USA

The World Baseball Softball Confederation has awarded host broadcast rights for the 2018 Women’s Baseball World Cup to the United States Speciality Sports Association, a non-profit sports organisation based in Florida.

US television broadcasting companies Gray Television and Raycom Media are set to merge under a $3.647bn (€3.09bn) deal that will tie together a host of local broadcast stations.

US network CBS has expanded its rights deal with the NFL American football league to take in live streaming rights on mobile devices.

US-based mixed gender team league World TeamTennis has launched a new OTT platform that will provide live streaming of every match for the first time in its 43-season history.

The World Boxing Super Series is set to receive exposure in the US via DAZN when the streaming service owned by digital sports media specialist Perform Group launches in the country, according to multiple reports.

Disney has tabled an improved $70.4bn (€61bn) takeover offer for a significant share of rival US media company 21st Century Fox’s business assets.

US telco AT&T has moved to rebrand Time Warner as WarnerMedia following its $85.4bn (€72.37bn) takeover of the media company.

Comcast’s takeover bid for Sky has today (Friday) been approved unconditionally by the European Commission, setting up a multi-billion battle for the pan-European pay-television broadcaster with rival US media company 21st Century Fox.

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.

Major League Baseball franchise the New York Yankees is considering buying back US regional pay-television sports broadcaster Yes Network, according to multiple reports.

Comcast has tabled a $65bn (€55bn) all-cash offer for a significant share of rival US media company 21st Century Fox’s business assets, challenging a deal struck in December between the latter and media giant Disney.

A US federal judge has approved a takeover of US media company Time Warner by telco AT&T, rejecting an appeal by the Department of Justice against the proposed $85.4bn (€71.29bn) merger, with analysts predicting the ruling will embolden companies that are seeking major acquisitions of its type.

ESPN+, the US sports broadcaster’s subscription streaming service, has further bolstered its college sports lineup through a new, multi-year agreement with Conference USA.

Telemundo, the holder of Spanish-language rights to the Fifa World Cup in the US, has agreed deals with internet company Google and its video-sharing website YouTube to share its coverage of the national team football tournament.

Doubling up with ESPN will earn the Ultimate Fighting Championship $300m (€258m) per year from media-rights sales from 2019 to 2023 – a good result given the absence of aggressive bidding from incumbent Fox.

US golf organisation the PGA Tour has taken on a new strategy for its international rights by striking a “pioneering” strategic alliance with media company Discovery.