Europe
DAZN threatens legal steps in escalation of Bundesliga rights dispute
The row between the DFL and its incumbent broadcaster DAZN has escalated after the latter vowed to take legal action over the Bundesliga domestic tender, prompting a fiery response from the league.
NHL relishing early weekend puck drops for European growth
The National Hockey League is giving serious consideration to further changing its matchday scheduling at home to create more game windows for fans in Europe as part of internationalisation plans that are already proving fruitful. Shawn Meadow reports.
French Ligue 1 clubs enjoy record €3bn revenue, boosted by CVC investment
Private equity investment in French football has had the benefit of boosting revenues to record sums, but losses remain a concern despite narrowing year-on-year.
Mediaset negotiates another free-to-air rights deal for Spanish GP
Mediaset España has again secured free-to-air rights to Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix in a deal negotiated with media group and subscription broadcaster DAZN.
CVC outperforms expectations on first day of trading
The IPO of the sports-focused private equity firm is the best debut of a $1bn-plus offering on a European exchange in more than three years.
Juventus appoints Two Circles to support main shirt sponsor search
Juventus FC has appointed the Two Circles agency as it intensifies its efforts to identify a new brand to replace long-standing front-of-shirt sponsor Jeep.
Ex-DAZN rights EVP Walker consulting Commercial Sports Media
Sports media rights executive Stew Walker has been recruited by Commercial Sports Media (CSM) as a consultant to work in the UK market
Guinness set to replace Budweiser in Premier League portfolio
Diageo-owned beer brand Guinness is set to take over the Premier League’s beer category rights from the departing incumbent - AB InBev’s Budweiser – after this season.
Quidd makes digital collectibles deal with Manchester City
Premier League club Manchester City has signed a multi-year ‘Official Partner’ agreement with Quidd, a subsidiary of Hong Kong software developer Animoca Brands.
Football, Olympics rights executive Fratellia leaves EBU after 17 years
Pascal Fratellia, the European Broadcasting Union’s director of Olympics and head of football rights for close to 15 years, is leaving the free-to-air broadcasting consortium.
Viaplay rights sublicensing alleviates price burden on subscribers, distributors
Viaplay’s sublicensing of sports rights and non-sports content helped to generate close to six-per-cent organic growth in its core markets during the first quarter as the broadcaster recognises that i…
Hungarian government ‘signals backing’ for Ferencváros Gazprom deal
The Hungarian government has given its blessing to a controversial sponsorship deal between Russian energy firm Gazprom and the country’s leading football team Ferencváros, signalling its intention to continue relations with Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine.
EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool to swap Nike for Adidas in new kit supply deal
Liverpool FC is poised to announce a new kit supplier deal with Adidas that will begin with the 2025-26 season, SportBusiness can exclusively reveal.
Cofidis extends as pro cycling team title sponsor
French consumer credit company Cofidis will continue to sink more than €10m ($10.7m) per year into its men's, women's and paracycling teams through 2028, despite limited success on the road in recent years.
Chance ousts Fortuna as Czech league title sponsor
Chance, a subsidiary of Tipsport, has acquired title sponsorship rights to the top two divisions of Czech football, ending rival betting firm Fortuna’s backing of the leagues.
Viaplay set for crucial F1 rights hold in Dutch market
Viaplay is closing in on the renewal of its key Formula 1 rights in the Netherlands in a deal that would help to alleviate doubts over its future in the Dutch market following a wider international retreat.
FC Porto sells off portion of stadium commercial rights for €65m
Portuguese Primeira Liga club FC Porto has agreed a 25-year deal with Spanish company Ithaka to sell 30 per cent of the economic rights to its Dragão stadium in return for a €65m ($69.2m) investment.
Skweek’s seven-year French basketball deal axed amid L’Équipe production row
Skweek’s sublicensing deal for France’s LNB Pro A has collapsed amid a dispute with the production arm of L’Équipe, increasing the scrutiny over the future of the basketball streaming platform’s short-te…