USA
LiveLike and Fox to offer VR snippets of Super Bowl
Virtual reality provider LiveLike has linked up with the Fox network to offer highlights of this Sunday’s NFL Super Bowl American football game in the format.
ESPN returns to back drag racing series
US sports broadcaster ESPN has agreed a rights deal with the International Hot Rod Association that will grant the drag racing organisation exposure on a major network for the first time since 1999.
Fox Sports hires first agency of record
The Fox Sports division of US network Fox has appointed Widen & Kennedy New York as its first-ever agency of record.
University of Georgia seals extension with IMG, JMI
The University of Georgia’s athletics division has sealed a long-term extension of its multimedia and marketing rights partnership with the IMG College division of the IMG agency and US collegiate marketing agency JMI Sports.
Colonial Athletic Association boosts exposure for lacrosse events
College sports conference the Colonial Athletic Association has furthered the reach of its men’s and women’s lacrosse programs by signing a rights agreement with digital video platform Lax Sports Network.
Completion date slips for Verizon’s Yahoo deal
US internet company Yahoo has maintained the sale of its core internet business to telecommunications company Verizon remains on track, despite the targeted completion of the deal having slipped.
Fox and Turner set to submit improved offer for Argentine football rights
US media companies Fox and Turner are set to put forward an improved offer for the broadcast rights to Argentina’s Primera División, the top tier of football in the country.
MLB bolsters local market streaming with NBC Sports deal
The NBC Sports Group division of US media company NBCUniversal has agreed a deal with MLB Advanced Media, the interactive media and internet arm of North America’s Major League Baseball, to stream local market MLB games across its regional sports networks.
Tencent teams up with NHL for strategic partnership
The North American NHL ice hockey league has signed a long-term strategic partnership with Chinese internet company Tencent.
MLB targets Latino market with Mitú partnership
Major League Baseball has signed a content partnership with Hispanic-focused digital network Mitú which is designed to target the Latino youth market.
Atresmedia pins down WWE extension
Spanish commercial broadcaster Atresmedia has signed a multi-year extension to its rights deal with the WWE, while the US wrestling organisation has agreed to add content from independent promoters to its WWE Network pay-television channel, according to multiple reports.
OpenTV launches legal action against NFL
The OpenTV software subsidiary of digital security company Kudelski Group has filed a lawsuit against the NFL in relation to the American football league’s live streaming and related video services.
Steelers to launch virtual reality game-day service
Virtual reality production studio Mandt VR has entered into a partnership with NFL American football franchise the Pittsburgh Steelers.
USTA scores extension with Japanese rights partner
The United States Tennis Association has extended its long-term rights deal with Japanese pay-television broadcaster Wowow.
NBCSN signs exclusive deal with US motorcycling series
The NBC Sports Group division of media company NBCUniversal has agreed a deal to broadcast coverage of the 2017 American Flat Track US motorcycling series.
NBC Sports Group and Turner seal long-term OTT partnership
The NBC Sports Group division of US media company NBCUniversal and cable-television broadcaster Turner have revealed plans to collaborate on sports-focused OTT streaming.
Courtside Ventures unveils initial investment portfolio
Courtside Ventures, the sports focused early-stage venture capital fund that invests in media and technology companies, has unveiled its portfolio of inaugural investments.
ESPN’s new streaming platform set for 2017 launch
Christine McCarthy, chief financial officer of the Walt Disney media company, has said US sports broadcaster ESPN’s new sport subscription streaming service will launch this year.