United Kingdom

Production company Sunset+Vine has secured a new four-year deal with UK pay-television broadcaster BT Sport, extending a partnership that began in 2013.

Horse racing powerhouses Victoria Racing Club, Ascot and Goodwood Racecourses and the Breeders’ Cup have signed up as founding partners of a new media company that has launched today (Tuesday) and is designed to drive exposure for the sport across digital platforms.

UK Culture Secretary Matt Hancock has said that he is unlikely to call for an investigation into Comcast’s bid to gazump rival media company 21st Century Fox’s takeover bid for Sky, a major sports broadcaster in Europe.

Manchester United received the greatest share of revenue from the English Premier League for the 2017-18 season, despite finishing as runner-up to rival Manchester City, it has been revealed.

UK commercial broadcaster Channel 4 has bolstered its rugby union coverage by acquiring live rights to Wales’ three summer Test matches.

UK free-to-air digital channel FreeSports has acquired rights for the DTM German Touring Car Championship.

The RDA agency has been appointed as the exclusive agent for international distribution rights to the Super League, the top tier of club rugby league in England.

International sports broadcaster Eurosport has further diversified its offering with the launch of Eurosport Shop, its first e-commerce platform.

Ace IPTV, a platform that showed pirated content from football’s English Premier League, has been forced to liquidate after agreeing to pay £600,000 (€681,000/$812,000) for breaching the league’s copyright.

UK commercial broadcaster Channel 4 has acquired rights to the World Rallycross Championship (World RX) motor-racing series.

Sky has sealed a rights deal with Matchroom Boxing that will allow the UK pay-television broadcaster to show the promoter’s US fight nights.

Sky Sports Racing, which is set to become the new identity for pay-television channel At The Races, has sealed its second major deal this week by securing exclusive rights in the UK and Ireland to the Melbourne Cup.

The Pro14 cross-border rugby union league will almost double the value of its UK and Ireland media rights once it completes its remaining deals for 2018-19 onward.

Eleven Sports’ surprise entrance into the UK sports-rights market will have been welcomed by rights-holders around the world.