Supponor and ADI combine to boost ad options and distribution
October 9 – Digital pitchside advertising specialists Supponor and ADI have combined their expertise to launch the world’s first broadcast quality LED virtual advertising solution.
Broadcast
MLS heads south of the border with Fox Sports Latin America
By Ben Nicholson
October 6 – The MLS has added another TV deal to its expanding roster by partnering with FOX Sports Latin America to televise matches in Mexico, South America (excepting Brazil where the MLS already partners with Globosat), Central America and the Caribbean. The deal now makes the MLS available for viewing in almost 120 countries and territories worldwide.
France’s LFP renews host broadcast deal with HBS
By Samindra Kunti
September 28 – France’s Professional Football League (LFP) has extended its partnership with production company HBS (Host Broadcast Services) for a further four years.
Neville joins Ancelotti and Owen as Sina’s European pundits in China
By Tom Parsons
September 24 – Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has agreed a deal to become a regular analyst on China’s Sina Sports network where he will link up with current pundits Carlo Ancelotti and Michael Owen.
Gracenote DVR technology means you need never miss a penalty shoot out again
By Paul Nicholson
September 17 – US data company Gracenote, which earlier this year debuted in the sports data business with the acquisition of Infostrada Sports and SportsDirect, has launched its ‘DVR Extend’ feature for cable and satellite broadcasters in the US that will mean viewers who record games need never miss extra time or a penalty shoot-out.
NBC renews Premier League TV rights for US in 6-year deal
By Andrew Warshaw
August 11 – The pre-season march of English Premier League clubs through the US has paid off with American broadcaster NBC announcing it has struck a deal to show live Premier League games for the next six years, extending its current contract until 2022.
Suning Corp takes La Liga deep in Chinese TV market
August 6 – The growing importance and wealth of the Chinese market has been underlined by a deal to broadcast Spanish matches in some 300 cities from this season.
Sky wins 3-year renewal for La Liga rights in UK
August 6 – The TV bidding war between Sky Sports and BT Sport has been ratcheted up a notch with the former announcing it has renewed live coverage of Spain’s La Liga for the next three seasons.
IMG picks up Barca TV for renewed international push
By Paul Nicholson
July 15 – The Spanish TV market is hotting up as the country’s power clubs and La Liga push the Spanish brand harder in international broadcast markets. Global sports marketing agency IMG has picked up the sales and distribution rights to Barcelona’s TV channel in a three-year deal licensed to them by Spain’s telecommunications giant Telefónica.
CSKA holds value as broadcasters battle for amateur league rights
By Alexander Krassimirov
July 9 – Bulgaria’s CSKA Sofia may have been dropped to the amateur divisions of the country’s football structure, but the club is still in demand. Four Bulgarian broadcasters are fighting over TV rights for the club’s matches in the amateur V league.
EBU picks up EURO2016 broadcast rights for 26 countries
By Samindra Kunti
June 26 – The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the alliance of free-to-air European broadcasters, has struck an agreement with UEFA for the exclusive broadcast rights for EURO2016 across 26 European territories.
Collective TV sales to boost Spanish clubs by extra €600m
By David Owen
June 7 – Spain’s La Liga may overhaul the Bundesliga as the second-highest revenue-generating football league by the season after next, as the long-awaited switch to a collective sales model for TV rights provides a substantial boost to broadcasting income.
NTV Plus poised to extend Russian Premier League pay TV deal
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
May 25 – Russian broadcaster NTV Plus has reportedly agreed the terms for extending its current broadcasting deal with Russia’s Premier League (RPL). The new contract is for a three-year period, and it is estimated to be worth at least RUB 5.6 billion (€101 million).
Deltatre and Vizrt roll out enhanced TV graphics package to broadcast market
April 13 – Sports media services company delatratre has teamed up with TV graphics producer Vizrt to launch a new virtual sports graphics solution for broadcasters.
Brazil World Tour kicks off on Copa90 opening new channel for rightsholders
March 26 – Copa90, the digital football network, will showcase a new broadcast distribtuion option for rightsholders and sports-sponsor brands at the Stade de France tonight when the Brazil World Tour kicks off.