Russia
Start-up proposes new Russian Premier League online channel
A start-up company called Novyye Media has submitted a proposal to Russian football’s Premier League to establish a new online channel for the property, according to the Sports.ru news website.
Gazprom Media turns to Chernyshenko
Russian media group Gazprom Media Holding has appointed former Sochi 2014 winter Olympic and Paralympic Games organising committee supremo Dmitry Chernyshenko as its new chief executive.
Ski Classics secures Russian coverage with NTV Plus
The Ski Classics cross-country skiing series has secured television distribution in Russia for the first time under a rights deal with pay-television broadcaster NTV Plus.
Worsening Russian rights market slows Euroleague growth
Media rights income for Euroleague basketball is likely to be about the same in the 2014-15 season as it was last season, partly due to difficulties in Russia, one of the sport’s key markets.
Initial deal reached for Euro 2016 qualifiers in Russia
Russian state broadcaster VGTRK has agreed an outline deal with the CAA Eleven agency for the rights to the qualifying games for the Uefa Euro 2016 national team football competition.
Russian platform adds sports channels
Russian telecommunications company Akado has added the NTV Plus HD and NTV Plus Tennis pay-television broadcasters to its pay-television service.
One World Sports on the ice with KHL extension
North American pay-television broadcaster One World Sports has sealed a new rights deal for the Kontinental Hockey League Russia-based ice hockey club tournament.
Sport 1 snaps up English League Cup rights
Russian pay-television sports channel Sport 1 has acquired rights for English football’s League Cup club knockout tournament.
Zenit games secure new platform
Cable-television channel ‘Saint Petersburg’ has acquired rights for football matches featuring Russian team Zenit St Petersburg.
Russia’s Sport 1 picks up Eredivisie rights
Russian pay-television sports channel Sport 1 has acquired rights to the 2014-15 season of the Eredivisie, the top division of Dutch football.
Putin signs off on Russian pay-TV advertising ban
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill which will introduce a law banning advertising on pay-television broadcasters, a development which could have implications for the sports rights market in the country.
NTV Plus warning over proposed pay-TV advertising ban
A proposed Russian ban on advertising on pay-television broadcasters would have dire consequences for NTV Plus’s coverage of football’s Uefa Champions League, according to the broadcaster’s commentator, Michael Mossakovskii.
NHL deal cements Sport1 grip on US sport in Germany
Sport1’s deal last week for the rights to the National Hockey League means the sports broadcaster now has exclusive rights to each of the four top North American sports leagues.
Euroleague continues Final Four drive with Championat.com deal
Euroleague Basketball has partnered with Russian online sports media platform Championat.com to make it the official online destination in Russia for its Euroleague continental club competition.
VGTRK declines rights to Klitschko fight
Russian state broadcaster VGTRK has opted against purchasing the rights for the world heavyweight boxing match between Ukraine’s unified champion Wladimir Klitschko and Australia’s Alex Lepai.
Watching Brief (Vol.74) Special Focus: Winter Olympics
Watching Brief (Vol.72) Special Focus: International and UK TV Sports Viewing – 2013 Review
Russia’s ER-Telecom launches sports video platform
Russian telecommunications company ER-Telecom has launched a new sports video service.