PSG to make small screen streaming debut with Amazon docuseries
March 19 – French champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are to feature in their own behind-the-scenes docuseries, produced by Amazon, later this year.
Broadcast
Sportradar and Australia’s NPL partner for OTT streaming platform
March 17 – Sportradar and Australia’s National Premier League have partnered to create and OTT streaming platform for football in Australia.
MLS agrees highlights package with Facebook Watch platform
March 5 – Having reported record opening weekend viewing figures in the US, Major League Soccer (MLS) has unveiled a new alliance with Facebook that will see highlights of all matches available on Facebook Watch.
US TV audiences show they starting to switch on to MLS
March 4 – The opening weekend of the Major League Soccer (MLS) season delivered record TV ratings across the US for a league that is pushing to take a bigger slice of the broadcast rights revenue cake.
Gent agree Belgian TV terms leaving Antwerp as remaining block to deal
February 18 – KAA Gent has signed up to the Belgian broadcast deal with Eleven Sports, leaving Antwerp as the only club to oppose the agreement for the country’s domestic TV rights.
Belgian Pro League secures new €103m TV deal but clubs battle over the cash
February 13 – The Belgian Pro League has awarded its new TV rights deal to Eleven Sports for a record €103 million in a five-year deal, but not all the clubs are happy with the proposed income distribution from the new agreement with both Antwerp and AA Gent opposing.
Canal+ and beIN Sports tie knot on landmark French distribution deal
February 12 – French media giant CANAL+ Group and Qatari pay broadcaster beIN SPORTS have closed the distribution and sub-licensing deal announced last December.
TV deals show balance shift to OTT as NENT adds Bundesliga to Premier League
By Paul Nicholson
February 11 – The likely shape of Europe’s premium broadcast deals in the future is starting to reveal itself, and it will be a case of evolution rather than revolution.
Premier League cracks open next broadcast rights cycle with a big Scandinavian deal
February 6 – The Premier League has concluded its first broadcast deal for the rights cycle beginning 2022 and it’s a big one.
Flamengo now locked in TV rights battle with TV Globo over Brasileirao
January 31 – Brazilian giants Flamengo have taken legal steps against broadcast behemoth TV Globo over the league’s broadcast rights contract. Earlier this season, Flamengo and Globo fell out over a rights deal for Rio de Janeiro’s state championship.
FOX grabs US rights to Concacaf’s top comps, starting with Japan 2020 qualifiers tonight
January 28 – FOX Sports in the US have swept up a premium package of broadcast rights from Concacaf including the Women’s Olympic Qualifiers that kick off tonight with Costa Rica vs Panama and the US vs Haiti.
Man City revamp OTT service under new CITY+ brand with increased content
January 24 – Manchester City has launched an new content service across its digital platforms. Branded CITY+, it is the described as the ‘evolution’ of the club’s OTT offering launched last July.
New launch LaLigaTV adds Virgin to Sky distribution and 11m+ market potential
January 15 – The new LaLigaTV channel that launched this week on the Sky TV platform in the UK as a standalone service has now added the Virgin Media cable platform to its distribution. The channel now has access to a potential 11.7 million subscription market in the UK.
English FA to review TV deal after Bet365 restricts viewing to those with a bet placed
January 9 – English football authorities have agreed to review their decision to allow broadcast rights for FA Cup games to be sold for streaming by betting companies after critics warned the arrangement could encourage gambling.
BeIN scores twice with Euro 2020 rights in France and US distribution deal
By Paul Nicholson
January 9 – It has been a good week so far for Qatar-based broadcaster BeIN Sports who have secured the rights in France to the UEFA 2020 European Championships, while in the US expanding its free service, BeIN Sports Xtra, on to the HC2 Broadcasting platform.