Europe
Sina Sports scores MUTV rights in first-of-its-kind deal
The Sina Sports division of Chinese internet operator Sina has acquired rights to broadcast MUTV, the in-house television channel of English Premier League football club Manchester United.
Sportdeutschland.tv lands rights to EHF European Championship
Sportdeutschland.tv, the online sports channel of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), has acquired rights to the forthcoming 2016 European Men’s Handball Championship.
Sport returns to TV3 in Norway with handball switch
Modern Times Group, the multi-territory commercial and pay-television broadcaster, has switched coverage of the 2016 European Handball Championship to TV3, its main commercial channel in Norway.
TVE to broadcast Rio 2016 Paralympics
Spanish public-service broadcaster TVE has agreed a rights deal for coverage of this summer’s Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Dave lands rights to Haye’s comeback fight
UK free-to-air entertainment channel Dave has made its first major move into the sports market by landing rights to British heavyweight boxer David Haye’s comeback fight later this month.
Eurosport deal sees Coppa Italia return to French screens
International sports broadcaster Eurosport has acquired rights in France to the Coppa Italia club football knockout tournament.
Nos strengthens Primeira Liga portfolio
Portuguese telco Nos has sealed long-term rights deals with eight additional clubs in the country’s top-tier football Primeira Liga.
French horse racing rights deals conclude
French horse racing rights-holders France Galop and LeTrot have opted against renewing rights deals with public-service broadcaster France Télévisions and digital-terrestrial-television channel L’Équipe 21.
NBA Global Games London to be screened in UK cinemas
The 2016 edition of the NBA Global Games in London will be screened live in 31 cinemas across the UK after the Odeon group agreed a deal with the National Basketball Association.
ITV to increase audience reach of British racing following rights deal
UK commercial broadcaster ITV’s exclusive rights deal for British horse racing will provide the sport with an even greater audience reach according to Simon Bazalgette, chief executive of the Jockey Club.
Porto and Sporting seal long-term partnerships
Portuguese Primeira Liga football clubs Porto and Sporting Lisbon have agreed new deals with telcos Portugal Telecom and Nos respectively.
DHB set to gather handball powerbrokers for TV rights meeting
The German Handball Association (DHB) has said it will hold a meeting with key powerbrokers of the sport next year in a bid to ensure its hosting of the 2017 Women’s World Championship receives coverage on free-to-air television in Germany.
NTV Plus set to close combat sports and 3D channels
Russian pay-television broadcaster NTV Plus has said it will stop operating six channels, including Fight Club and its dedicated 3D service.
UFC lands on TV3 Sport in Denmark
Commercial and pay-television broadcaster Modern Times Group has acquired rights in Denmark for the Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts series.
Polsat secures licences for new sports channels
Polish commercial and pay-television broadcaster Polsat has secured licences for the launch of two new sports channels in the country.
FIS to suspend use of drones after near miss
Markus Waldner, the men’s alpine race director at the International Ski Federation (FIS), has said that the governing body will ban the use of drones at events until further notice after a machine carrying a camera nearly hit an athlete during a World Cup event in Italy.
Saran Media nets rights deal with Turkish Basketball Federation
The Saran Media agency has agreed a three-season deal for the global television rights to the Turkish Women’s Super Basketball League and Turkish Men’s First Division Basketball League.
Spengler Cup engages Infront to broaden global reach
The Infront Sports & Media agency has agreed a three-year deal to become the international media rights partner of annual invitational ice hockey competition the Spengler Cup.