USA

US networks CBS, ESPN, Fox and NBC, along with the IMG and WME agencies, have joined forces to apply for the dismissal of a legal action brought by a group of college American football and basketball players, claiming it would mean “chaos” for sports broadcasting.

US satellite-television company Dish Network has agreed a multi-year extension to continue its carriage of the CBS network’s various stations and cable channels, including the CBS Sports Network pay-television service.

US pay-television broadcaster ESPN has extended a rights deal for the 2015 edition of the annual Collegiate Bowl American football game.

The National Football League’s (NFL) controversial ‘blackout’ policy has come under further pressure after senators from both US political parties warned the American football competition to end the rule or risk congressional action to restrict its lucrative antitrust exemption, which allows teams to negotiate television broadcast rights together.

US pay-television broadcaster ESPN has acquired rights to the Canadian Curling Association’s Season of Champions events for the 2014-15 season.

US pay-television broadcaster ESPN has acquired rights for the 2014 Mosconi Cup pool event.

The international skiing federation this week welcomed the European Broadcasting Union’s deal in the US for Austrian World Cup skiing events.

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association has extended its rights deals with the NBC Sports Group division of media company NBCUniversal and Universal Sports Network, a subsidiary of the NBC network.

Social video platform Grabyo has secured fresh funding of $2m (€1.6m) to aid its future growth, with a “significant majority” of this investment coming from top athletes.

NBA basketball team the Miami Heat has signed a long-term extension to its local television rights agreement with Sun Sports - a regional subsidiary of the Fox Sports network.

The New Japan Pro Wrestling organisation has secured its first rights deal in the US by agreeing a partnership with digital cable and satellite television broadcaster AXS TV.

US private investment group Providence and two Chinese companies, including property firm Wanda, are considering bids for the Infront Sports & Media agency, according to the Financial Times.

US sports broadcaster ESPN will utilise the 2015 Cricket World Cup to begin a new initiative of selling stand-alone streaming subscriptions for some sports programming, according to the Re/code website.

WEWS NewsChannel 5, the ABC affiliate of media company E.W. Scripps, has agreed a multi-year local broadcast rights deal with NFL American football team Cleveland Browns.

US media and entertainment company Discovery Communications has signed a multi-year rights deal with TNA (Total Nonstop Action) Impact Wrestling to broadcast the professional league on the Destination America channel.

The American Sports Network has agreed a deal to broadcast coverage of the 2014-15 Horizon League US basketball collegiate competition.