North America
Senators tackle NFL’s blackout rule
The National Football League’s (NFL) controversial ‘blackout’ policy has come under further pressure after senators from both US political parties warned the American football competition to end the rule or risk congressional action to restrict its lucrative antitrust exemption, which allows teams to negotiate television broadcast rights together.
ESPN acquires Canadian curling series rights
US pay-television broadcaster ESPN has acquired rights to the Canadian Curling Association’s Season of Champions events for the 2014-15 season.
ESPN3 to show Mosconi Cup
US pay-television broadcaster ESPN has acquired rights for the 2014 Mosconi Cup pool event.
Fis welcomes EBU breakthrough
The international skiing federation this week welcomed the European Broadcasting Union’s deal in the US for Austrian World Cup skiing events.
USSA hails ‘game-changing’ deals with NBC Sports and Universal Sports
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association has extended its rights deals with the NBC Sports Group division of media company NBCUniversal and Universal Sports Network, a subsidiary of the NBC network.
Sports stars invest in Grabyo
Social video platform Grabyo has secured fresh funding of $2m (€1.6m) to aid its future growth, with a “significant majority” of this investment coming from top athletes.
Sun Sports lays up Miami Heat renewal
NBA basketball team the Miami Heat has signed a long-term extension to its local television rights agreement with Sun Sports - a regional subsidiary of the Fox Sports network.
Japanese wrestling promotion secures US exposure
The New Japan Pro Wrestling organisation has secured its first rights deal in the US by agreeing a partnership with digital cable and satellite television broadcaster AXS TV.
Bidders line up for Infront
US private investment group Providence and two Chinese companies, including property firm Wanda, are considering bids for the Infront Sports & Media agency, according to the Financial Times.
Aereo files for bankruptcy in wake of MLB and NFL battle
Online streaming company Aereo has filed for bankruptcy protection in the wake of June’s US Supreme Court ruling that it breaches the copyright of major sports leagues and their broadcast partners.
ESPN eyeing Cricket World Cup for online streaming in US – report
US sports broadcaster ESPN will utilise the 2015 Cricket World Cup to begin a new initiative of selling stand-alone streaming subscriptions for some sports programming, according to the Re/code website.
Cleveland Browns sign new broadcast partner
WEWS NewsChannel 5, the ABC affiliate of media company E.W. Scripps, has agreed a multi-year local broadcast rights deal with NFL American football team Cleveland Browns.
Destination America to show TNA Impact Wrestling
US media and entertainment company Discovery Communications has signed a multi-year rights deal with TNA (Total Nonstop Action) Impact Wrestling to broadcast the professional league on the Destination America channel.
ASN to broadcast coverage of Horizon League basketball
The American Sports Network has agreed a deal to broadcast coverage of the 2014-15 Horizon League US basketball collegiate competition.
Big coverage makes up for small increase for IOC in Canada
The breadth and depth of coverage the 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games will achieve in Canada is seen by the International Olympic Committee as an acceptable trade-off for a minimal increase in media-rights income.
NBCU expands FIS World Cup coverage
US media company Universal Sports Network has renewed and expanded a rights deal for European International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup events.
IMG and Baylor extend partnership
The IMG agency has extended its multimedia rights partnership with Baylor University in the US.
HBO picks up rights for Klitschko-Pulev fight
US pay-television broadcaster HBO has acquired rights for this weekend’s heavyweight world title fight between defending champion Wladimir Klitschko and Kubrat Pulev.