United Kingdom
ARC and Vermantia launch European Racing Channel
UK racecourse owner and operator Arena Racing Company, and Greek firm Vermantia, a leading provider of multi-channel content solutions for lotteries, gaming and betting operators, have launched the European Racing Channel, claiming it will provide the most complete offering of its kind worldwide for the betting market.
Difficult sales process helps the Premier League in Ofcom battle
The Premier League’s 20 clubs are unconcerned about the small drop in the value of their domestic live rights in the next cycle, following deals this month with BT and Amazon that brought the protracted sales process to a close.
BT partners with Amazon to bolster sports content
UK telco BT has today (Thursday) signed a carriage partnership with internet company Amazon which will bring the latter’s sports content offered via Prime Video to pay-television service BT TV.
Sky selected for Athletics World Cup
UK pay-television broadcaster Sky has been appointed as the host broadcaster of the Athletics World Cup, which will be hosted at the London Stadium on July 14-15.
Oculus gives World Cup matches VR treatment
US technology company Oculus has said it will provide live streaming of select Fifa World Cup matches through Oculus Venues, its new app for social co-viewing.
Watching Brief (Vol.213) UK TV Audiences 28th May to 3rd June
RDA targets Oceania after buying Super League international rights
The RDA agency will look to extract more value from Australia and New Zealand and strike deals in the Pacific Islands for the first time, after taking over international rights to the Super League.
Patterson to depart as BT chief
UK telco BT, parent company of pay-television broadcaster BT Sport, has today (Friday) announced that Gavin Patterson will depart as chief executive, stating it needs a change of leadership to deliver on its reform plans.
ITV extends French Open rights deal
UK commercial broadcaster ITV has struck a three-year extension to its rights deal for tennis grand slam the French Open.
Amazon enters Premier League market, BT Sport adds to rights portfolio
Internet company Amazon and pay-television broadcaster BT Sport have today (Thursday) acquired the final set of domestic rights to the English Premier League, with the football competition also wrapping up its rights line-up in Ireland.
Premier League’s elite secure change to TV revenue distribution model
The ‘big six’ clubs from football’s English Premier League have today (Thursday) succeeded in forcing through a change to the rules which will grant them a greater share of revenue the competition generates from international broadcast rights.
Watching Brief (Vol.212) UK TV Audiences 21st to 27th May
UK government clears path for Fox-Comcast bidding war for Sky
The UK government has given the green light to a potential bidding contest between media companies 21st Century Fox and Comcast for pay-television broadcaster Sky.
Premier League set for new rights partner, BT adds content
The English Premier League has reportedly secured a new domestic rights partner in the form of an undisclosed online operator, with telco BT securing the other remaining package left on the table.
MUTV continues to diversify with rights to Belgium games
MUTV, the in-house television channel of English Premier League football club Manchester United, has acquired exclusive rights in the UK and Ireland to the Belgian national team’s three warm-up matches ahead of the 2018 Fifa World Cup.
Watching Brief (Vol.211) UK TV Audiences 14th to 20th May
Premier League set for ‘imminent’ closure of domestic rights process
Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore has said the top division of English club football is set to finalise its next set of domestic rights with the “imminent” sale of the final two packages available.
BBC to show skateboarding competition
UK public-service broadcaster the BBC has agreed a deal to show live coverage of the Street League Skateboarding series this weekend.