Europe
World Snooker signs renewals with two key TV partners
Stronger ratings, new events and the offer of exclusivity helped World Snooker agree a contract extension with Eurosport last month at a significantly increased fee.
EBU to claim Swiss rights as domestic market heats up
The European Broadcasting Union is in the process of finalising a long-form contract for international rights to Swiss skiing federation events, TV Sports Markets understands.
BeIN to offer European club finals on YouTube
Pay-television broadcaster BeIN Sports will stream live coverage of the 2015-16 finals of the Uefa Champions League and Europa League club football tournaments to audiences in Spain via video-sharing platform YouTube.
Eurosport rising from the ashes of tough Russian market
Eurosport continued its gradual rise from a basic-tier to a premium pay-television broadcaster this month in Russia, following deals for National Hockey League and Wimbledon tennis rights.
Competition dearth hits F1 values in Austria and Russia
The price of Formula One media rights has fallen and stayed flat in recent deals for Austria and Russia respectively, reflecting the lack of competition for the property in both markets.
Canal Plus retains Top 14 rights
French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus has retained rights for the Top 14, the top division of rugby union in the country.
MTG to launch Viasat Ultra HD channel for sports coverage
Viasat, the pay-television operator run by multi-territory commercial and pay-television broadcaster Modern Times Group, will launch a new ultra-high-definition channel ahead of the start of the next football season.
BT Sport confirms YouTube plan for Uefa finals
UK telecommunications company BT has confirmed that its pay-television broadcaster BT Sport will provide the 2015-16 finals of the Uefa Champions League and Europa League via video-sharing platform YouTube, while it has agreed a partnership with EE, the firm’s mobile network operator subsidiary.
Racing UK extends streaming deal with Perform
UK horse racing pay-television broadcaster Racing UK has extended a streaming contract with digital sports media group Perform.
LaLiga to showcase LFP World Challenge games on YouTube
LaLiga, the organising body of the top division of Spanish football, has said it will broadcast a number of pre-season games featuring its clubs via its official channel on video-sharing platform YouTube.
UK government won’t alter ‘crown jewels’ list
The UK’s Culture Secretary, John Whittingdale, has confirmed that the government will not alter the ‘crown jewels’ list of sporting events reserved for free-to-air television in the country.
TalkTalk secures BT Sport carriage deal
Telecommunications company TalkTalk has sealed a deal to carry pay-television broadcaster BT Sport on its TalkTalk TV platform ahead of the 2016-17 English Premier League season.
Axel Springer won’t be dragged into Bundesliga bidding war
Axel Springer chief executive Mathias Döpfner has said that the German media company will participate in the auction for the next cycle of rights to the top-tier domestic football Bundesliga, but will not seal a deal at an inflated price.
BBC secures rights to Japan-Scotland rugby Tests
The BBC Scotland division of UK public-service broadcaster the BBC has acquired rights to the Scottish rugby union team’s two-Test series against Japan.
L’Équipe 21 to broadcast key Olympic volleyball qualifier
French digital-terrestrial television channel L’Équipe 21 has acquired rights to the International Volleyball Federation’s (FIVB) World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Tokyo, Japan – which represents the final chance for France’s men’s national team to qualify for Rio 2016.
Sport1 nets clips rights for Euro 2016
German sports broadcaster Sport1 has agreed a deal with SportA, the sports rights agency of public-service broadcasters ARD and ZDF, granting it online video highlights of the Uefa Euro 2016 national team football tournament.
Sportitalia to cover Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A
Italian DTT sports broadcaster Sportitalia has acquired rights to the 2016 season of Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A, the top division of Brazilian club football.
Discovery makes fourth Olympic signing with Czech deal
US media and entertainment company Discovery Communications has sealed its latest sublicensing deal for Olympic Games rights in Europe through an agreement with Czech public-service broadcaster Ceska Televize.