North America

Chinese online streaming platform Tencent has acquired a 12 per cent stake in Snap Inc, the parent company of social media platform Snapchat.

The Turner Sports division of US cable-television broadcaster Turner Broadcasting System and technology company Intel have agreed a multi-year deal to jointly offer virtual reality (VR) coverage of North America’s NBA basketball league.

The CBS Sports division of US network CBS has signed a multi-year rights deal with Major League Rugby (MLR), a new rugby union competition in the US.

DraftKings has expanded a partnership with Euroleague Basketball that will allow the daily fantasy sports operator to stream live coverage of the body's EuroLeague tournament.

Canadian entertainment and media company Cineplex has claimed a first through a partnership with the NFL American football league that will result in games being broadcast live in cinemas throughout Canada.

Walt Disney, the parent company of international sports broadcaster ESPN, has been in talks to acquire most of the assets of rival media company 21st Century Fox in recent weeks, according to business news channel CNBC.

Bob Bowman, president of business and media at North America’s Major League Baseball, is to step down from the role when his contract expires next month.

The CBS Sports division of US network CBS has acquired rights to a college basketball tournament that will be staged in Belfast, Northern Ireland next month, while it has disclosed further details behind its new online sports streaming service.

The New York Racing Association has joined forces with FS1, a channel operated by the Fox Sports division of US network Fox, to broadcast coverage of this year’s edition of the Melbourne Cup Australian horse racing event.

The NBC Sports Group division of US media company NBCUniversal has joined forces with North American NBA basketball team the Portland Trail Blazers to trial a new direct-to-consumer media product during the 2017-18 season.

The desire for flexibility around its yet-to-launch OTT service drove Formula One Management to agree a new deal with sports broadcaster ESPN in the US last month.

The CBC Sports division of Canadian public-service broadcaster CBC has agreed a deal with Canada Curling to stream live coverage of the national governing body’s 2018 domestic championship events.

The CBS Sports division of US network CBS has retained rights to a host of major bowling events through an agreement with the United States Bowling Congress.The CBS Sports division of US network CBS has retained rights to a host of major bowling events through an agreement with the United States Bowling Congress.

US pay-television broadcaster Univision Deportes has confirmed it has officially secured broadcast rights to all 18 teams in Liga MX for the 2017-18 season of the top division of Mexican football.

The Big Ten Network, a joint venture between US college sport organisation the Big Ten Conference and the Fox Entertainment Group division of US media company 21st Century Fox, has agreed a distribution partnership with sports streaming specialist FloSports.

Pay-television broadcaster Fox Sports Latin America has further expanded its portfolio of rights to Liga MX, the top division of Mexican football, by agreeing five-year deals with Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles and Santos Laguna.