Ireland

Tennis

The Association of Tennis Professionals, organising body of the men’s world tour, has today (Friday) confirmed a rights deal with Amazon for the UK and Ireland, along with a partnership with the internet company for the US market.

Uefa secured increases for various national-team media rights in recent deals covering France, Ireland and Romania.

Boxing

Boxing promoter Hennessy Sports has entered into a wide-ranging partnership with video-sharing platform YouTube, through which this month’s WBO World Heavyweight Championship title fight between Joseph Parker and Hughie Fury will be streamed exclusively live in the UK and Ireland.

Rugby Union

Pro14 chief executive Martin Anayi has said that the European club rugby union competition could seek an exclusive rights partnership with a subscription-focused broadcaster to maximise revenues.

Football

Irish public-service broadcaster RTÉ has picked up rights to the Uefa Euro 2020 finals and qualifying games for the national football team tournament, as well as rights to European qualifiers for the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

Golf

Irish pay-television broadcaster Eir Sport has acquired rights for this year’s US PGA Championship golf tournament.

Rugby Union

The expansion of the cross-border Pro12 rugby union competition, following the addition of two South African teams this week, has been driven by three factors: the desire to improve the competitiveness of the league, the aim of bringing its media-rights revenues closer into line with its rivals, and the availability of the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings.

Boxing

Pay-television broadcaster Sky has acquired exclusive rights in the UK and Ireland to the upcoming fight between former world champion boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr and mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor.

Golf

The PGA of America has furthered its new rights strategy for the PGA Championship in the UK, by stating that live streaming of the 2017 edition of the US golf major will be available via social media platforms Facebook and Twitter.

Multi-sport

European pay-television group Sky has reported a six per cent fall in operating profit due to the increased costs of rights to football’s English Premier League, while it has outlined plans to launch a “simple and affordable” OTT platform in Spain.

Horse Racing

The Racing Partnership (TRP), a joint venture between UK racecourse owner and operator Arena Racing Company (ARC) and seven UK independent racecourses, has agreed a new rights deal with gambling company Ladbrokes Coral PLC.

Football

English Premier League football club Manchester United has made its in-house television channel, MUTV, available to all supporters in the UK and Ireland through a new streaming service at mutv.com.

Multi-sport

UK pay-television broadcaster Sky has confirmed details of its revamped sports offering, with 10 channels to be made available from July 18.

Rugby Union

Pay-television broadcaster BT Sport has secured exclusive rights in the UK and Ireland to European club rugby union’s Champions Cup and Challenge Cup competitions after agreeing a fresh four-season contract.

UK pay-television broadcaster Sky is to rebrand its 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 sports channels with names that focus on specific sports, while it will also launch a new cheaper subscription package.

Media company 21st Century Fox has received regulatory approval in the Republic of Ireland for its proposed takeover of European pay-television operator Sky.

Hockey

UK pay-television broadcaster BT Sport has agreed a rights partnership with the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
Rugby Union

Irish pay-television broadcaster Eir Sport has acquired rights to the national rugby union team’s upcoming tour of Japan and the United States.