LaLiga to broadcast second tier globally on Youttube
January 11 – Matches from the second tier of Spanish football are to be broadcast on Youtube with English commentary in a bid to boost the division’s international appeal.
Broadcast
AFC steps up Saudi and beoutQ pressure as every game of Asian Cup is pirated
By Paul Nicholson in Abu Dhabi
January 9 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has issued a statement condemning the Saudi-backed pirate broadcaster beoutQ’s theft of live matches from the Asian Cup currently being played in the UAE.
LaLiga distributes €1.32bn of TV cash to clubs with Barca and Real topping payouts
January 4 – LaLiga has distributed more than €1.32 billion from broadcast revenue to with Barcelona and Real Madrid taking almost 25% of the pot with a combined €302 million.
World Cup TV figures break records with 1.12bn tuning in for final
December 21 – A record audience of more than 3.5 billion people watched this year’s World Cup in Russia, with the final between France and Croatia attracting 1.12 billion viewers, according to FIFA.
Saudis lose first round of beoutQ battle at WTO after EU and China speak against
By Paul Nicholson
December 19 – The European Union, China and Canada all spoke out in support of Qatar’s case against Saudi Arabia at a World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting today discussing the beoutQ piracy of broadcast programming. All three backed the contention that Qatar had the right to pursue protection of the intellectual copyright through the organisation.
Level US playing field? Comcast flexes its muscle and keeps beIN off its network
December 17 – beIN SPORTS, battling industrial scale piracy of their sports rights in the Middle East by Saudi Arabian broadcaster beoutQ, are now being forced to fight for fair treatment for their channel distribution in the US.
With beoutQ piracy rampant, beIN Sport protests Serie A’s Super Cup ‘reward’ for Saudis
By Paul Nicholson
December 12 – Qatar-based pan-regional broadcaster beIN Sport has written to Serie A to ask the Italian league to reconsider the recently announced three-year deal for the staging of the Italian Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia.
Atlanta’s MLS Cup win over Portland breaks Fox streaming records
December 12 – Atlanta United’s 2-0 win over Portland Timbers at the weekend is the most watched MLS Cup since 1997.
Online bookies agree ‘whistle-to-whistle’ TV ad ban in UK
December 6 – British gambling companies have struck a ground-breaking deal which will see the end of their tv adverts during live matches.
Sky defend £595m for EFL as a good deal, but clubs angry at losing OTT control
November 26 – The English Football League’s Championship clubs, still furious at the £595 million TV rights deal signed by the league with Sky Sports, were sent a message from Sky’s managing director Barney Francis that the money is a fair offer and the only one that was on the table.
Spanish FA strikes deal with Footters to stream Segunda B and Tercera División
November 26 – The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has signed a three-year agreement with streaming platform Footters to broadcast matches from the Segunda B and Tercera División.
Mediapro boss Roures adamant that LFP rights will stay with planned €25pcm football channel
November 21 – Spanish rights agency Mediapro is undergoing something of a resurgence after coming under scrutiny for its links to the South American firms that were behind much of the corruption in the football rights market that saw more than 40 individuals indicted in the US.
EFL agrees £595m Sky deal but Championship clubs aren’t happy
November 20 – The deadline set by the English Football League (EFL) for its dissident Championship clubs to come up with an alternative TV deal beating the £595 million offer from Sky Sports passed yesterday.
SPFL confirms biggest ever TV deals with Sky, Premier and BBC
November 20 – The Scottish Professional Football League has officially confirmed a series of broadcast deals following an auction process which sees Sky Sports become the lead broadcaster of the SPL from 2020 and Premier Sports the Betfred Cup.
Premier Sports grabs Scottish Cup for £20m as Sky set to close £100m SPFL deal
November 15 – Scottish football has secured a second key TV rights deal following on from news last week that the SPFL was closing in on a £100 million three-year deal with Sky.