Europe
Balkan broadcast rights to next two World Cups on the market
Fifa has turned to the Balkans in its media rights sales process for the next two men's World Cups, launching invitations to tender (ITTs) in eight countries.
DAZN threatens legal steps in escalation of Bundesliga rights dispute
The row between the DFL and its incumbent broadcaster DAZN has escalated after the latter vowed to take legal action over the Bundesliga domestic tender, prompting a fiery response from the league.
Mediaset negotiates another free-to-air rights deal for Spanish GP
Mediaset España has again secured free-to-air rights to Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix in a deal negotiated with media group and subscription broadcaster DAZN.
Ex-DAZN rights EVP Walker consulting Commercial Sports Media
Sports media rights executive Stew Walker has been recruited by Commercial Sports Media (CSM) as a consultant to work in the UK market
Football, Olympics rights executive Fratellia leaves EBU after 17 years
Pascal Fratellia, the European Broadcasting Union’s director of Olympics and head of football rights for close to 15 years, is leaving the free-to-air broadcasting consortium.
Viaplay rights sublicensing alleviates price burden on subscribers, distributors
Viaplay’s sublicensing of sports rights and non-sports content helped to generate close to six-per-cent organic growth in its core markets during the first quarter as the broadcaster recognises that i…
LNB termination brings Skweek’s OTT future into sharp focus
Ongoing payment delays at Skweek threaten to erode rights-holders’ confidence despite its insistence that it merely requires more time, yet there are signs of it working through its issues with Euroleague Basketball, certainly until the end of the season at least.
Viaplay set for crucial F1 rights hold in Dutch market
Viaplay is closing in on the renewal of its key Formula 1 rights in the Netherlands in a deal that would help to alleviate doubts over its future in the Dutch market following a wider international retreat.
FA Cup rights value increases in new WBD gatekeeper deal
England’s Football Association is understood to have secured an important uplift for domestic FA Cup rights in its new deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, but has sacrificed exposure for income at a time when finances are more important than ever to the governing body.
Skweek’s seven-year French basketball deal axed amid L’Équipe production row
Skweek’s sublicensing deal for France’s LNB Pro A has collapsed amid a dispute with the production arm of L’Équipe, increasing the scrutiny over the future of the basketball streaming platform’s short-te…
Bundesliga domestic tender derailed by DAZN allegations
The domestic Bundesliga rights sales process has ground to a halt after DAZN, one of the bidders, accused the league of violating competition laws by not accepting its offer
DAZN extends LaLiga rights in two European markets
DAZN’s longstanding strategy of showcasing top European football leagues in its major markets has been maintained through its retention of LaLiga rights in both Italy and Portugal for five more seasons.
Serie A lands five-year AMC deal in Czech Republic and Slovakia, issues Polish RFP
Lega Serie A continues its piecemeal international rights sales strategy, picking off markets in direct deals, and has now issued an RFP in Poland, SportBusiness understands.
IMG to deliver improved EFL production on back of new Sky deal
A new, five-year deal between IMG and the English Football League will facilitate a sizeable jump in broadcast production specification for matches that currently go out on the iFollow streaming service
Disney tests Nordics sports market waters with Uefa club rights deal
Disney's entry into the Nordics rights market, landing the Uefa Europa League and Conference League in Denmark and Sweden, enables it to secure locally relevant content ahead of a more potentially heavyweight rights spend.
Macron: Trocadéro, Stade de France opening ceremony backup options
France's President has identified the Trocadéro and Stade de France as backup options should ambitious plans for the Olympic Games fail to come to fruition due to security concerns.
BBC names Kay-Jelski as Slater’s head of sport successor
Alex Kay-Jelski, a UK football journalist and editor, has today (Thursday) been named director of sport at the BBC, an appointment likely to be viewed as a surprise choice given his lack of sports media rights buying experience.
Sky, BBC sign off one-year extensions to WSL contract
UK pay-television broadcaster Sky and public broadcaster the BBC have finalised their short-term domestic rights extension for the Women's Super League, covering the 2024-25 season only