North America
NFL seeking simulcast strategy for new rights package
American football league the NFL is seeking to adopt a simulcast strategy for its new package of Thursday night games, according to multiple US media reports.
Perform links up with NASL
Perform has announced a partnership with the North American Soccer League that will allow the digital sports media company to stream live coverage of the league’s matches through the NASL.com website.
TSN vows to fight back against Rogers
TSN will be “aggressive” in bidding for sports rights after it was outbid by telecommunications company Rogers Communications for NHL ice hockey rights in Canada, according to Phil King, the president of CTV programming and sports at the pay-television sports broadcaster’s parent company, Bell Media.
March launch confirmed for Fantasy Sports Network
North American media company Anthem Media confirmed today (Tuesday) that it will launch a new television channel dedicated to fantasy sports on March 4.
MLB Advanced Media teams up with the Whistle
MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM), the interactive media and internet company of Major League Baseball, has acquired an equity stake in multi-platform sports entertainment channel the Whistle as part of a broader content partnership.
Aereo case to head to US Supreme Court
The US Supreme Court has agreed to consider a case brought by several US networks against television streaming service Aereo.
NFL invites bids for Thursday night games
American football’s NFL has invited broadcasters to bid for a new package of rights comprising Thursday night games.
Rogers to bring MLB Network to Canada in extended deal
Telecommunications company Rogers Communications has extended a rights deal in Canada with North America’s Major League Baseball for eight years, from 2014 to 2021.
WWE sets February launch date for streaming service
The WWE wrestling organisation has confirmed that it will launch WWE Network, a new 24-hour pay-television streaming channel in the US, on February 24.
NBA’s Rockets granted more time in CSN Houston case
The Houston Rockets NBA basketball franchise has been granted additional time by a federal bankruptcy judge to negotiate on behalf of financially-troubled Comcast SportsNet Houston, the exclusive home of Rockets and Houston Astros MLB baseball games, according to the Houston Chronicle.
NBA close to resolving ‘greatest deal in sports’ – report
North American basketball league the NBA is close to agreeing a conditional deal that will end the payment of a share of national television revenues to the owners of the Spirits of St. Louis franchise in the defunct American Basketball Association, according to the New York Times newspaper.
NFL teams sidestep risk of playoff blackouts
NFL American football teams the Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals avoided local television blackouts of their weekend play-off games after businesses stepped in to purchase remaining blocks of tickets to ensure stadia were sold out.
Discovery chief Zaslav extends contract
US media and entertainment company Discovery Communications has extended the contract of its president and chief executive David Zaslav through to the end of the decade.
Fox Sports to restrict live streaming of NFC play-offs
US pay-television broadcaster Fox Sports will stream live coverage of the Super Bowl NFL American football championship game on February 2 for free, but will restrict online coverage of the National Football Conference (NFC) post-season to subscribers of selected pay-television operators, according to media news publication Variety.
CBS to set streaming first with NFL postseason coverage
US network CBS has announced it will live stream its coverage of the NFL’s American Football Conference play-offs through its CBSSports.com website for the first time.
Comcast SportsNet extends Phillies rights deal
US pay-television broadcaster Comcast SportsNet has extended a media rights deal with the Philadelphia Phillies Major League Baseball franchise.
UFC launches new digital service
The Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts organisation has launched a new digital subscription service which plans to offer a minimum of 10 exclusive live events per year.
Murdoch needs Uefa battering ram
Murdoch pays Champions League premium in US and Germany