Gazprom Media

The Premier League is “very closely” considering suspending or terminating its media rights deals with Russian broadcasters following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russian mobile network operator MTS has agreed a landmark carriage deal with Gazprom Media, owner of Match TV, under which the Match Premier subscription will become available to MTS customers

Gazprom Media has agreed a long-term deal for exclusive television and digital media rights in Russia to mixed martial arts promotion the Ultimate Fighting Championship

Gazprom Media-owned Match TV has retained its Russian Premier League domestic rights, paying an increase of about 320 per cent after a hard-fought behind-the-scenes battle to avoid an open tender.

The Russian Premier League has accepted a “much improved” offer from Gazprom Media for domestic broadcast rights to the top-tier football competition from 2022-23 to 2025-26, while league president Ser…

Match TV has doubled down on its aggressive sports rights acquisition strategy, paying a stratospheric increase to reclaim English Premier League rights in Russia.

Sports broadcaster Match TV has said it will launch a new pay-television channel to support its coverage of the top tier of domestic football, which has now rebranded to the Russian Premier Liga.

Match TV has held onto Russian Football Premier League domestic rights despite decreasing its overall investment in the league, TV Sports Markets understands.

Any new deal for domestic Russian Football Premier League rights will likely be completed next March at the earliest, far later than the November estimate of league president Sergey Pryadkin, TV Sports Markets understands.

Russian broadcasters VGTRK, Channel One and Match TV have agreed a deal with Fifa for rights to this year’s Confederations Cup, but wrangling over rights to the 2018 World Cup continues.

TV Sports Markets understands the Telesport agency has acquired rights in Russia to four Olympic Games, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and is currently in negotiations with Fifa for rights to the 2018 World Cup.

The International Champions Cup increased rights fees for its 2016 edition in new deals in the UK and Russia last week.

Eurosport continued its gradual rise from a basic-tier to a premium pay-television broadcaster this month in Russia, following deals for National Hockey League and Wimbledon tennis rights.

The price of Formula One media rights has fallen and stayed flat in recent deals for Austria and Russia respectively, reflecting the lack of competition for the property in both markets.

Uefa is the latest rights-holder to feel the pinch from the new-look Russian sports rights market, as the income from its club competitions in the territory has plummeted well below previous cycles.