Discovery
Features
Infront takes EHF rights hit to secure coverage in tough key markets
European Handball Federation club competition rights have decreased in value in several key markets, with incumbents dropping out to leave tough market conditions for seller Infront.
Lack of competition slows pay-TV fee growth for Italy’s Lega Basket
Lega Basket, the governing body of top tier Italian basketball, saw its domestic pay-television media-rights income growth slow considerably in the 2020-22 rights round, driven by a significantly less competitive market.
Discovery continues cut-price Bundesliga sublicense to DAZN on same terms
International media group Discovery has continued its sublicensing agreement with DAZN into 2020-21 at the same fee after the former’s attempt to terminate its Bundesliga rights deal was thwarted by the German Institution of Arbitration (DIS).
Discovery agrees ‘opportunistic’ WWE deal in Italy to build DMAX, Dplay Plus OTT
US media group Discovery has made a modest investment in the Italian rights to WWE wrestling to help increase audience share of its DMAX channel and improve the sluggish take-up of the broadcaster’s Dplay Plus premium OTT service.
DFL’s short-term Amazon, DAZN deals seen as ‘strategic’ ahead of domestic tender
The German Football League’s (DFL) short-term Bundesliga deals with Amazon and DAZN are strategic moves ahead of this month’s domestic rights tender, industry experts have told SportBusiness Media.
Rivals dent Nent’s Nordic dominance in big money Uefa club deals
Nordic Entertainment (Nent) Group’s rivals paid big fees to seal crucial Uefa club competition rights, allowing European football’s governing body to more than double its media-rights income in the Nordics.
Ziggo buys back into top tennis in the Netherlands with ATP play
Dutch telco Ziggo has landed exclusive multi-platform rights in the Netherlands to the ATP men’s tennis tour, SportBusiness Media understands.
Bundesliga seals revised domestic deals, secures clubs finances if league resumes
The German Football League (DFL) has renegotiated deals with six of its seven domestic media-rights holders, which will secure payments – and thus cashflow for German clubs – in the next month. Discovery is the only broadcaster yet to reach an agreement.
IMG closes in on Giro d’Italia international rights renewal
The IMG agency is on the verge of retaining international rights to the Giro d’Italia cycling stage race despite heavy interest from US media giant Discovery, SportBusiness Media understands.
Discovery favourite to pick up WWE in Italy after Sky Italia pulls out
Pay-television operator Sky Italia has dropped the wrestling entertainment series WWE after broadcasting it for 18 years. The decision follows similar choices by Sky’s divisions in the UK and Germany.
Česká Televize raises Olympic hours, digital scope in new Discovery deal
Česká Televize will pay more to continue to sublicense Olympic rights from US media group Discovery but will gain more winter Games hours and an additional digital broadcast option.
Nent’s colossal Premier League deal shakes up Nordic market
Nordic Entertainment (Nent) Group’s monster six-season English Premier League deal signed this month has shocked the Nordic media market and left TV2 in Norway reeling.
Discovery ties Wimbledon renewals to ATP portfolio in multi-territory deal
International media group Discovery streamlined its portfolio of Wimbledon rights in its latest multi-territory European deal to align with its ATP Tour holdings across the continent.
Discovery furthers tennis ambitions in Europe with multi-territory ATP deal
US media group Discovery continues to push for dominance over tennis in Europe, acquiring exclusive rights to the ATP World Tour in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.
Paul Rehrig, general manager, Eurosport Digital
Paul Rehrig, general manager, Eurosport Digital, talks about Discovery’s deal with Twitter for coverage of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo
Discovery’s Tokyo 2020 deal with Twitter sets stage for more clips, highlights partnerships
The deal struck this week between US media group Discovery and social media platform Twitter for coverage of the 2020 summer Olympic Games in Tokyo is expected to be the first of many such clip and highlights deals, as Discovery looks for additional ways to monetise its substantial investment in the rights in Europe.
Discovery sees off aggressive incumbent bid to gain WTA rights in Russia
US media group Discovery saw off an aggressive bid from incumbent Match TV to take over exclusive rights in Russia to Women’s Tennis Association events from 2020, completing its tennis set in the country.
DAZN positions itself for domestic tender with Bundesliga sublicense deal
Streaming service DAZN’s two-season Bundesliga sublicensing deal with US media group Discovery has strengthened its position in Germany and Austria ahead of the league’s upcoming domestic tender.
TV2 targets tennis in Denmark with ATP, Wimbledon deals
Danish commercial broadcaster TV2 has targeted tennis rights, with the additions of the ATP Tour and Wimbledon to its portfolio over the last two months complementing its WTA rights.
Danish Superliga secures income rise after forced tender
Having been forced into an open tender by the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority, the Danish Superliga has secured a modest increase in its domestic media-rights income despite a lack of competition.
Finnish Ice Hockey Association revenues rise in domestic deal with no hit to exposure
The Finnish Ice Hockey Association has increased the value of its domestic rights by about 60 per cent in a new deal with US media group Discovery, whilst retaining the same level of free-to-air exposure.
Discovery offer to take lower-tier rights helps ATP acquisition in Nordics
Media group Discovery’s willingness to acquire more ATP Tour content in the Nordic region than rival broadcasters had in the current cycle was key to its successful acquisition of the property.
Sky Deutschland solidifies golf dominance in DACH with PGA, Open deals
Pay-television broadcaster Sky Deutschland has raised its annual outlay on two of golf’s majors, the PGA Championship and Open Championship, by almost half to secure its dominance over the sport in the DACH region against the threat of US media group Discovery.
Government pressure drives France Télévisions’s Olympics sublicensing deal
The French government strongly encouraged public-service broadcaster France Télévisions to reach an Olympics sublicensing deal with US media group Discovery for the 2022 to 2024 cycle to ensure the widest access to the Paris 2024 games, SportBusiness Media understands.