North America

The Professional Squash Association has agreed a long-term rights partnership with US pay-television broadcaster the Tennis Channel.

Major League Baseball is considering spinning off part of MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM), its interactive media and internet company, so it can focus on new clients and attract investment.

Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke has defended the new US broadcast rights deal signed by world football’s governing body, stating it did not break any “international rules.”

Major League Baseball team the Arizona Diamondbacks has confirmed a lucrative extension to its local rights deal with regional sports network Fox Sports Arizona.

US cable television broadcasters HBO and Showtime have come together to agree a joint pay-per-view rights deal for the highly anticipated boxing bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.

The IPC Alpine Skiing division of the International Paralympic Committee has said it will provide live streaming of the 2015 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships, which take place in Panorama, Canada from February 28 to March 10.

Pay-television sports broadcaster Universal Sports Network has acquired rights in the US and Canada for the inaugural 2015 European Games multi-sport event in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Major League Baseball team the Arizona Diamondbacks has agreed a billion-dollar extension to its local rights deal with regional sports network Fox Sports Arizona, according to the Arizona Republic.

Bruin Sports Capital, the new global sports marketing firm launched by former IMG Worldwide president George Pyne, has appointed Tony Crispino as its chief operating officer.

US satellite-television provider DirecTV has extended a media rights deal for four PGA Tour golf tournaments.

US horseracing pay-television broadcaster TVG, a subsidiary of internet betting exchange Betfair, has acquired rival pay-television broadcaster HRTV from gambling and horse racing company the Stronach Group.

US network CBS has acquired rights for the new Premier Boxing Champions series operated by manager and adviser Al Haymon.

US broadcasters ESPN and Univision have expressed their disappointment after world football’s governing body, Fifa, awarded the rights to its four-year cycle from 2023 to 2026 without an open bidding process.

Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders franchise has extended rights deals with two regional broadcasters ahead of the 2015 season of the North American tournament.

US network NBC this week agreed a deal to show the 2017 America’s Cup, holding off strong interest in the rights from other US broadcasters. Oracle Team USA is the holder of the Cup.

The resurrected World Cup of Hockey will join the National Hockey League on pay-television broadcaster Rogers Sportsnet in Canada following a deal agreed late last month.