Japan
Japan’s Levain Cup extends with domestic rights-holders
Japanese media network Fuji TV and pay-television broadcaster Sky PerfecTV have retained rights to the Levain Cup, the domestic club football competition organised by the J.League
SPOTV Now acquires Serie A rights in Japan
Streaming platform SPOTV Now has acquired rights in Japan to the Italian Serie A in a deal covering at least the remainder of the 2022-23 season
Abema acquires Bundesliga rights in Japan in short-term deal
Japanese streaming platform Abema has acquired rights in Japan to the German Bundesliga in a deal covering the remainder of the 2022-23 season
NHK reveals satellite channel cut timeline, part of wider cost cuts
Japanese public service broadcaster NHK is merging two of its linear satellite channels this November as part of cost-cutting measures that have also seen a pullback in spending on sports rights
Australian Open fee surges in US thanks to Disney aggression
Disney’s deal includes exclusive rights to live matches, unlike the previous deal during which the Tennis Channel showed a small number of live games.
World Cup rights take Abema to big quarterly loss, but wider deal impact hailed
Japanese digital media company CyberAgent reported a rare quarterly loss in its 2023 Q1 financial results, caused by the costly acquisition of 2022 Fifa World Cup rights by its streaming platform Abema
Amazon and J Sports acquire rights in Japan for World Baseball Classic
Amazon Prime Video and J Sports have acquired media rights in Japan for the upcoming World Baseball Classic national team competition
Japan’s Rugby League One reports financial surplus in first year
Japan's revamped rugby union league, Rugby League One, has reported revenue of 3.3bn yen ($25m/€23m) and a surplus of 270m yen ($2m/€1.9m) in its first financial year.
Sponsorship revenue generated 2.1bn
Japan Racing Association to live stream events
Horse racing organisation the Japan Racing Association (JRA) has announced it will begin providing a live streaming service for all races under its jurisdiction
U-Next and Japanext pick up PGA Tour rights in Japan
New media rights agreements have been agreed in Japan for PGA Tour golf following the shutdown yesterday of GolfTV, the Warner Bros
B.League seeks international audiences with English-language website
The B.League, operating body of the top two divisions of club basketball in Japan, has furthered its outreach efforts to international fans by launching an English-language website
Coupang pays big increase to take LaLiga from SPOTV in Korea
The value of Spanish LaLiga rights in South Korea has more than doubled as local ecommerce group Coupang made the property one of its biggest exclusive rights acquisitions to date.
Fuji TV regains IJF rights in Japan
The International Judo Federation (IJF) has signed an agreement with Fuji TV to broadcast IJF competitions in Japan across the 2022-23 season and ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Ligue 1 returns in Japan as local stars drive DAZN deal
Extensive live coverage of French Ligue 1 football returned in Japan this season following a one-season hiatus, as streaming platform DAZN increased its valuation of the league.
Fite picks up Rugby League World Cup rights in multiple territories
Streaming platform Fite has acquired rights in multiple territories to the upcoming Rugby League World Cup, which will take place in England
IMG brokers domestic deal with U-Next for JLPGA Tour rights
Japanese streaming platform U-Next has acquired rights to the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour in an agreement facilitated by the IMG agency
DAZN secures Fifa World Cup highlights in Japan
Global streaming service DAZN has acquired short Fifa World Cup highlights rights in Japan
Asia League Ice Hockey launches streaming service ahead of long-awaited return
Asia League Ice Hockey (ALH) has launched a streaming service ahead of its return this weekend