Oceania
NRL plays down concerns as Digital Network launches
The National Rugby League, the sport’s top division in Australia, has insisted its new digital venture will not cannibalise the rights and audiences of its existing media partners.
Gold Coast organisers’ ‘hands tied’ in coverage dispute
The Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Corporation is powerless to resolve a dispute about coverage domestic plans for next year’s multi-sport event in Australia, according to chairman Peter Beattie.
Formula E signs raft of deals ahead of Hong Kong season-opener
Electric car-racing series Formula E has extended broadcast rights deals in Australia and New Zealand, along with signing a new digital media partnership with Motorsport.com.
Spark, TVNZ linked with joint bid for New Zealand rugby rights
New Zealand public-service broadcaster TVNZ and telecommunications company Spark have been linked with a possible joint bid for the domestic rights to games organised by New Zealand Rugby, the governing body of rugby union in the country.
TVNZ extends commitment to Formula E
New Zealand public-service broadcaster TVNZ has agreed a one-season extension to its rights deal with electric car-racing series Formula E.
Fiba signs New Zealand rights deal as Mediaset lodges protest
The International Basketball Federation (Fiba) has agreed a rights deal with Māori Television, a free-to-air broadcaster in New Zealand, amid question marks over its contract with Spanish commercial broadcaster Mediaset.
CBS finalises Ten takeover
US mass media company CBS has completed a deal to acquire embattled Australian commercial broadcaster Ten, which entered into voluntary administration in June.
NRL international value grows with OTT product set to launch
Australia’s National Rugby League increased the value of its international rights by 25 per cent in a multi-party deal that will lead to the creation of an international OTT platform.
SBS retains Australian tour rights amid minimal free-to-air interest
Australian public-service broadcaster SBS has renewed its deal for non-exclusive rights to the national rugby union team’s ongoing matches for roughly the same annual fee.
FIH unveils ‘landmark’ YouTube deal for Hockey World League Finals
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has hailed a “landmark” commercial partnership with video-sharing platform YouTube, which will provide live streaming of the upcoming Hockey World League Finals.
Sky Pacific lands package of autumn rugby rights
Fijian pay-television broadcaster Sky Pacific has acquired a package of rights for rugby union games staged during the autumn Test tours.
Women’s Ashes Test to be live streamed
Cricket Australia has agreed a deal with financial services company Commonwealth Bank to provide a global live stream of a women’s Ashes Test for the first time.
Star Sports lands New Zealand Cricket rights
Indian pay-television broadcaster Star Sports has agreed a three-year rights deal with New Zealand Cricket, the governing body of the sport in the country.
Melbourne Cup secures first US broadcast on FS1
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.
SBS picks up Australian rugby tour rights
Australian public-service broadcaster SBS has acquired rights to the national rugby union team’s upcoming tour of the UK.
FIH partners with Sky NZ for Women’s Hockey World League Final
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has partnered with pay-television broadcaster Sky New Zealand to cover the upcoming Women’s Hockey World League Final event, which will be held in Auckland.
Seven chief admits lower-than-expected rights ROI
Seven chief executive Tim Worner has said that some of the Australian commercial broadcaster’s sports-rights acquisitions will deliver a lower-than-expected return on investment.
New Zealand minister plays down free-to-air sports shift
Clare Curran, New Zealand’s Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media, has said that attempting to shift more sports coverage onto free-to-air television in the country is not a priority of the government.