Sky UK

Mike Kiernan, analyst for SportBusiness Intelligence, highlights some UK television audiences in the period between Monday 24th October and Sunday 6th November

Mike Kiernan, analyst for SportBusiness Intelligence, highlights some UK television audiences in the period between Monday 3rd October and Sunday 23rd October

UK pay-television broadcaster Sky picked up Chinese Super League rights last week for a fairly small rights-fee over the next two-and-a-half years.

England’s Premier League clubs will enjoy much greater freedom from the 2016-17 season in how they can exploit content globally on social media. The benefits could be considerable in terms of expanding the reach of a club’s brand and could also help drive revenues for the biggest clubs.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is set to complete a new deal in the UK and Ireland with incumbent broadcaster BT Sport which will more than double its current media-rights income.

A series of recently-agreed and impending deals could see the Professional Darts Corporation's global income rise 50 per cent in 2017.

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

Moving coverage exclusively to pay-television in the UK helped Formula One Management increase its media-rights value significantly last month.

Southern hemisphere rugby rights have increased significantly in global value, driven by explosive growth in the UK, France and the Middle East, and supported by strong returns in difficult core markets.

Telco Altice last week blindsided French broadcasters to acquire Premier League rights in the country with a knockout first-round bid.

Scottish football will remain split between pay-television broadcasters after a clause in Sky’s contract triggered an early renewal process.

Sky paid a significant fee to secure rights to England’s tour of Bangladesh in 2016. The deal ensures Sky has rights to all England international cricket for the next two years.