NBC Sports closure raises questions over $1.3bn Premier League deal
January 27 – Premier League broadcast rights partner NBC, is shutting its Sports Network in the US and is expected to close operations by the end of 2021.
Broadcast
Chinese TV channel countersues Premier League for $116m over broken contract
January 20 – In an escalation of a Covid-19 dispute, Chinese broadcaster PPLive Sports International has countersued the English Premier League for failing to live up to the terms of its contract.
Serie A hedges its bets as it hunts for funds with Middle East broadcast tender
By Paul Nicholson
January 15 – Serie A, who are in the final stages of hiving off their commercial rights to venture capitalist CVC for $1.7 billion, will have an early test of that value with the league having issued a tender for the broadcast rights for the Middle East and Africa.
LFP to issue new domestic TV tender as it frantically looks to replace Canal+ deal
January 18 – The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) is to issue a new tender for French domestic TV rights after broadcaster Canal+ returned its Ligue 1 media rights to the LFP.
French league crisis deepens as Canal+ hands rights back saying league is ‘devalued’
January 13 – In another major blow to French football, broadcaster Canal+ will return the Ligue 1 media rights to the LFP, demanding a new tender is issued.
Failed Mediapro partnership strikes financial fear into hearts of French club football
December 21 – French football is still counting the cost of the loss of the Mediapro broadcast deal that has plunged a raft of clubs, already hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, into further financial disarray.
beIN holds on to Premier League rights with reported $500m 3-year renewal
By Paul Nicholson
December 18 – The Premier League has renewed its broadcast rights partnership with beIN SPORTS for the Middle East and North Africa region for a new three-year terms running through to 2025.
Spurs follow Barca and turn on to Twitch with official channel
December 18 – Twitch is rapidly becoming the newest must-have ‘broadcast’ channel for clubs, with Premier League Tottenham Hotspur launching their service on Wednesday. LaLiga’s Barcelona announced they were migrating new content to a Twitch last week.
Mediapro cuts LFP ties with €100m pay-off and closes Teléfoot channel
December 14 – The Professional Football League (LFP) and Mediapro have reached an agreement to part ways with the Spanish agency paying €100 million in compensation.
Eleven Sports takes a deep dive into football live streaming with MyCujoo acquisition
November 10 – Sports broadcast platform Eleven has acquired live streaming company MyCujoo and its Live Services streaming technology for an undisclosed sum.
Premier League set to suspend PPV experiment as lockdown and fan pressure rejigs TV game
November 6 – The English Premier League’s controversial pay-per-view model that has caused outrage amongst fans’ groups has moved a step closer to being scrapped after this weekend.
Amazon expands football output with Juventus TV channel debut on Prime Video
November 5 – Serie A giant Juventus has increased its club TV channel distribution making it available via Prime Video, the first club in Europe to TV channel available on the Amazon service.
Premier League keeps price at £14.95 as PPV debut generates £5.24m from 9 games
October 28 – The Premier League are not moving on its controversial pay-per-view (PPV) broadcast arrangements for the next two rounds of matches but clubs have agreed to review the pricing after that point.
NWSL breaks all broadcast records with revamped season
October 26 – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) completed its rearranged 2020 schedule reporting record breaking broadcast numbers with its new CBS TV deal.
Mediapro seeks rights fee rebate on €172m demanded by LFP
October 22 – Spanish media rights agency Mediapro is seeking a negotiated solution with the LFP after the French league issued a €172 million demand for unpaid rights fees.