Europe

Finnish commercial and pay-television broadcaster Nelonen is set to reduce its investment in sports rights, experts say, following its move to cut jobs and dismantle its sport department.

UK pay-television broadcaster BT Sport has agreed a three-season deal for exclusive rights to the International Motorcycling Federation’s (FIM) Speedway World Championship series.

UK pay-television broadcaster Sky has extended a rights deal for near-live extended highlights of football’s English Premier League.

LaLiga, the governing body of the top division of Spanish football, has entered into a strategic partnership with social video production company Grabyo in a bid to enhance video content provided by the organisation and its clubs.

French digital-terrestrial television channel L’Équipe 21 will branch out into eSports by broadcasting the final of the ESWC Fifa 16 competition on Sunday.

Swedish public-service broadcaster SVT has acquired rights for motor-racing’s World Rallycross Championship.

The European Broadcasting Union consortium of free-to-air broadcasters has extended its exclusive media rights and services partnership with the European Union of Gymnastics (UEG) governing body.

LaLiga is set to wrap up its domestic sales process for the next cycle of centralised rights for Spanish football’s top division and Copa del Rey knockout tournament by early December, according to the Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y La Competencia.

A group of five Spanish consumer organisations have registered a complaint with the country’s industry ministry relating to the performance of the Mediapro agency’s TotalChannel OTT platform, which provides coverage of club football competition the Uefa Champions League.

The BBC’s contract with the SPFL is currently in its final year and SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said last month that the consensus among its board was that the corporation was selling the Scottish game short when it comes to the deal.

UK telecommunications company BT has launched a competition to find entrepreneurs with “innovative digital media and production solutions” which could be potentially trialled by its pay-television broadcaster BT Sport.

Pan-regional broadcaster Eurosport has stepped up its commitment to club basketball competition the Eurocup, the second-tier tournament operated by Euroleague Basketball.

InfrontRingier Sports & Entertainment Switzerland, the Infront Sports & Media agency’s 50-per-cent joint venture with Swiss media company Ringier, has appointed Gian Gilli as its new managing director.

French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus has taken up the option of a two-season extension to its rights contract with the Formula One motor racing championship.

Norwegian public-service broadcaster NRK has extended rights deals with the country’s national ski association and Fis, skiing’s global governing body.

Dutch cable operator Ziggo has confirmed it will launch a new sports channel on November 12.