Europe
Red Bee Media rebrands after Ericsson takeover
Global broadcast and media services provider Red Bee Media has rebranded as Ericsson Broadcast and Media Services following its takeover by the Swedish communications technology company.
Private talks begin over Coppa Italia rights
Lega Serie A has initiated private talks with bidders for the international rights to the Coppa Italia knockout club football tournament in Italy.
RTI nets supplementary Serie A rights
Mediaset Premium’s parent company RTI has acquired a supplementary package of rights to support the pay-television broadcaster’s coverage of Italy’s Serie A top football division for three years, from 2015-16 to 2017-18.
Sky renews Matchroom Sport boxing rights deal
UK pay-television broadcaster Sky has renewed a rights deal with Matchroom Sport for the management company’s stable of boxers.
BBC to cover Great Britain at EuroBasket Women 2015
UK pay-television broadcaster the BBC has struck a deal to provide coverage of Great Britain’s games during the EuroBasket Women 2015 national team basketball competition.
RTL Nitro seeks new viewers with European Qualifiers deal
German commercial broadcaster RTL has agreed a deal for a package of rights to the European football qualifiers for the Uefa Euro 2016 and 2018 Fifa World Cup national team tournaments.
Canal Plus to follow Spanish Liga stars at Copa America
Spanish pay-television operator Canal Plus has acquired exclusive rights to the next two editions of the Copa America national team football tournament.
Telenet boosts Formula E coverage in Belgium
Belgian pay-television broadcaster Telenet has acquired rights for the Formula E electric car-racing championship.
OTE continues rights push with F1 extension
The Asset Ogilvy agency has extended a rights agreement for the Formula One motor racing world championship with Greek pay-television broadcaster OTE.
ESPN signs up for Spotify’s move into video market
Spotify has said sports broadcaster ESPN will be one of its initial partners as it seeks to diversify from its core music streaming business into video content.
SIS still hopeful of working with new horseracing production JV
Satellite Information Services (SIS), a provider of end-to-end products and services to the betting and broadcast industries, is hopeful of continuing to work with a new joint venture production unit between UK racecourse owner and operator Arena Racing Company (ARC) and Racecourse Media Group (RMG), which manages the media rights for 34 UK racecourses.
Modern Times Group appoints regional chief executives
Modern Times Group, the multi-territory commercial and pay-television broadcaster, is to restructure its senior management team by appointing regional chief executives to lead its operations in Sweden, Denmark and Norway.
Real Madrid teams with Microsoft for new app project, with video to the fore
Real Madrid has joined forces with commercial partner, US software giant Microsoft, to launch a new app through which access to the Spanish Liga football club’s in-house television channel, Real Madrid TV, is set to be provided to its global fanbase.
Mediaset and Sky Italia defend rights agreement
Italian media company Mediaset and pay-television broadcaster Sky Italia have defended their positions after their offices were searched as part of an investigation by regulators into the sale of media rights for Serie A, the top division of football in the country.
Elisa pounces for Uefa rights
Finnish telecommunications company Elisa has acquired rights for the Uefa European qualifiers rights and the governing body’s 2015 U-21 European Championships.
Channel 5 teams up with Sunset+Vine for Football League coverage
UK commercial broadcaster Channel 5 has awarded the contract to produce its forthcoming Football League highlights programme to sports production and media company Sunset+Vine.
RMG and ARC unveil joint production venture
UK racecourse owner and operator Arena Racing Company (ARC) has struck a deal with the Racecourse Media Group (RMG), which manages the media rights for 34 UK racecourses, to establish a new joint venture production organisation.
OTE stays on-side with Bundesliga
Greek pay-television broadcaster OTE has confirmed its rights extension for the Bundesliga, the top division of German football.