North America

Minor Sports

Professional Bull Riders has launched a new OTT digital streaming service that will offer content from the US series, along with wider western sports action.

Olympic Games

The NBC Olympics division of US media company NBCUniversal has agreed partnerships with technology and media company Intersection and transportation network Uber to enhance its coverage of the 2018 winter Olympic Games, while parent company Comcast has said its model for Pyeongchang 2018 represents a potential game-changer for the television business.

Multi-sport

US media company Walt Disney has said ESPN Plus, the new OTT service being launched by its sports broadcaster ESPN, will be priced at $4.99 (€4) per month.

Boxing

Showtime has extended its association with unified heavyweight world boxing titleholder Anthony Joshua by securing the US rights to the Englishman’s forthcoming fight against Joseph Parker after reportedly seeing off another strong bid from pay-television rival HBO.

American Football

NBC’s television coverage of Super Bowl LII, the annual finale to the NFL American football league’s season, failed to ignite in the ratings stakes, but the US network has claimed Sunday’s game represented the biggest domestic sports streaming event to date.

Multi-sport

US media groups CBS and Viacom have confirmed the resumption of merger talks, with similar efforts having previously been abandoned in December 2016.

Ice Hockey

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has renewed its National Hockey League sublicensing deal on more favourable terms, TV Sports Markets understands.

Rugby Union

DAZN, the OTT service operated by digital sports media company Perform, has acquired exclusive rights in Canada to the Six Nations rugby union tournament.

American Football

The Fox Sports division of US network Fox has signed a five-season deal for rights to the Thursday Night Football package marketed by American football league the NFL.

Football

Major League Soccer expansion franchise Los Angeles Football Club has signed a landmark media rights and jersey sponsorship deal with YouTube TV, the cable-free live television service of video-sharing company YouTube.

American Football

US media company 21st Century Fox is poised to enhance its American football coverage by acquiring rights to the NFL’s Thursday Night Football package, according to multiple reports.

Mixed Martial Arts

The Professional Fighters League mixed martial arts promotion has agreed rights deals with the NBC Sports Group division of US media company NBCUniversal and social media platform Facebook.

Esports

US sports broadcaster ESPN has made its first long-term commitment to esports through an agreement with games developer Electronic Arts and the NFL American football league to support the EA Sports Madden NFL 18 Championship Series.

American Football

The New England Patriots will launch a 24-hour video stream on Monday to chronicle the NFL American football franchise’s build-up to the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 4.

American Football

Social media company Facebook has decided against bidding for the NFL American football league’s Thursday Night Football package, according to the Bloomberg news agency.

American Football

US media companies 21st Century Fox and Walt Disney are pursuing the Thursday Night Football rights package being marketed by American football league the NFL, according to Bloomberg.

Basketball

Verizon has expanded a content and technology partnership with the NBA, with the telco’s Yahoo Sports platform set to offer access to live coverage of the North American basketball league.

Baseball

The Chicago Cubs is keen to form its own media network after its current broadcast contracts expire, according to the Major League Baseball club’s president of business operations, Crane Kenney.