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.
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.
September 7 – Streaming giant DAZN has acquired the rights to Spain’s women’s Primera Division in a €35 million global, five-season deal.
September 1 – After a gap of two seasons, Germany’s Bundesliga will return to beIN Sports screens in a three-year deal starting this weekend.
August 31 – Hollywood star and Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds has weighed into the broadcast debate over the National League, and has found the support of the English Tier 5 league’s title sponsor Vanarama.
August 22 – Paramount and CBS have struck a record six-year $1.5 billion deal with UEFA for the US broadcast rights to the Champions League, Europe’s premier club competition.
August 17 – beIN Sport has renewed rights to the English Football League’s (EFL) three divisions, play-offs and Cup competition in a two-season deal.
August 16 – Broadcaster BeIN Sports has partnered with social media platform Twitter to share content during the World Cup in November and December.
August 15 – Streaming operator Viaplay Group has announced a multi-year deal with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.
August 3 – England’s Premier League, and Spain’s LaLiga have both announced new deals in China suggesting that there may be a thawing in football relationships with the country that has pretty much closed its doors to outside football influence.
July 27 – Micro-payment streaming platform Recast has launched a Manchester City channel that is available globally and kicked off with the club’s friendly against Bayern Munich last weekend in Green Bay.
July 21 – Turkish media company Saran, who had secured the Turkish SuperLig roghts only to have them stripped and returned to late and higher bidding beIN Sports/Digiturk, have secured LaLiga rights.
July 1 – With beIN Sports pulling out of the bids for Serie A broadcast rights, the Italian league and its chief executive Luigi De Servio has awarded the rights to Abu Dhabi Media group in a deal that is less than beIN were offering before they pulled out.
By Paul Nicholson
June 30 – Just as Serie A looked to have repaired bridges with beIN Sports for its broadcast rights in the Middle East and Africa, the league’s chief executive Luigi De Servio has surprisingly cast doubts on a potential deal brokered by AS Roma that could bring the league and the broadcaster back into alignment.
