North America

US entertainment company Sony Pictures Entertainment has seen off what it claims was industry-wide competition to land a multi-year development and production deal with Unanimous Media, the newly-formed production company of NBA basketball superstar Stephen Curry.

U.S. Figure Skating has extended and expanded its media rights agreement with the NBC Sports Group division of US media company NBCUniversal.

The Fox Sports division of US network Fox has agreed a multi-year rights partnership with the NBA through which it will back the North American basketball league’s new Jr. NBA World Championship.

Cable and satellite-television broadcaster Velocity has acquired rights in the US and Canada to the World Endurance Championship motor-racing series.

Social video platform Twitch has enhanced its ties to North American basketball league the NBA by agreeing to become its first media rights partner for esports competition the NBA 2K League.

US sports-focused OTT streaming service FuboTV has secured a further $75m (€61.3m) from investors including media group 21st Century Fox and European pay-television broadcaster Sky as it seeks to expand operations.

Sports broadcasters ESPN and Fox Sports have submitted a joint bid for the US rights to mixed martial arts promotion the Ultimate Fighting Championship, according to multiple reports.

US media company Walt Disney has been told it will have to make a full takeover bid for Sky, the European pay-television broadcaster operated by rival media company 21st Century Fox, even if the UK competition regulator scuppers Rupert Murdoch’s attempt to seize full control.

The Arena Football League has signed a host of new rights partnerships which are designed to enhance the game experience for fans of the indoor American football league.

Pan-American pay-television broadcaster GolTV has launched its new GolTV Play OTT service in Canada.

Social video platform Twitch has agreed a rights deal with the Fan Controlled Football League, an innovative new indoor American football league which is set to launch in the US next year.

Social media platform Facebook has agreed a deal to stream the World Snooker Championship across the Americas and the Indian sub-continent for the second consecutive year.

French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus has agreed a content partnership with US satellite-television provider DirecTV that will grant the Top 14 domestic rugby union league exposure in the US.

US sports broadcaster ESPN has extended a rights deal with North America’s United Soccer League for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

New US rugby union competition Major League Rugby has completed its distribution package for its maiden season by agreeing a partnership with the AT&T Sports Networks division of US telco AT&T.

Sports streaming specialist FloSports has agreed a multi-year deal for exclusive rights in the US to motorsport series the World Rallycross Championship (World RX).