USA
FCC set to give green light to AT&T-DirecTV deal
US telecommunications company AT&T’s proposed $48.5bn (€44bn) takeover of satellite television provider DirecTV is set to close after the Federal Communications Commission said it would recommend that the transaction be approved.
ESPN and ABC join forces in new Saturday night NBA venture
US network ABC will receive more primetime sports on weekends following a new partnership struck with sports broadcaster ESPN covering the NBA basketball league.
Learfield Sports takes on SLU’s multimedia rights
The Learfield Sports agency has signed a multimedia rights agreement with the athletics division of Saint Louis University in the US.
Davidson ‘in plea negotiations’ – court filing
Aaron Davidson, who was head of the Traffic Sports US division, has been “actively engaged in plea negotiations” since his arrest as part of an investigation into football corruption in May, according to a filing in a federal court in New York.
New class-action lawsuit filed against NFL, DirecTV
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against American football’s NFL and pay-television operator DirecTV by antitrust attorney Michael Hausfeld and colleagues at the Hausfeld law company.
MLB exec dismisses IPO talk for MLBAM
MLB Advanced Media, the interactive media and internet company of Major League Baseball, is unlikely to carry out an initial public offering, according to senior MLB executive Bob Bowman.
NHRA to switch from ESPN to Fox Sports
Fox Sports has struck a deal to replace rival US pay-television broadcaster ESPN as the rights-holder of the National Hot Rod Association motor-racing series.
BeIN Media Group acquires EHF rights
The beIN Media Group has acquired rights for a number of competitions operated by the European Handball Federation.
Mayweather ponders free-to-air farewell – report
Boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr. is reportedly considering making his planned career swansong in September this year available on free-to-air television in the US.
Learfield adds collegiate rights with Front Row deal
The Learfield Sports agency has further expanded its portfolio of US collegiate rights by acquiring Front Row Marketing Services’ collegiate multimedia rights properties from Comcast Spectator, part of US media company Comcast.
ESPN extends long-term rights deal with Southland Conference
US sports broadcaster ESPN has extended its long-term rights deal for the Southland Conference US college sports conference.
US Women’s World Cup win sets ratings record
The US national team’s victory over Japan in the final of the 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup attracted a record television audience for a football match in the US.
Universal Sports Network signs Suddenlink carriage deal
US pay-television sports broadcaster Universal Sports Network has signed a multi-year carriage deal with national cable distributor Suddenlink.
Learfield Sports extends Missouri State partnership
The Learfield Sports agency has agreed a 10-year extension to its partnership with the MSU Athletics division of Missouri State University.
Former Sky Deutschland chief takes digital role at Fox
US media company 21st Century Fox has appointed Brian Sullivan, the former chief executive of German pay-television broadcaster Sky Deutschland, to the newly created role of president of digital for its Fox Networks Group division.
Learfield expands college portfolio with New Mexico State deal
The Learfield Sports agency has expanded its presence in the US college sports market by signing a multimedia rights deal with the athletics division of New Mexico State University.
ESPN strikes fantasy sports deal with DraftKings
US sports broadcaster ESPN has entered into a partnership with daily fantasy sports operator DraftKings.
Sports media powerhouse Hill to exit 21st Century Fox, form new venture
Influential sports media executive David Hill will step down from Rupert Murdoch’s US media company 21st Century Fox to launch a new production venture.