United Kingdom
Watching Brief (Vol.53) Special Focus: Rugby Union – Six Nations
Pauline McVey, analyst for SportBusiness Intelligence, examines rugby union’s Six Nations television audiences in the home markets as viewing in the UK hits all-time high
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BT set to take on Sky in pub market as rugby plans are outlined
UK telecommunications company BT will “significantly undercut” the pricing of pub subscriptions to pay-television broadcaster BSkyB, according to the Financial Times.
F1 chief Ecclestone floats set-top box idea
Formula One Group chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has suggested to the motor-racing series’ primary UK rights-holder BSkyB that the pay-television broadcaster could distribute set-top boxes that would a…
Sky hits back at BT ad complaint
UK pay-television broadcaster BSkyB has accused BT of double standards after the telecommunications company said that it had been unfairly blocked from advertising its planned new pay-television sports…
Channel Five picks up Fury fight
UK commercial broadcaster Channel Five has acquired exclusive domestic rights for the heavyweight boxing bout between Tyson Fury and Steve Cunningham on April 27
Premier Sports and BBC acquire Rugby League World Cup rights
UK public-service broadcaster the BBC and pay-television broadcaster Premier Sports have acquired domestic rights for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup tournament
Sky apologises after Now TV technical problems during Manchester derby
UK pay-television broadcaster BSkyB has apologised after thousands of people who were trying out its Now TV internet television service for the first time were unable to access to live coverage of the…
BT complains to Ofcom over advertising stand-off with Sky
BT has complained to UK media regulator Ofcom about pay-television broadcaster BSkyB’s refusal to show advertisements on its sports channels promoting the telecommunications company’s planned new sports pay…
Sky extends multi-event deal with Matchroom
UK pay-television broadcaster BSkyB has signed a new broadcast rights and production deal with sports promotion company Matchroom Sport
BoxNation snaps up rights for more Top Rank events
UK pay-television broadcaster BoxNation has acquired rights for two boxing events operated by promotional company Top Rank
SPL chief insists rights deals will not be cut short
Scottish Premier League chief executive Neil Doncaster has dismissed suggestions that UK pay-television broadcasters BSkyB and ESPN could curtail their rights deals for the top division of football in…
BBC to show MotoGP practice sessions online
UK public-service broadcaster the BBC has confirmed that, for the first time, every MotoGP motorcycling practice session will be streamed live on the BBC Sport website during the 2013 season
Premier Sports to bring live international ice hockey to the UK
UK pay-television broadcaster Premier Sports has acquired live rights to the International Ice Hockey Federation’s 2013 World Championship, marking the first time the event has been afforded live coverage i…
SPL facing pub lawsuit over foreign match feed
The Scottish Premier League is facing a damages claim for stopping a Scottish pub operator using a Polish pay-television service to show its matches, according to the BBC Sport website
ITV races away with British Touring Car Championship extension
UK commercial broadcaster ITV has extended a rights deal for live coverage of the British Touring Car Championship motorsport series.
The new deal will run for three years, from 2015 to 2017
MP & Silva to push channel strategy
MP & Silva chief explains why channel plan may work for Asia
BT pays big fee increase despite lack of competition
BT Vision pays high fee to attract 'uniquely loyal' UFC fanbase
BoxNation strikes rights deals
BoxNation buys big bouts