North America
Villans moving quietly into US
Aston Villa expanding its media coverage in US
Dailymotion builds US content
NFL fits the bill for Dailymotion
Uefa launches club competitions tender in US and Caribbean
Uefa, football’s European governing body, has invited bids for the media rights in the United States and Caribbean to the Champions League, Europa League and Super Cup club competitions.
Judge rules that college athletes can seek share of media rights revenues
A lawsuit brought by US college athletes seeking a share of television and videogame rights revenue can proceed, a US judge has ruled.
NBA extends YouTube partnership for D-League
Video-sharing website YouTube has agreed a one-year extension with North American basketball league the NBA for the live streaming of more than 350 games from the second-tier Development League during the 2013-14 season.
Cubs take up option to exit local rights deal, report says
US MLB baseball club the Chicago Cubs have exercised an option to curtail their local rights deal with cable-television broadcaster WGN-TV after the 2014 season, according to the Chicago Tribune newspaper.
BeIN Sport makes deputy MD appointment for North America
US pay-television broadcaster beIN Sport has announced the appointment of Antonio Briceño as deputy managing director.
Channel launches hit 21st Century Fox profits
US media company 21st Century Fox has said that investment in new channels, including the launch of the new Fox Sports pay-television channels in the US, affected profit in the company’s first quarter of the 2013-14 financial year.
FCC proposes end to US blackout rule
The US Federal Communications Commission, the country’s media regulator, has proposed the scrapping of the broadcast blackout rule, which blocks US sports events from being shown live on television in their local market if they fail to meet certain conditions, such as a specified level of ticket sales.
MTSU signs regional rights deal
US education establishment Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) has agreed a deal with local state broadcaster MyTV30 for the local rights to 11 games featuring various teams from the university’s athletics department.
NFL weighing up Thursday Night Football options
American football league the NFL has confirmed it is investigating whether to auction broadcast rights for a new set of regular-season games on Thursday evenings, according to the Reuters news agency.
Magic renews with Fox Sports Florida
Regional US pay-television broadcaster Fox Sports Florida has acquired rights for live coverage of games featuring the Orlando Magic NBA basketball team.
Time Warner deal grants Villa US spotlight
English Premier League football club Aston Villa has agreed a two-year deal with US cable-television operator Time Warner Cable Sports to broadcast its international television programme, Aston Villa Weekly, in the Southern California area.
WWE denies report of February debut for WWE Network
The WWE wrestling organisation has denied a report that it has earmarked a date in February 2014 for the launch of WWE Network, a new 24-hour pay-television channel in the US.
CAA may need outside investment to seal IMG deal – report
Creative Artists Agency may have to hand over majority control to outside investors in order to help finance a bid for rival agency IMG, according to the New York Post.
NFL denies talk of Thursday Night Football expansion
American football league the NFL has denied a report that it is considering selling a US broadcast rights package for an additional set of Thursday evening games.
P1 secures Fox Sports deal in key Florida market
International motorsport promoter P1 has signed a rights deal with US regional pay-television broadcaster Fox Sports Florida for coverage of its SuperStock USA powerboat racing championship and AquaX jet ski series in 2014.
MLB close to signing off on Dodgers’ planned TV network
Major League Baseball has said it is close to approving the Los Angeles Dodgers’ planned regional pay-television sports channel, which is being launched as part of the club’s new local rights deal with US broadcaster Time Warner Cable.