Media
Features
Covid-19 accelerates move into challenging new era for sports media rights business
SportBusiness gathered a panel of experts at the All That Matters Online 2020 conference to discuss the challenges being faced in the sports media rights sector.
ESPN ready to hit ground running as Bundesliga partnership in US kicks off
ESPN is putting on major marketing effort to promote its new media-rights deal with German top flight league while also focusing on wider long-term content initiatives. Bob Williams reports
Premier League takes pride of place on Peacock as NBCU’s key weapon in streaming wars
NBCUniversal is actively looking to utilize NBC Sports' premium properties to attract subscribers to its new streaming service and help differentiate the platform from its rivals in the crowded and competitive direct-to-consumer marketplace.
Francis: OTT streaming operators have struggled to provide lockdown service
Barney Francis, the former managing director of the UK division of Sky Sports, has suggested the Covid-19 crisis has exposed the business models of some of the OTT streaming services operating in the sports sector but says there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the industry. Ben Cronin reports.
US television viewership data set for historic changes with enhanced out-of-home reporting
After years of industry debate and development, Nielsen this month is beginning widespread measurement of out-of-home television viewership in the US, a move set to create significant changes across the sports industry
Digiturk yet to pay first quarter of Süper Lig fee as FX issue resurfaces
Digiturk, the Turkish pay-television subsidiary of beIN Media Group, is yet to pay the first 25 per cent of its fee for the broadcast rights to the 2020-21 Turkish Süper Lig as an issue over the exchange …
Canal Plus makes legal challenge to Mediapro’s Téléfoot demands
French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus has initiated legal proceedings in a complaint over the ‘unequal’ treatment it feels is being meted out by agency and production group Mediapro in carriage tal…
Bundesliga offers broadcasters IP-based streaming, Claro and Band secure rights
The German Football League (DFL) is providing its international rights-holding broadcasters with IP-based live streaming through its tie-up with Amazon Web Services, the cloud computing subsidiary of Amazon
Dugout adds beIN Sports to US publisher network
Football-focused media company Dugout has announced a new partnership with beIN Sports North America, expanding its network of publisher partners in the US
Chris Russo | What’s next for sports betting and media deals?
Chris Russo, chief executive of boutique consulting firm CRX Sports & Gaming, looks ahead to deal trends set to emerge in 2020's fourth quarter
NBA draws on Microsoft partnership to reshape virtual fan experience
The NBA has taken fan engagement in the wake of Covid-19 to a new level by allowing at-home viewers to be seen and heard by their favorite players in Orlando. Bob Williams reports
Having delivered the Champions and Europa League, Uefa must figure out media rebates
Evidence suggests record viewership for closed-door Uefa Champions and Europa League fixtures won't prevent broadcasters from demanding rebates for lost fixtures. Callum McCarthy examines how the governing body might approach negotiations.
Simon Green, BT Sport | Closed-door matches “not the product we paid for”
Simon Green, head of broadcaster BT Sport, talks about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on media rights values and consumer habits and says closed-door sport is not the product the broadcaster paid for. Adam Nelson reports.
Sport must weather media industry turbulence | APOS media conference takeaways, Part II
Second of a two-part report from the APOS 2020 Virtual Series, the online incarnation of the leading Asia-Pacific media, telecoms and entertainment industry conference hosted by Media Partners Asia.
“The future of TV across Asia is online” | Takeaways from the APOS media conference, Part I
SportBusiness reports back from the APOS 2020 Virtual Series, the online incarnation of the leading Asia-Pacific media, telecoms and entertainment industry conference hosted by Media Partners Asia.
BT Sport COO Jamie Hindhaugh on socially-distanced boxing and the remote production roadmap
SportBusiness speaks to Jamie Hindhaugh, chief operating officer of BT Sport, who says that in the light of Covid-19, remote production points the way towards the broadcaster’s future
Jair Bolsonaro’s swipe at Globo injects yet more uncertainty into Brazilian football
The business of Brazilian club football is a minefield at the best of times, but a temporary change to the law by the country’s president Jair Bolsonaro has made it even trickier, especially for dominant media giant, Globo.
RSNs look to MLB intrasquad games as key source of new content, preparation for upcoming season
What previously were just MLB practice sessions unseen by fans have become an important source of content for clubs and their regional sports networks, and have helped broadcast production crews prepare for the regular season
Lee Choong Khay | After Covid-19, the sports media rights model must change
Lee Choong Khay, head of sport at Malaysian pay-television broadcaster Astro, implores rights-holders and broadcasters to take the opportunity of the Covid-19 interruption to reconsider the sports media rights model.
Asia-Pacific industry reacts to the award of the 2023 Women’s World Cup
Asia-Pacific sports industry insiders react to the award of the 2023 Fifa Women's World Cup to Australia and New Zealand.
DDMC Fortis becomes FMA and remains bullish as AFC project enters ‘operational’ phase
Football Marketing Asia CEO Patrick Murphy explains the rebrand of his agency and the change of gear within the business this year, and provides a progress report on its Asian Football Confederation project.
Anthony Goddard | Premier League returns with record audiences
Anthony Goddard, head of media research, Publicis Sport & Entertainment, delves into the numbers to see how the UK’s football public returned to their seats for Premier League action after the Covid-19 enforced hiatus.
Spotify’s collective model inspires new ATP chairman Gaudenzi
ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi talks about a challenging first nine months as ATP chairman and explains what tennis can learn from the music industry. Ben Cronin reports.
Gaudenzi: “Linear programming wasn’t a good fit for tennis”
In the latest video interview from SportBusiness, ATP chairman, Andrea Gaudenzi, speaks to Europe editor Ben Cronin about plans to resume the international tennis tour in August and his vision to centralise…
LaLiga’s Chinese JV focuses on sponsorship, merchandising in push to become leading foreign football league
LaLiga is aiming to become the biggest overseas football league in China via its new joint-venture in the market with Mediapro and Super Sports Media, Sergi Torrents, the JV’s chief executive, told SportBusiness this week.
MLB looks for audience lift in reformatted Draft
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic helped lead to a dramatic reduction in the number of rounds for the MLB Draft. But the league and its media partners are still hoping for lift among a competition-starved fan base
Green screen dreams becoming reality in Covid-19 era
Virtual backdrops and ‘watch together’ social media services are in focus as sport returns behind closed doors.
Nascar begins to expand audience with iRacing Pro Invitational Series
Nascar's newly developed iRacing Pro Invitational Series after several initial races is proving to be a powerful tool in reaching fans who had not previously followed the organization.