a rights deal that will guarantee the sport’s survival in the country for the next “10 to 15 years”.
Eleven launches new platform in partnership with NeuLion
International sports broadcaster Eleven Sports Network has partnered with digital video technology company NeuLion to launch a new digital sports service in Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Singapore and Taiwan.