Netflix to make first Spanish sports docuseries with LaLiga
February 20 – LaLiga LaLiga has announced a partnership with Netflix to develop the streaming giant’s first sports documentary series in Spain.
Broadcast
OneFootball and DAZN test new ground with live football PPV distribution deal
February 3 – Sports streaming leaders DAZN and OneFootball have struck a distribution deal that will widen the reach of DAZN content in Germany and Austria via OneFootball’s network.
DAZN boosts global streaming roll-out with Prime Video distribution deal
January 20 – Sports-streaming giant DAZN has agreed a deal with Prime Video to distribute its service in Amazon’s Prime Video Channels.
DAZN reveals $1.36bn loss but reports pick-up in subs and engagement as model evolves
January 12 – Sports-streaming giant DAZN has reported an operating loss of $1.36 billion in 2021, taking the company’s total losses over the past three reported financial years to $5 billion.
Real Madrid and Barca easily top LaLiga’s tv earners with €160m each
December 30 – Real Madrid tops the table of broadcast revenue LaLiga is distributing to its clubs for the 2021/22 season at €160 million, marginally ahead of rivals Barcelona. Atletico Madrid rank third with €130 million.
MLS secures domestic Fox and TelevisaUnivision deals ahead of Apple season pass launch
December 15 – Major League Soccer has released detail of its expanded four-year ‘linear’ television agreements with FOX Sports and TelevisaUnivision in the US, plus TSN and RDS in Canada.
MUTV distribution expanded to smart TVs and key digital platforms
December 6 – Manchester United have increased the distribution of their broadcast channel making the MUTV app available on Samsung, LG and Android smart and connected TVs.
beIN Sports reports record breaking 1bn+ viewers for Qatar 2022 openers
November 30 – BeIN Sports, the broadcast rights holder for the MENA region for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, is claiming more than 111 million viewers tuned in for the Opening Ceremony, while a cumulative total of more than 900 million watched the first 16 group stage games.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Qatar’s beIN and Saudis in new broadcast spat
November 27 – With relations between Qatar and Saudi Arabia seemingly having found a new level cordiality in polar opposite to the Saudi-led blockade of the country two years ago, a new dispute has arisen around broadcast rights that could threaten the detente.
Euro 2024 and 2028 to remain free-to-air on BBC and ITV in UK
November 9 – The next two European championships will remain free to the general public after UK public-service broadcaster the BBC and commercial broadcaster ITV agreed to continue to share the rights.
Sky extends Snapchat deal and adds WSL content
November 1 – Sky Sports UK has renewed its partnership with short-form mobile content platform Snapchat Discover.
Sky impairment charges push Comcast to $3.6 bn loss in third quarter
By David Owen
October 30 – US media conglomerate Comcast has posted a third-quarter loss after including $8.6 billion of impairment charges related to Sky, its UK-centred media and telecommunications business with live rights to Premier League football.
beIN bite back calling Tebas’ personal feud ‘unhinged’ and a threat to Spanish football
October 28 – Broadcaster beIN Sports has said it has paid its latest instalment owed to La Liga following the Spanish league’s move to secure a court order following a dispute over payment rescheduling.
Peace in our time: Qatar’s beIN signs exclusive ad sales deal with Saudi’s SMC
October 27 – Proof that all is love in the Qatari/Saudi Arabian media world has been shown again with the announcement that beIN Media Group has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Riyadh-based media sales group SMC.
EBU saves FIFA’s blushes with 28-country deal for WWC2023, but Europe’s big markets still holding out
October 25 – While FIFA is demanding that broadcasters in Europe’s biggest TV markets in the UK, Germany, Italy, France and Spain massively increase their offers for broadcast rights to the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand, the world governing body has agreed a deal with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for 28 of the continent’s smaller TV territories.