Finance & Law
Barcelona threatens exit in bid to get media arm US listing over the line
Plans to list FC Barcelona’s Barça Media business in the US will be shelved at the end of this month if the Spanish club does not receive the €40m ($42.5m) it is owed from such a deal, following further renegotiations to the agreement.
Greenfly nets $14m investment in burgeoning AI digital clips sector
US digital media company Greenfly has announced the closing of equity investments of $14m, highlighting the growing importance of short-form digital content tech suppliers in the sports media sector.
Shapiro’s Endeavor salary hits $7m, Whitesell to launch media company with $250m funding
Mark Shapiro, president and chief operating officer of Endeavor, has secured a salary increase to $7m (€6.4m) on the back of the agreement struck to take the sports and entertainment giant private.
Endeavor valued at $13bn in Silver Lake’s privatisation plans
Endeavor, the sports and entertainment giant that owns the IMG agency and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) properties, is going private three years after listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
Americas growth the target as Liberty finalises Dorna takeover
Liberty Media has targeted the Americas as the main growth region for MotoGP after striking a deal for Dorna Sports that values the series promoter and rights-holder at €4.2bn ($4.5bn).
SBS9 rebranded in Viaplay-Talpa content tie-up, revenue share
Talpa Network has strengthened its sports offering to customers by striking a linear TV partnership in the country with Viaplay Group, helping to offset the Dutch broadcaster's loss of Uefa club competition rights.
Liberty Media’s Dorna takeover set to drive F1-MotoGP efficiencies
Dorna Sports’ expected sale to Liberty Media for over €4bn ($4.3bn) offers the potential to generate a host of commercial efficiencies across both Formula 1 and MotoGP in a watershed moment for motorcycling.
Sportradar swings to Q4 profit, bullish on Brazil betting
Sportradar swung back into the black in the fourth quarter thanks to growth across all segments, sending the sports data and betting services firm’s share price soaring to a temporary seven-month high in Wednesday morning trading.
Fifa 2023 revenues buoyed by WWC, sponsorship makes up 39 per cent
World governing body FIFA enjoyed income of $1.17bn (€1.07bn) in 2023, boosted by strong commercial revenues from the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
AFA threatens ESPN with legal action for streaming-only coverage of Supercopa
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) is weighing legal action against domestic broadcast partner ESPN for what it claims is a contractual breach relating to coverage of yesterday's (Thursday's) Supercopa.
RMC Sport parent Altice Media to be sold to CMA CGM in €1.55bn deal
Altice France has today (Friday) announced plans to sell Altice Media, parent of subscription broadcaster RMC Sport, to logistics company CMA CGM Group in a move that seemingly marks the final step in the telco’s move away from premium sports output in the country.
Singtel ‘exploring all options’ on Optus but rules out full sale
Singaporean telco Singtel is considering disposing of a significant stake in its Australian business Optus to a Canadian private equity firm, but plans for a full sale have been vehemently denied by the firm.
Reliance tightens grip on Viacom18 after buying out Paramount stake
Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, chaired and run by business mogul Mukesh Ambani, will buy out Paramount Global’s 13-per-cent stake in media group Viacom18 for $517m (€472m).
Two Circles develops US business with move for digital content agency
US-based digital content agency Let It Fly Media has become the first Two Circles acquisition under the ownership of private equity firm Charterhouse Capital Partners
Matchroom reaffirms investment appeal with £34m profit
Matchroom Sport delivered a profit of £33.8m during the 2022-23 financial reporting period on the back of strong performances from its darts and boxing verticals, SportBusiness has learned.
Blow to European Super League as Danes win trademark case
No other football league or competition in Europe will be able to use the name, The Super League, after the European Union Trade Mark Office sided with Denmark's Superligaen A/S.
ITV profits dive amid ad sales slump, sports content costs down
ITV suffered a 61-per-cent drop in pre-tax profits in 2023 amid an advertising slump and significant investment costs in its ITVX streaming service
Genius’ annual net loss narrows to $86m after revenue jump
Fourth-quarter and full-year net losses at Genius Sports narrowed considerably in 2023 as the data, technology and broadcast services group posted revenues exceeding its initial guidance.