Multiple Sports
Sony-Zee $10bn merger off, legal threats issued on both sides
The planned $10bn (€9.2bn) mega-Indian media merger, two years in the making, between Sony Pictures Networks and Zee Entertainment was officially scrapped today (Monday).
Diamond Sports emerges out of bankruptcy, Amazon becomes investor
Diamond Sports has entered into a restructuring support agreement with its largest creditor groups to enable it to emerge from bankruptcy, with the deal including a commitment from Amazon to make a minority investment.
Viaplay eyes double-digit profit margin in five years following rescue package
Viaplay Group aims to deliver double-digit operating profit margins within five years following the drastic cost reduction programme enacted over the last six months and exits from loss-making international…
Ireland’s protected free-to-air list primed for expansion
The Irish government is considering the addition of as many as 14 events across football, Gaelic games and rugby union to the protected free-to-air broadcast list
Famed sports docuseries producers Box to Box raises £30m from Bruin
Global sports and entertainment investment company Bruin Capital has made a significant investment in Box to Box Films, the UK production company behind the array of popular Netflix sports docuseries
CFO Wallace reunited with Francini at Iris
Iris Sport Media, the company set up by Ioris Francini and his former IMG colleagues Floris Weisz and Luca Baldanza, has recruited Graham Wallace as chief corporate and financial officer
EMG and Gravity Media unite to form production powerhouse
EMG and Gravity Media have announced a merger deal which they state will create one of the world’s largest and most significant broadcast technology and production companies.
Viaplay recruits Lodewick to head up Dutch operation
Roger Lodewick, president of sports games at esports’ ESL FACEIT Group and previously of Team Marketing, has been recruited by Viaplay to lead its operations in the Netherlands.
Disney Star and Reliance seek to dodge further ‘bloodbaths’ through merger
The proposed merger between Disney Star and Reliance is being driven to a great extent by the wish to avoid a repeat of the 2023 IPL, in which the two entities undercut each other, resulting in reduced advertising revenues.
Twitch’s Jacobs becomes DAZN’s first global CRO
DAZN has recruited Walker Jacobs from Twitch to the newly created position of global chief revenue officer and president of DAZN’s US operation.
YES, MSG Networks form streaming services JV
US-based cable and satellite broadcasters the YES Network and MSG Networks are to form a 50/50 joint venture called Gotham Advanced Media and Entertainment (GAME) to work on the networks' streaming services
Donoghue to exit as Amazon’s VP of global sports video
Marie Donoghue, who played an integral role in growing Amazon's sports rights portfolio in the United States, is to leave the online retail giant
DAZN renews Movistar Plus alliance in Spain
Movistar Plus, the Spanish pay-television broadcaster operated by telco Telefónica, has renewed an agreement to carry content offered by OTT subscription broadcaster DAZN.
Viaplay ups monthly prices as part of ongoing rescue act
Viaplay Group has instigated price increases in two of its core markets as it bids to turn the tide after a turbulent 2023 dominated by huge financial losses, share sales and workforce cuts
New player in German FTA market lands DEL rights, DAZN content
A new commercial television channel is to launch in Germany at the start of 2024 offering sports output until now showcased by ServusTV and also on the back of a content agreement with DAZN
WBD ‘in merger talks’ with Paramount Global
Warner Bros. Discovery chief executive David Zaslav and Paramount Global chief executive Bob Bakish have met to discuss a potential merger between the two media giants, according to multiple reports
F1 returns to RTL under multi-property Sky sublicensing pact
German media group RTL has secured rights to Formula 1, the German 2. Bundesliga and the English Premier League as part of a wide-ranging content sharing agreement with pay-television broadcaster Sky Deutschland
Spanish government counteracts Saudi investment in Telefónica
The Spanish government has agreed a deal to acquire up to a 10-per-cent stake in Telefónica, in a move that will counterbalance investment in the telecoms operator from Saudi Arabia’s STC Group.