Europe
Strong bidding helps Six Nations double fee in Irish market
Aggressive bidding from free-to-air broadcasters in Ireland helped the Six Nations Committee double its media rights fee in the territory last week.
NBA secures increases in latest international deals
The National Basketball Association has finalised a string of deals outside its domestic US market in recent weeks, securing large increases in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and India, and a modest uplift in Poland.
Watching Brief (Vol.113) Special Focus: Rugby Union – Rugby World Cup
John Manning, research anaylst for SportBusiness Intelligence examines Rugby World Cup television audiences in the major rugby union markets.
Mediaset to show Barcelona’s Club World Cup bid
Spanish commercial broadcaster Mediaset has acquired rights for the 2015 Fifa Club World Cup.
El Clasico to set 4K first in Spanish market
The Movistar Plus pay-television platform of Spanish telecommunications company Telefónica will make tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) LaLiga football clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona the first sporting event in Spain to be provided live in ultra high definition.
Ofcom ends ‘wholesale must-offer’ rule for Sky Sports channels
UK media regulator Ofcom has today (Thursday) removed the regulation requiring pay-television broadcaster Sky to offer Sky Sports 1 and 2 on a wholesale basis, stating the decision has been made as the company is now widely supplying these channels to rivals on commercial terms.
Tebas outlines revenue targets for LaLiga’s domestic rights
Spanish Football League (LFP) president Javier Tebas has outlined a target of breaking the €1bn ($1.1bn) per season revenue barrier from its next media rights cycle, adding that the organisation is prepared for any potential lack of interest in certain packages being offered.
Real Madrid secures Snapchat partnership
Spanish LaLiga football club Real Madrid has agreed a partnership with social media platform Snapchat ahead of this weekend’s home match against fierce rival Barcelona.
ARD and ZDF net rights to EHF Euros
SportA, the agency that represents German public-service broadcasters ARD and ZDF, has acquired exclusive rights to the 2016 and 2018 men’s EHF European Handball Championships, which will be held in Poland and Croatia respectively.
Ecclestone rejects BBC’s plea to renegotiate F1 deal
Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has rejected a request by the BBC for the UK public-service broadcaster to renegotiate its rights deal for the world championship, according to the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
Mediaset secures court ruling to clamp down on online piracy
Italian broadcaster Mediaset has secured a ruling from a court in Milan ordering “a major supplier” of internet services to prevent its customers from accessing it.rojadirecta.eu.
L’Equipe 21 adds to rights portfolio with Serie B deal
French digital-terrestrial television channel L'Équipe 21 has acquired rights to Serie B, the second tier of Italian club football.
BBC to slash sports-rights budget
UK public-service broadcaster the BBC will cut its sports-rights budget by £35m (€49m/$53m) in 2016-17 as part of wider savings of £150m, it was announced today (Wednesday).
L’Équipe 21 picks up IBU rights
French digital-terrestrial television channel L'Équipe 21 has acquired rights for events hosted by the International Biathlon Union.
Canal Plus nets Club World Cup rights
French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus has acquired rights to the 2015 Fifa Club World Cup football competition.
Russian Premier League returns to Sky Italia
Italian pay-television broadcaster Sky Italia has acquired rights for football’s Russian Premier League.
ZDF withdrawn from CanalSat platform
German public-service broadcaster ZDF has left French satellite and digital-terrestrial television platform CanalSat.
BeIN Media and PPTV to aid El Clasico initiative for LaLiga
LaLiga, the governing body of the top division of Spanish football, has teamed up with beIN Media Group and PPTV to deliver an experience themed around Saturday’s ‘El Clásico’ clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona to three overseas markets.