Europe
BT talks pricing strategy for Uefa rights package
BT chief executive Gavin Patterson has said the telecommunications company’s pay-television broadcaster BT Sport will add a “small subscription charge” for those customers wishing to access its full package of Uefa Champions League and Europa League football from the 2015-16 season.
LFP tries to block RFEF’s ‘indefinite suspension’ after Royal Decree
The Spanish Football League (LFP) has launched legal action to block a decision by the country’s football federation, the RFEF, to suspend domestic competition from May 16 in protest over the terms of media-rights legislation that was approved last week by the national government.
Glory strikes new rights deals
Rights for the Glory Sports International kickboxing league have been awarded to pan-European sports broadcaster Eurosport, South Korean commercial broadcaster KBS, pan-African pay-television operator StarTimes and pay-television broadcaster Digi Sport in Hungary and Romania.
EC unveils digital single market strategy
The European Commission has unveiled plans to create a ‘Digital Single Market’ – a move that could have significant repercussions for the sports media-rights industry.
Chairman steps down from Sky tribunal
Justice Barling, chairman of a tribunal set up to consider whether UK pay-television broadcaster Sky should have to offer its Sky Sports 1 and 2 channels to rival telecommunications company BT, has agreed to step down from the role, according to the Guardian newspaper.
Fox Sports Latin America scores Serie A rights extension
Pay-television broadcaster Fox Sports Latin America has agreed a three-year extension to its exclusive rights deal for Serie A, the top division of Italian football.
Channel 5 and ITN Productions deals boost Football League coverage
UK commercial broadcaster Channel 5 has signed a three-year agreement to show prime-time Saturday highlights of the three divisions comprising the English Football League.
BT Sport, BBC to follow Ben Ainslie Racing’s America’s Cup campaign
UK pay-television broadcaster BT Sport and public-service broadcaster the BBC have acquired rights to all sailing events under the banner of the 35th America’s Cup.
Greek Superleague nets extension with rights partner
Greek pay-television broadcaster Nova has agreed a two-year extension to its rights deal with the Superleague, the top division of football in the country.
Baku 2015 secures new rights partners
Organisers of the 2015 European Games have secured a number of new rights deals for the inaugural edition of the multi-sport event, which will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Club channel bid delivers Uefa unexpected bonus
Uefa last month secured a strong increase in the value of its Champions League rights in Portugal, while the value of its Europa League rights stayed steady.
Nova closer to Superleague deal
Greek pay-television broadcaster Nova moved closer to renewing its domestic football rights last month, after a majority of clubs agreed to an extension of the existing contract.
Conference has value for BT
UK pay-television operator BT will maintain its investment in England’s Football Conference, the tier below the Football League.
Champions League gives MTG Finland the ‘right balance’
Modern Times Group this month capitalised on a U-turn by MTV3 to pick up the pay-television rights to the Uefa Champions League in Finland.
Growing Sky pays more to keep grip on top golf rights
German pay-television broadcaster Sky Deutschland was forced into an increase to renew rights to a host of golf properties, consolidating its position as the dominant pay-television broadcaster in the country.
Bayern Munich adds latest US partner with Univision Deportes deal
Spanish-language US broadcaster Univision Deportes has agreed a content partnership with German Bundesliga football club Bayern Munich.
New rights partners boost reach of Ice Hockey World Championships
The Infront Sports & Media agency has said the International Ice Hockey Federation’s 2015 World Championship will be broadcast in close to 160 territories and is expected to surpass the audience figures for last year’s event.
Spanish Liga set for collective model as Royal Decree approved
The Spanish government has approved a Royal Decree, the legislation required to enable Spanish football league media-rights to be sold on a collective rather than club-by-club basis.