Türk Telekom

The Infront agency is likely to benefit from relatively strong competition for domestic rights to the Turkish basketball league in its tender, despite difficult market conditions in the country.

Turkish telco Türk Telekom has agreed a deal to carry S Sport, a channel owned and operated by media group Saran Media, on its Tivibu pay-television service.

BeIN Media Group has acquired Uefa Champions League rights in Turkey for a slightly reduced fee, meaning it will show both of the governing body’s club competitions from 2018-19 onward.

The Turkish Süper Lig’s tender structure has been drastically changed shortly before bids are due on November 21, making incumbent broadcaster Digiturk the clear favourite to renew its rights.

Türk Telekom has acquired rights to an assortment of European basketball leagues in recent weeks to compensate for its lack of Euroleague and Turkish domestic league coverage.

Political turmoil, arguments over price and the beginning of Turkish Süper Lig negotiations has created a logjam in the Turkish sports-rights market, badly affecting rights-holders including the International Olympic Committee and the English Premier League.

Turkish state broadcaster TRT is set to sublicense a package of Euro 2016 matches to pay-television operator Digiturk.

The renewal by Turkish pay-television operator Digiturk’s of its domestic Süper Lig rights was confirmed by the Turkish competition authority, Rekabet Kurumu, in November.

Uefa almost doubled the value of its Champions League and Europa League rights in Turkey in a deal with telco Türk Telekom for 2015-16 onwards.