American Football
BT Sport extends ESPN relationship
BT Sport and sports broadcaster ESPN have signed a seven-year agreement to expand the range of ESPN content available on the platforms of the UK pay-television broadcaster.
NBCU seeks to utilise Super Bowl to promote TV Everywhere services
US media company NBCUniversal will provide 11 consecutive hours of live streaming content free of charge for Super Bowl XLIX on February 1, as it seeks to use the huge audiences associated with the finale to the NFL American football season to raise awareness of its online viewing platforms.
NFL renews CBS Thursday Night Football deal
The NFL American football league has extended a rights deal for the Thursday Night Football package with the CBS network in the US.
MEDIA RIGHTS: From December 11 to January 14
Media rights clips from December 11 to January 14.
CBS Sports Network extends rights to Army football
US pay-television broadcaster CBS Sports Network has agreed a five-year rights extension with the Army Athletic Association for the body’s college American football games.
College Football Playoff finale smashes records for ESPN
US sports broadcaster ESPN has reported record cable television audience and rating figures for its broadcast of Monday’s inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship game.
ESPN’s media arm strikes NFL rights deals in Africa
The media distribution arm of pay-television broadcaster ESPN has agreed one-year rights deals for African pay-television providers Supersport and Zuku Sport for coverage of this year’s NFL American football league playoffs and Super Bowl championship game.
NFL furthers online video drive with Facebook partnership
American football league the NFL has bolstered its online video offering by agreeing a partnership with social media platform Facebook, according to the Wall Street Journal newspaper.
MEDIA RIGHTS: From November 27 to December 10
Media rights clips from November 27 to December 10
ESPN Player to deliver College Football Playoff in Europe
Pay-television broadcaster ESPN is to deliver coverage of the new US College Football Playoff collegiate American football competition to audiences in Europe via ESPN Player, its live and on-demand sports streaming service.
ESPN extends rights for Collegiate Bowl
US pay-television broadcaster ESPN has extended a rights deal for the 2015 edition of the annual Collegiate Bowl American football game.
Senators tackle NFL’s blackout rule
The National Football League’s (NFL) controversial ‘blackout’ policy has come under further pressure after senators from both US political parties warned the American football competition to end the rule or risk congressional action to restrict its lucrative antitrust exemption, which allows teams to negotiate television broadcast rights together.
MEDIA RIGHTS: From November 13 to 26
Media rights clips from November 13 to 26
Aereo files for bankruptcy in wake of MLB and NFL battle
Online streaming company Aereo has filed for bankruptcy protection in the wake of June’s US Supreme Court ruling that it breaches the copyright of major sports leagues and their broadcast partners.
Cleveland Browns sign new broadcast partner
WEWS NewsChannel 5, the ABC affiliate of media company E.W. Scripps, has agreed a multi-year local broadcast rights deal with NFL American football team Cleveland Browns.
Judge grants injunction against embattled Aereo
A district court judge in the US has granted a temporary injunction against Aereo, blocking the video streaming service from transmitting broadcasters’ programmes to its subscribers.
Arizona State terminates IMG College rights contract
The athletics division of US college Arizona State has said it will terminate its multimedia rights deal with IMG College and is claiming more than $5m (€3.9m) in damages from the agency for failing to meet contract obligations.
MEDIA RIGHTS: From October 2 to 15
Media rights clips from October 2 to 15