Europe
Perform spots gap in the market and prepares for 2016 rollout of OTT business
The Perform Group will next year launch two OTT subscription services – one in Japan and one across Germany, Austria and Switzerland – as part of a move which could transform how live sport is delivered to consumers.
Eurosport ups fee to keep Australian Open in tennis stable
Eurosport has paid a significant increase to retain long-term exclusivity over Australian Open rights in Europe.
Sport Plus closure gives MCS chance to build portfolio
The closure of Canal Plus-owned sports channel Sport Plus has provided French basic-tier broadcaster Ma Chaîne Sport with another opportunity to boost its portfolio, after last month’s deal for domestic basketball rights.
Real votes against, but LFP approves collective rights selling
The Spanish Football League (LFP) has approved the incorporation in its statutes of the Royal Decree that regulates the centralised sale of media rights and revenue sharing in the domestic game.
Sky activates clause to trigger Scottish football renewals
Scottish football will remain split between pay-television broadcasters after a clause in Sky’s contract triggered an early renewal process.
Mixed results so far as NFL rolls out across Europe
The National Football League has endured mixed fortunes in its early deals in Europe, earning increases in Germany and France but seeing the value of its rights fall in the Netherlands.
Sky snaps up Bangladesh tour
Sky paid a significant fee to secure rights to England’s tour of Bangladesh in 2016. The deal ensures Sky has rights to all England international cricket for the next two years.
Russian Premier League signs off on NTV Plus contract
The Russian Premier League has formally unveiled its new three-season deal with pay-television broadcaster NTV Plus, which has also acquired international rights to the top division of domestic football.
Fox Olympics sell-off marks end of failed sports plan
Fox’s deal to sublicense rights to the 2016 Olympic Games in Turkey to the Saran Media agency marks the end of its failed experiment with sport in the Turkish market.
Watching Brief (Vol.109) Special Focus: Athletics – IAAF World Championships
John Manning, research analyst for SportBusiness Intelligence, examines live television audiences in key European markets for the evening session of this year’s IAAF World Athletics Championships.
Euroleague Basketball lands on Deutsche Telekom
German telecommunications Deutsche Telekom has acquired rights for the Euroleague Basketball club competition.
BT Sport joins ITV in continuing Formula E association
UK pay-television broadcaster BT Sport has extended its rights deal for the Formula E electric car-racing championship.
Sportradar enhances football streaming portfolio
Sports and betting-related services company Sportradar has announced it is to expand its live streaming portfolio after acquiring rights to a number of club football competitions in Greece, Turkey and Romania.
LFP renews HBS production partnership
The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), which operates the French football league, has renewed an agreement with production company HBS.
Telefónica hopeful of beIN Sports deal
Telefónica’s director general for Catalunya, Kim Faura, is hopeful that the Spanish telecommunications company can agree a deal soon with the Mediapro agency for its IPTV platform Movistar TV to carry pay-television channel beIN Sports.
SIS seals new long-term Racecourse Media Group deal
Satellite Information Services, a provider of end-to-end products and services to the betting and broadcast industries, has agreed a new long-term deal with Racecourse Media Group, which manages the media rights for 34 UK racecourses.
LeTV snatches Premier League rights in Hong Kong
Football’s English Premier League confirmed today (Tuesday) a rights deal in Hong Kong with Chinese IPTV operator LeTV.
NOS claims world’s first virtual reality football broadcast
Portuguese media company NOS has joined forces with domestic pay-television broadcaster Sport TV and Korean electronics company Samsung to broadcast a match from Portugal’s Primeira Liga top-tier football club competition in virtual reality.