Europe
BBC Trust chair warns of further cuts to sport
Rona Fairhead, the chair of the BBC Trust, has said it is likely that the UK public-service broadcaster will introduce further cutbacks on its sports coverage in order to save costs.
Cyfrowy Polsat and RASP enter into Polish sports partnership
Polish media and telecommunications group Cyfrowy Polsat, its television channel Polsat Sport and media company Grupa Onet – Ringier Axel Springer Polska have entered into an exclusive distribution agreement for sports content.
AGCM accuses Sky Italia, Mediaset – report
Italian pay-television broadcaster Sky Italia and the Mediaset media company have been accused by the country’s antitrust authority, the AGCM, of violating competition law by dividing up rights to domestic football’s Serie A top division and excluding new entrants, according to a report by Sunday newspaper La Repubblica.
French Cycling Federation seals rights deals
The French Cycling Federation (FFC) has awarded rights in France to public-service broadcaster France Télévisions and the Eurosport France division of pan-European sports broadcaster Eurosport.
WRC signs UK rights deals, partners with drone technology company
Channel 5 has replaced fellow commercial broadcaster ITV as a rights partner of the World Rally Championship in the UK, while pay-television broadcaster BT Sport and Welsh public-service television channel S4C have extended their deals with the motor racing series.
European Hockey Federation launches live streaming project
The European Hockey Federation has launched a live streaming initiative which will commence with the start of its EuroHockey Indoor Championships events today (Friday).
Tippeligaen clubs in dispute over broadcast revenue split
Norwegian clubs are at odds over the division of revenues from the new broadcast rights deal for the Tippeligaen, the top division of domestic football.
Telcos claim Telefónica must share beIN Sports LaLiga channel
Orange and Vodafone have claimed that rival telecommunications company Telefónica should share carriage of the new beIN Sports LaLiga pay-television channel in Spain.
NBA signs digital partnership in UK market
North American basketball league the NBA has entered into a digital media partnership in the UK market with the GiveMeSport platform.
Sky and ITV set to land Uefa rights contract – reports
UK pay-television broadcaster Sky and commercial broadcaster ITV are set to acquire rights to the latest package of national team football rights offered by European governing body Uefa, according to reports.
BT Sport, Rogers and NBA team up for 4K first
North American basketball league the NBA has teamed up with UK pay-television broadcaster BT Sport and Canadian communications and media company Rogers to deliver an NBA game in 4K ultra-high definition to the public for the first time.
Fifa awards World Cup rights in France
Fifa, football’s global governing body, has awarded pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports and commercial broadcaster TF1 rights in France for the 2018 and 2022 editions of the World Cup.
Fight Channel broadens reach with Croatian deal
Croatian IPTV platform Iskon has agreed a deal to carry Fight Channel, the European pay-television channel dedicated to martial arts and combat sports.
EBU renews European Taekwondo partnership
The European Broadcasting Union consortium of public-service broadcasters has renewed its exclusive media rights partnership with the European Taekwondo Union ahead of the latter’s Senior European Taekwondo Championship, which will be held later this year.
Telefónica wins bid to carry beIN Sports LaLiga channel
Spanish telecommunications company Telefónica has struck a deal to carry the Mediapro agency’s new beIN Sports LaLiga pay-television channel in Spain.
Altice adds Segunda Liga rights to Portuguese football portfolio
Meo, the Portuguese pay-television operator owned by telecommunications firm Altice, has acquired rights to the Segunda Liga, the second tier of club football in the country.
Football League targets young fans with Nickelodeon partnership
The English Football League is to launch a new highlights programme aimed at young children after entering into a partnership with the UK and Ireland division of US cable and satellite broadcaster Nickelodeon.
Uefa strikes first rights deal for new cycle with Univision Deportes
US pay-television broadcaster Univision Deportes has acquired exclusive Spanish-language rights in the country for all national team competitions operated by Uefa, football’s European governing body.