RIGHTS FEES
=> Australia’s Seven, Foxtel and Telstra unveiled as winners for the rights to broadcast Australian Football League from 2012 to 2016, in a deal worth A$1.25 bil ($1.35 bil) over 5 years, beginning 2012. The new deal comprises a cash component of A$1.12 bil, with A$135 mil in contra arrangements. Seven will broadcast 4 matches in each 9-match round plus all finals, and can choose to sub-license any of the 4 games to other broadcasters, with Ch.10 or rival Nine Network set to acquire rights to some. Fox Sports will carry live coverage of every match, except the Toyota AFL Grand Final via subscription TV and IPTV. Foxtel will re-establish a dedicated AFL channel for the purpose. Telstra will show every match online, using its Telstra NextG service which can be viewed on mobile phones and iPads. FTAs are now also permitted to show matches live on secondary channels for the first time.
=> South African-based SuperSport has won TV rights to UEFA Champions League, Super Cup and Europa League for the next 3 years. Deal covers sub-Saharan Africa and the adjacent islands, a geographical reach including South Africa and Nigeria. A similar deal, excluding Nigerian rights, was struck 3 years ago, the overall value of the package was estimated at US$31.5 million. The new, expanded deal is likely to be worth a significant amount more than that thanks to the inclusion of Nigeria, which is usually believed to account for 50% of the sub-Saharan market.
BROADCAST & RIGHTS DISTRIBUTION
=> One World Sports has acquired exclusive broadcast rights in N.America to show Japanese top-tier J. League. OWS agreed a deal with World Sport Group to show TV, internet and mobile coverage of 2 games per week. In March, OWS broadcast the fundraiser between the Japanese national team and the J. League All Stars. It is the fourth deal struck this year between OWS and WSG.
STATS & DATA
=> An Ogilvy study suggests shoppers become increasingly sophisticated in their use of mobile phones. Conducted among 1,500 shoppers in the US, UK and Singapore, the study revealed a category of advanced users of mobile phones in the retail space called Innovators, suggesting that 84% of these searched Google from a phone while in a store to get information on a product, while 61% of Innovators scanned a bar code or quick-response (QR) code with a mobile phone. 67% of Innovators looked at a product in-store and then ordered it from a phone while still in the retail environment. 59% of the early majority of smart phone users looked at a product in-store and ordered it online, only 27% ordered it from a phone.
BIZ & BITES
=> The J. League resumed on Saturday after a 6-week suspension of play in the aftermath of the March 11 disaster. Players and fans at league stadia nationwide observed a moment's silence before kick-off to honour thousands who were lost in the tragedy. The Japanese Football Association said the country's football clubs are working hard to bounce back from the earthquake and tsunami. Many of the J. League Club's stadia suffered damage from the disaster and the president expressed great joy that it now seems that this season has the chance of becoming a successful one.
=> An FC Barcelona executive said the controversial GBP150 mil ($218m) sponsorship deal the club signed with Qatar Foundation last December enabled it to keep hold of Lionel Messi. The club would have been forced to sell its best players without the deal. 'The arrival of Qatar Foundation on the jersey was necessary but did not please the romantics. But if we did not have this sponsorship, we would have had to sell." The Qatar Foundation - which is a philanthropic organisation run by the Emir's wife, Sheikha Mozah - signed the GBP30 mil /year deal with the Catalan giants last December.
Thursday, 28th April 2011
RIGHTS FEES
=> UK’s BSkyB and ITV have renewed rights to UEFA Champions League in the UK. UEFA announced deals with BSkyB and ITV from 2012/13 to 2014/15 and the new deals will generate around £400 mil ($662.7 mil), the equal value of the existing contracts. ITV paid £53.3 mil /season for 2009/10 to 2011/12 for first pick of Wed night games, plus the CL final and UEFA Super Cup. ITV's new 3-year deal again incorporates the same rights. BSkyB paid £80 mil /season for rights from 2009/10 to 2011/12 for exclusive rights to all live matches and highlights on Tue, and all matches on Wed except the first-choice live match. ITV and BSkyB will continue to offer live internet and mobile coverage of CL games as part of the deal, in line with UEFA's platform neutral approach.
=> Bids from French broadcasters for rights to top two divisions of French rugby union from next season are set to become null and void. Canal+ are incumbent live rights-holder, is reported to have bid €18 mil ($26.4 mil) /year until 2015, over €10 mil less than it presently pays. France Télévisions bid €725,000 /year to maintain coverage of the final of the top-tier Top 14, while FT and C+ have bid a joint €500,000 /year for rights to the second-tier Pro D2. The LNR deemed C+’s offer unacceptable. C+ is ready to pay €30 mil /season for exclusive rights (including mobile rights currently held by Orange) with the LNR having reduced its expectations but still holding out for at least €35 mil /season.
BROADCAST & RIGHTS DISTRIBUTION
=> One World Sports continued its quest to bring top Asian sport to North America by taking up rights to golf's OneAsia series for the next 3 years. The deal, struck with OneAsia's media and marketing partner World Sport Group, involves OWS broadcasting all OneAsia tournaments exclusively in English language on TV, broadband and mobile. It is the third deal struck this year between One World Sports and World Sport Group, following the 2011 Asian Football Confederation’s Asian Cup and the AFC Champions League.
=> As the world awaits the third Clásico in ten days, Mediapro will co-produce the Real Madrid and Barcelona Champions League semifinal in 3D with Catalan pubcaster TV3. This will be the first CL semi-final produced in 3D technology in Spain. Mediapro will deploy six 3D camera positions in the Santiago Bernabéu stadium and TV3 will shoot coverage while all the technical details will belong to Mediapro including its new mobile 3D unit. The technology developed by Mediapro and Kronomav include tools enabling analysis and automatic correction of 3D video in real time. A mobile unit for shooting the 3D signal will be placed at the stadium and 3D graphics will be in real time. Output from the production will go to Turkey’s Dogan TV, Al Jazeera and Denmark TV.
BIZ & BITES
=> England’s Football Association refused to be dragged into a war of words with UEFA and the UK government which questioned whether the institution is fit for purpose. The FA was warned by the government to reshape the way soccer is run, or face threat of legislation, after being branded the "weakest national association in Europe" by UEFA. Hugh Robertson, UK's sports minister, told a parliamentary select committee conducting a two-month inquiry into soccer governance - in response to England's failed bid to host the 2018 World Cup - that little had changed at the FA since the recommendations of a review (the Burns review) into the body 6 years ago. The committee heard from William Gaillard, adviser to UEFA president Michel Platini, that the power of English soccer's elite Premier League had weakened the FA.
=> UK’s BSkyB and ITV have renewed rights to UEFA Champions League in the UK. UEFA announced deals with BSkyB and ITV from 2012/13 to 2014/15 and the new deals will generate around £400 mil ($662.7 mil), the equal value of the existing contracts. ITV paid £53.3 mil /season for 2009/10 to 2011/12 for first pick of Wed night games, plus the CL final and UEFA Super Cup. ITV's new 3-year deal again incorporates the same rights. BSkyB paid £80 mil /season for rights from 2009/10 to 2011/12 for exclusive rights to all live matches and highlights on Tue, and all matches on Wed except the first-choice live match. ITV and BSkyB will continue to offer live internet and mobile coverage of CL games as part of the deal, in line with UEFA's platform neutral approach.
=> Bids from French broadcasters for rights to top two divisions of French rugby union from next season are set to become null and void. Canal+ are incumbent live rights-holder, is reported to have bid €18 mil ($26.4 mil) /year until 2015, over €10 mil less than it presently pays. France Télévisions bid €725,000 /year to maintain coverage of the final of the top-tier Top 14, while FT and C+ have bid a joint €500,000 /year for rights to the second-tier Pro D2. The LNR deemed C+’s offer unacceptable. C+ is ready to pay €30 mil /season for exclusive rights (including mobile rights currently held by Orange) with the LNR having reduced its expectations but still holding out for at least €35 mil /season.
BROADCAST & RIGHTS DISTRIBUTION
=> One World Sports continued its quest to bring top Asian sport to North America by taking up rights to golf's OneAsia series for the next 3 years. The deal, struck with OneAsia's media and marketing partner World Sport Group, involves OWS broadcasting all OneAsia tournaments exclusively in English language on TV, broadband and mobile. It is the third deal struck this year between One World Sports and World Sport Group, following the 2011 Asian Football Confederation’s Asian Cup and the AFC Champions League.
=> As the world awaits the third Clásico in ten days, Mediapro will co-produce the Real Madrid and Barcelona Champions League semifinal in 3D with Catalan pubcaster TV3. This will be the first CL semi-final produced in 3D technology in Spain. Mediapro will deploy six 3D camera positions in the Santiago Bernabéu stadium and TV3 will shoot coverage while all the technical details will belong to Mediapro including its new mobile 3D unit. The technology developed by Mediapro and Kronomav include tools enabling analysis and automatic correction of 3D video in real time. A mobile unit for shooting the 3D signal will be placed at the stadium and 3D graphics will be in real time. Output from the production will go to Turkey’s Dogan TV, Al Jazeera and Denmark TV.
BIZ & BITES
=> England’s Football Association refused to be dragged into a war of words with UEFA and the UK government which questioned whether the institution is fit for purpose. The FA was warned by the government to reshape the way soccer is run, or face threat of legislation, after being branded the "weakest national association in Europe" by UEFA. Hugh Robertson, UK's sports minister, told a parliamentary select committee conducting a two-month inquiry into soccer governance - in response to England's failed bid to host the 2018 World Cup - that little had changed at the FA since the recommendations of a review (the Burns review) into the body 6 years ago. The committee heard from William Gaillard, adviser to UEFA president Michel Platini, that the power of English soccer's elite Premier League had weakened the FA.
Wednesday, 27th April 2011
RIGHTS FEES
=> The Ugandan Super League (USL) has inked a US$5 mil 5-year broadcast deal with SuperSport, the biggest in the league's history since Gateway Television's 2007 deal. The agreement comes into effect at the start of the 2011/12 USL season, sees SuperSport acquire exclusive broadcast rights to the soccer league, including cup competitions, and first option to renew. 18 to 20 match-weeks will be screened per season. Local broadcasters will be provided with highlights while the national broadcaster will receive one live game and one run on a tape-delay. Additionally, SuperSport will fund a broadcasting van, 12 cameras and training over 40 staff to ensure high broadcasting standards. SuperSport will also develop, manger and administer the USL website.
BROADCAST & RIGHTS DISTRIBUTION
=> Thailand’s GMM Grammy group has won exclusive broadcast rights to 2012 European Championships. Grammy will air all 31 games from Euro 2012 on its own satellite channel and terrestrial channels in Thailand. Coverage will include magazine and highlights shows and live and on-demand internet and mobile coverage. The deal includes rights to European Under-21 and Women’s Euro 2013, which will be broadcast by Grammy's terrestrial partners in Thailand. Sportfive is Uefa’s exclusive sales agency for Euro 2012 broadcast rights in Asia and Oceania excluding Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.
CONTENT
=> Fox Sports Media Group is set to produce a 6-part original series for FUEL TV, Bruce Lee Lives!, which is scheduled to debut on the channel in June. The half-hour series, which is produced by Pangolin Pictures, centers on the martial artist's influence on celebrities, such as Ryan Phillippe, Carlos Santana, Jesse Ventura and a variety of others. Each episode features a personal celebrity story and focuses on Lee’s impact on pop culture.
=> The new sports-themed health and fitness series NBA Fit is slated to premiere on Disney XD in April. The show is hosted by Daniel Curtis Lee of Zeke and Luther and includes NBA stars Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Andre Iguodala of the Philadelphia 76ers, among many others. Along with the premiere of NBA Fit, Disney XD is set to air a day of other sports-themed content, including episodes of Pair of Kings and Phineas and Ferb.
STATS & DATA
=> The connected TV revolution is predicted to accelerate, growing 30% in 2014 to a total 123 mil units. According to Q1’11 Quarterly TV Design and Features Report, DisplaySearch forecasts the connected TV market will become fragmented and increase in complexity. Basic connected sets carrying enhanced broadcast services such as Hbb.TV or basic video on demand will appeal to consumers who expect TV to remain a passive experience. Yet, there will be a segment who runs configurable apps, sophisticated search and navigation engines, and advanced user interfaces. East Europe’s market will grow from 2.5 mil connected TVs in 2010 to over 10 mil by 2014 and a third of flat panel TVs sold in China in 2013 will have internet capability. Chinese connected TV market will advance of with a surge driven by decoder chip costs reaching a tipping point, as cost for such capability is now low.
=> Google is reportedly going to make a full-blown attempt to enter the pay-TV market by charging users to stream content from its YouTube online video platform. Even though the company has denied all reports, analyst and major news outlets are predicting the service to begin before May 2011 beginning with pay video-on-demand (VOD) service and evolving into offerings as well a sell-through option. It is also expected that Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner Brothers, Lionsgate and Universal will be among those offering content at launch.
=> After a year of stagnation due to worldwide recession, pay-TV numbers are bouncing back globally and pay-TV subscribers by 2014 will approach 1.4 billion, says In-Stat. China has the largest number of pay TV subs, with over 160 mil. The largest regional market of IPTV subs is Western Europe, with nearly 17.5 mil subs, of which France has over 10 mil, led by Free and Orange. In terms of market leaders, Net Servicos de Comunicacao of Brazil is the largest cable operator in the Caribbean and Latin America region.
BIZ & BITES
=> Tennis’ Grand Slam Committee, made up of the chairmen of the four grand slam tournaments – Wimbledon and the French, Australian and US Opens – is to open a full-time office, led by Bill Babcock, to handle increased levels of Grand Slam Committee business. Babcock becomes the full-time director of the committee, stepping down from his position as ITF executive director of the professional tennis department. The committee office will be located at the ITF headquarters in Roehampton, west London. Babcock will be supported by Katie Wright, who joins the office as project co-ordinator.
=> F1 promoter, Bernie Ecclestone, has hinted that he would quit the sport if Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation succeeds in a bid to take control of the sport. News Corp’s is reportedly aiming to televise the F1 via its own channels but any move to switch TV coverage to pay-TV channels of News Corp and América Móvil would be controversial, given that F1 has always relied on exposure on FTA TV to attract sponsors that pay millions of dollars a year to associate themselves with teams and races. Pay-TV coverage has always been regarded as an adjunct to FTA exposure.
=> Archery’s FITA will not look for another sports marketing agency to distribute worldwide broadcast rights after taking it back in-house although it would consider working with agencies for specific territories. FITA signed a long-term distribution deal with MP & Silva early 2009, but that was terminated prematurely end 2010. MPS was appointed for 6 years to exclusively sell broadcast rights worldwide and seek sponsorships on a non-exclusive basis. FITA has 2 current international broadcast deals; a long-term agreement with Korean FTA SBS (brokered by MPS) and with Italian pubcaster, RAI. FITA has a 26-min pre-season highlights show to add to 6 existing 26-min highlights shows for six events (World Cup, World Cup Final and World Archery Field Championships). TV production is handled by World Archery TV and HD was introduced for the first time in 2010.
=> Skateboarding has a greater chance of Olympic Games inclusion now since the International Olympic Committee included “visionaries” among its ranks. The UCI, cycling’s world governing body, has been seeking to include skateboarding as a discipline of cycling at future Olympic Games. The UCI first proposed the inclusion of skateboarding in the programme for London Olympic Games in 2007, but the IOC said then that it would be “premature.” It is thought that BMX Freestyle cycling and skateboarding could be introduced to the Olympics together, as they use similar facilities, including the so-called 'half-pipes' on which tricks are performed. The UCI proposed to ‘adopt’ skateboarding since it is not represented by any IOC-recognised federation.
=> The Ugandan Super League (USL) has inked a US$5 mil 5-year broadcast deal with SuperSport, the biggest in the league's history since Gateway Television's 2007 deal. The agreement comes into effect at the start of the 2011/12 USL season, sees SuperSport acquire exclusive broadcast rights to the soccer league, including cup competitions, and first option to renew. 18 to 20 match-weeks will be screened per season. Local broadcasters will be provided with highlights while the national broadcaster will receive one live game and one run on a tape-delay. Additionally, SuperSport will fund a broadcasting van, 12 cameras and training over 40 staff to ensure high broadcasting standards. SuperSport will also develop, manger and administer the USL website.
BROADCAST & RIGHTS DISTRIBUTION
=> Thailand’s GMM Grammy group has won exclusive broadcast rights to 2012 European Championships. Grammy will air all 31 games from Euro 2012 on its own satellite channel and terrestrial channels in Thailand. Coverage will include magazine and highlights shows and live and on-demand internet and mobile coverage. The deal includes rights to European Under-21 and Women’s Euro 2013, which will be broadcast by Grammy's terrestrial partners in Thailand. Sportfive is Uefa’s exclusive sales agency for Euro 2012 broadcast rights in Asia and Oceania excluding Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.
CONTENT
=> Fox Sports Media Group is set to produce a 6-part original series for FUEL TV, Bruce Lee Lives!, which is scheduled to debut on the channel in June. The half-hour series, which is produced by Pangolin Pictures, centers on the martial artist's influence on celebrities, such as Ryan Phillippe, Carlos Santana, Jesse Ventura and a variety of others. Each episode features a personal celebrity story and focuses on Lee’s impact on pop culture.
=> The new sports-themed health and fitness series NBA Fit is slated to premiere on Disney XD in April. The show is hosted by Daniel Curtis Lee of Zeke and Luther and includes NBA stars Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Andre Iguodala of the Philadelphia 76ers, among many others. Along with the premiere of NBA Fit, Disney XD is set to air a day of other sports-themed content, including episodes of Pair of Kings and Phineas and Ferb.
STATS & DATA
=> The connected TV revolution is predicted to accelerate, growing 30% in 2014 to a total 123 mil units. According to Q1’11 Quarterly TV Design and Features Report, DisplaySearch forecasts the connected TV market will become fragmented and increase in complexity. Basic connected sets carrying enhanced broadcast services such as Hbb.TV or basic video on demand will appeal to consumers who expect TV to remain a passive experience. Yet, there will be a segment who runs configurable apps, sophisticated search and navigation engines, and advanced user interfaces. East Europe’s market will grow from 2.5 mil connected TVs in 2010 to over 10 mil by 2014 and a third of flat panel TVs sold in China in 2013 will have internet capability. Chinese connected TV market will advance of with a surge driven by decoder chip costs reaching a tipping point, as cost for such capability is now low.
=> Google is reportedly going to make a full-blown attempt to enter the pay-TV market by charging users to stream content from its YouTube online video platform. Even though the company has denied all reports, analyst and major news outlets are predicting the service to begin before May 2011 beginning with pay video-on-demand (VOD) service and evolving into offerings as well a sell-through option. It is also expected that Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner Brothers, Lionsgate and Universal will be among those offering content at launch.
=> After a year of stagnation due to worldwide recession, pay-TV numbers are bouncing back globally and pay-TV subscribers by 2014 will approach 1.4 billion, says In-Stat. China has the largest number of pay TV subs, with over 160 mil. The largest regional market of IPTV subs is Western Europe, with nearly 17.5 mil subs, of which France has over 10 mil, led by Free and Orange. In terms of market leaders, Net Servicos de Comunicacao of Brazil is the largest cable operator in the Caribbean and Latin America region.
BIZ & BITES
=> Tennis’ Grand Slam Committee, made up of the chairmen of the four grand slam tournaments – Wimbledon and the French, Australian and US Opens – is to open a full-time office, led by Bill Babcock, to handle increased levels of Grand Slam Committee business. Babcock becomes the full-time director of the committee, stepping down from his position as ITF executive director of the professional tennis department. The committee office will be located at the ITF headquarters in Roehampton, west London. Babcock will be supported by Katie Wright, who joins the office as project co-ordinator.
=> F1 promoter, Bernie Ecclestone, has hinted that he would quit the sport if Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation succeeds in a bid to take control of the sport. News Corp’s is reportedly aiming to televise the F1 via its own channels but any move to switch TV coverage to pay-TV channels of News Corp and América Móvil would be controversial, given that F1 has always relied on exposure on FTA TV to attract sponsors that pay millions of dollars a year to associate themselves with teams and races. Pay-TV coverage has always been regarded as an adjunct to FTA exposure.
=> Archery’s FITA will not look for another sports marketing agency to distribute worldwide broadcast rights after taking it back in-house although it would consider working with agencies for specific territories. FITA signed a long-term distribution deal with MP & Silva early 2009, but that was terminated prematurely end 2010. MPS was appointed for 6 years to exclusively sell broadcast rights worldwide and seek sponsorships on a non-exclusive basis. FITA has 2 current international broadcast deals; a long-term agreement with Korean FTA SBS (brokered by MPS) and with Italian pubcaster, RAI. FITA has a 26-min pre-season highlights show to add to 6 existing 26-min highlights shows for six events (World Cup, World Cup Final and World Archery Field Championships). TV production is handled by World Archery TV and HD was introduced for the first time in 2010.
=> Skateboarding has a greater chance of Olympic Games inclusion now since the International Olympic Committee included “visionaries” among its ranks. The UCI, cycling’s world governing body, has been seeking to include skateboarding as a discipline of cycling at future Olympic Games. The UCI first proposed the inclusion of skateboarding in the programme for London Olympic Games in 2007, but the IOC said then that it would be “premature.” It is thought that BMX Freestyle cycling and skateboarding could be introduced to the Olympics together, as they use similar facilities, including the so-called 'half-pipes' on which tricks are performed. The UCI proposed to ‘adopt’ skateboarding since it is not represented by any IOC-recognised federation.
Tuesday, 26th April 2011
RIGHTS FEES
=> Malaysian pay-TV Astro signed a 4-yr deal, from 2011 to 2014, worth RM120 mil (€28 mil/$40 mil), for broadcasting rights to the country’s first, second and third divisions, with the Football Association of Malaysia. Rights include the Malaysia Cup, the FA Cup and the President Cup and coverage will be on local sports channel, Astro Arena. The amount is an increase of over 200% on the previous deal, with Telekom Malaysia, which ran from 2002 to January 2011, worth RM9 mil /year. The association could generate more revenues through a revenue-sharing plan if Astro sub-licenses rights to a free-to-air broadcaster and from advertising revenues. Astro has similar agreements with the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress, the Badminton Association of Malaysia and the Malaysian Hockey Federation.
=> Korean pubcaster KBS and IB Sports agency are at loggerheads in their negotiations for the IAAF World Championship rights. IB Sports is negotiating a multi-year deal at a steep increase on previous contract by using the 2011 IAAF WC in Daegu as a bargaining tool. KBS previously acquired WC rights from 2007 to 2009 from IB Sports, providing coverage on KBSN. KBS wants a one-off contract in the low millions for the Daegu WC, as athletics is not popular in Korea since it has already committed to invest in the event as host broadcaster and will bear production costs of between $7 mil (€5 mil) to 8 mil for supplying the world feed. IB Sports acquired broadcasting and sponsorship rights to the IAAF WC until 2020 from the Dentsu agency.
=> [Excerpt] The income of F1 teams is heavily dependent on sponsorship and FOM is contractually obliged to provide widest TV exposure possible. That means doing deals with FTA broadcasters and while competition for the rights remain strong but has never been able to tap into the kind of competition between European pay-TV operators which led to huge increases for football properties. F1’s media rights revenue in 2009 from its top 10 territories (Germany, UK, Spain, Italy, France, Austria, Scandinavia, Brazil, Japan and Pan-Asia) was $435 mil (€315 mil). On the back of this, a new deal was signed in Belgium-Flanders when commercial FTA, SBS outbid incumbent pubcaster VRT to acquire a 3-yr deal (2011 to 2013). VRT was paying €500,000 /year in the previous deal, from 2008 to 2010.
=> ESPN has acquired exclusive live US rights to a package of International Cricket Council events (inc. 2015 Cricket World Cup) in a 4-yr deal from 2012 to 2015, worth $25m (€18m) with ESPN Star Sports (ESS), which holds global rights. ESPN also did a 4-yr deal with ESS for exclusive live US rights for Champions League Twenty20, organised by the Indian, Australian and South African cricket boards. Coverage will be shown on ESPN’s broadband service ESPN3.com.
BROADCAST & RIGHTS DISTRIBUTION
=> Malaysia’s Astro B.yond IPTV service is expected to expand into 167,000 homes in 730 high-rise residences in Kuala Lumpur and Penang by year-end. Astro’s collaboration with TIME dotCom Berhad (TIME) to deliver IPTV kicked off in December 2010, bringing a multiplay of Astro channels in HD with Personal Video Recording (PVR) and VOD services delivered via TIME’s 100% fibre broadband offering.
=> Indonesian commercial broadcaster Trans TV is looking to acquire the ASEAN Football Federation Cup rights after the tournament proved a big hit with Indonesian audiences at the end of 2010. Rival RCTI showed live coverage of the 2010 edition and recorded its highest rated programme of all time with a market share of 82% for the second leg semi-final between Indonesia and Philippines. The two final matches between Indonesia and Malaysia drew an average of 15 mil viewers each, double the number of the highest-rated 2010 Fifa World Cup match, according to Nielsen.
=> AXN is the most watched international channel year-to-date in 2011, reaching over 14 mil viewers in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. Compared to the programme before, CSI: NY S7 delivered a lead-in growth of 51% in Singapore, 103% in Malaysia and 1325% in the Philippines. Leverage S3 drew new pay-TV viewers, with current season-to-date rating surpassing last season’s performance by 150% in Singapore, 6% in Malaysia and 33% in the Philippines. It also had a lead-in growth of 181% in Singapore, 83% in Malaysia and 100% in the Philippines. Ratings for CSI:NY and Leverage has helped AXN maintain the #1 English channel spot on platforms StarHub and Astro during their broadcasts in Singapore and Malaysia, respectively.
=> Elta Technology, Taiwan’s largest digital media content distributor, has acquired free-to-air television, pay-television, radio, internet and mobile rights to the London 2012 Olympic Games within Chinese Taipei from the International Olympic Commitee.
EVENTS
=> Nimbus’ World Series Hockey collaboration with the Indian Hockey Ferderation received a setback when the Pakistan Hockey Federation issued show-causes to three top stars for signing contracts with WSH. PHF has asked the players to clarify their position on participation in an unsanctioned event by the FIH/PFA. Rehan Butt will reportedly be the highest paid Pakistani player if he decides to stay with WSH. He has signed a contract of $25,000, Abbasi’s contract is worth $22,000 while Waseem will get $20,000. WSH claims to have signed up 160 top international players from India and abroad but is not recognised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
BIZ & BITES
=> Sacked Commonwealth Games OC chairman, Suresh Kalmadi, has been arrested on charges of cheating, fraud and conspiracy. The CBI charged Kalmadi and two others, Surjeet Lal and ASV Prasad in the case of Swiss Timing deal of Rs1.41 bil. The sports ministry has also written to the Indian Olympic Association to sack him from the post of IOA president and has been removed from the Congress parliamentary party. The games, which cost $ 6 bil, was dogged by alleged corruption in purchase of equipment and issuing of contracts. Whether Kalmadi goes quietly or adopts a scorched earth policy is the question; the heavyweight Congress politician from Pune has accused party colleagues like Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit and former urban development minister Jaipal Reddy as also being culpable and openly accused the government of making him a scapegoat in the affair.
=> Malaysian pay-TV Astro signed a 4-yr deal, from 2011 to 2014, worth RM120 mil (€28 mil/$40 mil), for broadcasting rights to the country’s first, second and third divisions, with the Football Association of Malaysia. Rights include the Malaysia Cup, the FA Cup and the President Cup and coverage will be on local sports channel, Astro Arena. The amount is an increase of over 200% on the previous deal, with Telekom Malaysia, which ran from 2002 to January 2011, worth RM9 mil /year. The association could generate more revenues through a revenue-sharing plan if Astro sub-licenses rights to a free-to-air broadcaster and from advertising revenues. Astro has similar agreements with the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress, the Badminton Association of Malaysia and the Malaysian Hockey Federation.
=> Korean pubcaster KBS and IB Sports agency are at loggerheads in their negotiations for the IAAF World Championship rights. IB Sports is negotiating a multi-year deal at a steep increase on previous contract by using the 2011 IAAF WC in Daegu as a bargaining tool. KBS previously acquired WC rights from 2007 to 2009 from IB Sports, providing coverage on KBSN. KBS wants a one-off contract in the low millions for the Daegu WC, as athletics is not popular in Korea since it has already committed to invest in the event as host broadcaster and will bear production costs of between $7 mil (€5 mil) to 8 mil for supplying the world feed. IB Sports acquired broadcasting and sponsorship rights to the IAAF WC until 2020 from the Dentsu agency.
=> [Excerpt] The income of F1 teams is heavily dependent on sponsorship and FOM is contractually obliged to provide widest TV exposure possible. That means doing deals with FTA broadcasters and while competition for the rights remain strong but has never been able to tap into the kind of competition between European pay-TV operators which led to huge increases for football properties. F1’s media rights revenue in 2009 from its top 10 territories (Germany, UK, Spain, Italy, France, Austria, Scandinavia, Brazil, Japan and Pan-Asia) was $435 mil (€315 mil). On the back of this, a new deal was signed in Belgium-Flanders when commercial FTA, SBS outbid incumbent pubcaster VRT to acquire a 3-yr deal (2011 to 2013). VRT was paying €500,000 /year in the previous deal, from 2008 to 2010.
=> ESPN has acquired exclusive live US rights to a package of International Cricket Council events (inc. 2015 Cricket World Cup) in a 4-yr deal from 2012 to 2015, worth $25m (€18m) with ESPN Star Sports (ESS), which holds global rights. ESPN also did a 4-yr deal with ESS for exclusive live US rights for Champions League Twenty20, organised by the Indian, Australian and South African cricket boards. Coverage will be shown on ESPN’s broadband service ESPN3.com.
BROADCAST & RIGHTS DISTRIBUTION
=> Malaysia’s Astro B.yond IPTV service is expected to expand into 167,000 homes in 730 high-rise residences in Kuala Lumpur and Penang by year-end. Astro’s collaboration with TIME dotCom Berhad (TIME) to deliver IPTV kicked off in December 2010, bringing a multiplay of Astro channels in HD with Personal Video Recording (PVR) and VOD services delivered via TIME’s 100% fibre broadband offering.
=> Indonesian commercial broadcaster Trans TV is looking to acquire the ASEAN Football Federation Cup rights after the tournament proved a big hit with Indonesian audiences at the end of 2010. Rival RCTI showed live coverage of the 2010 edition and recorded its highest rated programme of all time with a market share of 82% for the second leg semi-final between Indonesia and Philippines. The two final matches between Indonesia and Malaysia drew an average of 15 mil viewers each, double the number of the highest-rated 2010 Fifa World Cup match, according to Nielsen.
=> AXN is the most watched international channel year-to-date in 2011, reaching over 14 mil viewers in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. Compared to the programme before, CSI: NY S7 delivered a lead-in growth of 51% in Singapore, 103% in Malaysia and 1325% in the Philippines. Leverage S3 drew new pay-TV viewers, with current season-to-date rating surpassing last season’s performance by 150% in Singapore, 6% in Malaysia and 33% in the Philippines. It also had a lead-in growth of 181% in Singapore, 83% in Malaysia and 100% in the Philippines. Ratings for CSI:NY and Leverage has helped AXN maintain the #1 English channel spot on platforms StarHub and Astro during their broadcasts in Singapore and Malaysia, respectively.
=> Elta Technology, Taiwan’s largest digital media content distributor, has acquired free-to-air television, pay-television, radio, internet and mobile rights to the London 2012 Olympic Games within Chinese Taipei from the International Olympic Commitee.
EVENTS
=> Nimbus’ World Series Hockey collaboration with the Indian Hockey Ferderation received a setback when the Pakistan Hockey Federation issued show-causes to three top stars for signing contracts with WSH. PHF has asked the players to clarify their position on participation in an unsanctioned event by the FIH/PFA. Rehan Butt will reportedly be the highest paid Pakistani player if he decides to stay with WSH. He has signed a contract of $25,000, Abbasi’s contract is worth $22,000 while Waseem will get $20,000. WSH claims to have signed up 160 top international players from India and abroad but is not recognised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
BIZ & BITES
=> Sacked Commonwealth Games OC chairman, Suresh Kalmadi, has been arrested on charges of cheating, fraud and conspiracy. The CBI charged Kalmadi and two others, Surjeet Lal and ASV Prasad in the case of Swiss Timing deal of Rs1.41 bil. The sports ministry has also written to the Indian Olympic Association to sack him from the post of IOA president and has been removed from the Congress parliamentary party. The games, which cost $ 6 bil, was dogged by alleged corruption in purchase of equipment and issuing of contracts. Whether Kalmadi goes quietly or adopts a scorched earth policy is the question; the heavyweight Congress politician from Pune has accused party colleagues like Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit and former urban development minister Jaipal Reddy as also being culpable and openly accused the government of making him a scapegoat in the affair.
Friday, 22nd April 2011
RIGHTS FEES
=> [Excerpt] Italian pubcaster, RAI, held exclusive rights at Euro 2008 in a deal worth €120 mil ($175.5 mil), guaranteeing free-to-air TV coverage. However, coverage of 2006 World Cup was split between RAI and pay-TV, Sky, with RAI securing rights to 25 prominent games. RAI also sub-licensed rights to Sky for the 2010 and 2014 World Cup tournaments, including exclusive rights to 39 games at each tournament. For Euro 2012, UEFA is selling broadcast rights in host countries, Poland and Ukraine, and major European territories, including the ‘big five’ TV markets, itself, while the European Broadcasting Union, the umbrella body of public broadcasters, paid €130 million to acquire the rights in other European territories.
=> The long-running dispute between Italy’s top Serie A clubs over TV rights income, has culminated in a confrontation between the Big 5 – Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Napoli and Roma – and the other 15. The row is over the €240 mil ($348 mil) /season in TV rights income which is shared according to the size of each club’s supporter base. Earlier, the clubs agreed to ask 12 research companies to set methodology and criteria on which to divide the money. The 15 clubs voted for 3 companies but the Big 5 voted against. The problem, the big clubs say, is the research parameters favour the smaller clubs, with a very loose definition of a fan. Big 5 favoured an emphasis TV ratings.
STATS & DATA
=> Quick growth propelled Korea's IPTV market to be the world’s fourth largest in 2010, according to Point Topic. At end 2010, Korea was home to 3.65 mil IPTV subscribers. The country posted the world's fastest growth in subs, increasing nearly 54% over 2009. The largest market for IPTV is still France, topping with 11 mil users, followed by China and the United States with 10 and 7.3 mil IPTV users respectively. Experts say Korea's fast growth is attributed to its high-speed internet infrastructure and strong domestic market demand.
BIZ & BITES
=> Manchester United remains the most valuable soccer team in the world, according Forbes. MU leads the Forbes list for a seventh consecutive year, valuing $1.86 bil, ahead of Real Madrid ($1.45 bil), Arsenal ($1.19 bil) and Bayern Munich ($1.1 bil) now in fourth, having overtaken Barcelona ($900 mil). However, Barcelona are the highest paid team in the world, with first-team player receiving averagely $7.9 mil /year, according to the Global Sports Salaries Survey. Real Madrid are second with average salaries of $7.4 mil, ahead of MLB’s New York Yankees, at $6.8 mil. David Beckham remains the highest-earning soccer player in the world, with earnings that Forbes calculated be $40 mil, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi of Argentina and Barcelona.
=> [Excerpt] Italian pubcaster, RAI, held exclusive rights at Euro 2008 in a deal worth €120 mil ($175.5 mil), guaranteeing free-to-air TV coverage. However, coverage of 2006 World Cup was split between RAI and pay-TV, Sky, with RAI securing rights to 25 prominent games. RAI also sub-licensed rights to Sky for the 2010 and 2014 World Cup tournaments, including exclusive rights to 39 games at each tournament. For Euro 2012, UEFA is selling broadcast rights in host countries, Poland and Ukraine, and major European territories, including the ‘big five’ TV markets, itself, while the European Broadcasting Union, the umbrella body of public broadcasters, paid €130 million to acquire the rights in other European territories.
=> The long-running dispute between Italy’s top Serie A clubs over TV rights income, has culminated in a confrontation between the Big 5 – Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Napoli and Roma – and the other 15. The row is over the €240 mil ($348 mil) /season in TV rights income which is shared according to the size of each club’s supporter base. Earlier, the clubs agreed to ask 12 research companies to set methodology and criteria on which to divide the money. The 15 clubs voted for 3 companies but the Big 5 voted against. The problem, the big clubs say, is the research parameters favour the smaller clubs, with a very loose definition of a fan. Big 5 favoured an emphasis TV ratings.
STATS & DATA
=> Quick growth propelled Korea's IPTV market to be the world’s fourth largest in 2010, according to Point Topic. At end 2010, Korea was home to 3.65 mil IPTV subscribers. The country posted the world's fastest growth in subs, increasing nearly 54% over 2009. The largest market for IPTV is still France, topping with 11 mil users, followed by China and the United States with 10 and 7.3 mil IPTV users respectively. Experts say Korea's fast growth is attributed to its high-speed internet infrastructure and strong domestic market demand.
BIZ & BITES
=> Manchester United remains the most valuable soccer team in the world, according Forbes. MU leads the Forbes list for a seventh consecutive year, valuing $1.86 bil, ahead of Real Madrid ($1.45 bil), Arsenal ($1.19 bil) and Bayern Munich ($1.1 bil) now in fourth, having overtaken Barcelona ($900 mil). However, Barcelona are the highest paid team in the world, with first-team player receiving averagely $7.9 mil /year, according to the Global Sports Salaries Survey. Real Madrid are second with average salaries of $7.4 mil, ahead of MLB’s New York Yankees, at $6.8 mil. David Beckham remains the highest-earning soccer player in the world, with earnings that Forbes calculated be $40 mil, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi of Argentina and Barcelona.
Thursday, 21st April 2011
RIGHTS FEES
=> The Philippine Basketball Association received interest from two broadcasters for domestic rights to the country’s PBA league from next season. ABS-CBN’s Studio 23 and TV5 network have expressed their interest and could take over the rights from Solar Entertainment, the PBA said. Solar Entertainment has said that it would not renew its 160-mil-pesos ($3.7-million) /year rights deal, which expires at the end of the 2010-11 season.
=> The S.African Football Association is looking for domestic live coverage for its women’s and junior national teams, not just for its men’s team. An exclusive rights deal with pubcaster, SABC, expired at the end of March and SAFA seeks now to split the rights between broadcasters so that live coverage of all of its games can be ensured. It is claimed that SAFA is looking for as much as R1 billion ($145.2 million) over five years from the new broadcast deal.
=> Australia’s Seven has taken the lead in a race to win domestic broadcast rights for Australian Football League from 2012-16, while telecom Telstra’s digital interest could help push rights value beyond A$1 bil($1.05 bil). Seven is likely to clinch FTA rights with a bid of A$450 mil, with rival Ten Network pulling out of the race. Pay-TV Foxtel, which is 50% owned by Telstra, is preparing to pay about A$500 mil for exclusive rights to five games per round and simulcasting the four games on FTA. Seven and Ten currently jointly pay A$780 mil for rights and sub-licenses four games a week to Foxtel. Presently, Telstra is paying between A$50 to A$60 mil to broadcast AFL games with on 12-hr delay, but is now prepared to pay more for enhanced exclusivity and expanded rights.
=> Spanish network, Telecinco, has acquired Spanish TV rights to 2012 UEFA Euro Championships for US$100 mil. The Mediaset-owned commercial channel will pay roughly US$7 mil short of UEFA’s asking price, as was paid by Sogecable for Euro 2008. The reduction is a reflection of the lack of competition in the Spanish TV market. Telecinco’s deal sees Spain become the second ‘big five’ European TV market to conclude a deal for Euro 2012, following Germany’s ARD and ZDF for their renewal of rights, also for a reduced fee. Telecinco will pay addition US$2.85 mil to UEFA for rights to U-21 Championships in Denmark this June. Spain go into Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine next year, as defending champions.
=> Austrian pubcaster, ORF, acquired Sat highlights rights to the Austrian Bundesliga until end 2012-13 season, complementing its one live match /week. ORF begins its highlights coverage end April. The broadcaster already holds live rights to broadcast the League’s Sun afternoon match but has not shown highlights from the league since 2004. Commercial broadcaster, Puls 4, reportedly made an unsuccessful bid of €400,000 ($571,000) for the same highlights rights last autumn. ORF and pay-TV Sky, retained live rights to the 10-team league from 2010/11 to 2012/13, agreeing to €17 mil total /season. ORF’s share is about €8m /season.
=> Austria’s pay-TV, Sky Österreich, renewed rights to show UEFA Champions League until the end of the 2014/15 season. The new 3-yr deal in Austria follows renewal of Champions League rights in Germany by parent, Sky Deutschland. Sky Österreich will have exclusive rights in Austria for 15 of the 16 games each match week, with commercial channel, Puls 4, recently winning rights to show one game per match week. Sky Deutschland’s deal is reported to be worth over €50 mil ($72.5 mil) /season, including rights to broadcast all Champions League games on a live and delayed basis and to show highlights on Tue and Wed, while also renewing its rights to the Uefa Europa League.
=> Broadcast rights negotiations for Italian basketball’s Serie A could stretch into Jul when no award was made at the end of the tender process issued in Feb. Sky Italia presently holds rights to covers the Coppa Italia, the annual competition featuring the league clubs, and the Supercoppa tournament, which pits the Coppa Italia winner against the league champions, and is worth around €3 mil ($4.34 mil).
=> Uni. of South Dakota (USD) has agreed a 10-year, US$10 mil deal with Learfield Sports, who will oversee the school’s multimedia rights to athletic events. Learfield will operate USD’s marketing efforts within and outside the uni’s home and be responsible for sponsorship deals for its radio broadcasts and website. Learfield contracts with over 50 other US universities. Learfield will work with the Midco Sports Network, which serves South Dakota as well as Minnesota and North Dakota, in negotiating TV rights to selected USD contests. It will also look to renew USD’s radio contract with B102.7 in Sioux Falls, which expires next year.
=> US college sports’ Pac-12 is also in line for a new broadcast deal with NBC for its American football, basketball and other sports from Western universities. Pac-12 sought a 10-yr deal worth $220 mil /year, plus commitment to launch a regional network. Start-up would cost in the region of $100 mil. The news comes after Fox Sports earlier signed a 13-yr, multi-million-dollar deal to acquire exclusive cable rights to the Big 12 Conference. In Jan, ESPN announced that it will launch a TV channel for events featuring the University of Texas after agreeing a 20-yr deal worth $300 mil in rights fees. IMG College negotiate the deal as the university’s multimedia rights holder.
BROADCAST & RIGHTS DISTRIBUTION
=> The US Tennis Association has selected IMG Media as US Open TV consultant for a wide range of non-US territories. The appointment covers the 4-year period from 2013-2016. IMG Media will represent the USTA in TV negotiations in Europe, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and Asia (exc. Japan), for tennis' most famous competition. The 2010 US Open was seen in over 180 countries and 40,000 hours of TV coverage. The USTA will work with current US Open TV consultant Lagardère through this year as well as on a number of additional outside projects.
=> UEFA announced the first broadcast deal in Asia for UEFA Champions League for new cycle 2012/13 to 2014/15, with Hong Kong’s i-Cable. The broadcaster renewed its exclusive rights to Champions League and Europa League after signing a new deal with Team Marketing. Live and delayed broadcasts of matches from both competitions will be shown on i-Cable’s Super Soccer and Cable Sports channels, with live internet and mobile coverage also offered in Hong Kong as part of the multi-platform coverage. The invitation to submit offers in Hong Kong was issued on Mar 14, closing on Apr 11. Elsewhere in Asia, Team recently issued invitations to submit offers in the Indian sub-continent, Malaysia Myanmar and Thailand (plus Laos and Cambodia).
=> MP & Silva agreed a second broadcast deal in China for the Liga ACB basketball league, signing with Guangzhou TV. Having signed up Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation (Chinese coalition of 14 terrestrial, satellite, pay and mobile TV), Guangzhou TV has acquired rights for two matches per week. The deal marks the league’s third in Asia signed by MP & Silva after Singapore’s StarHub.
=> UFA Sports Asia and Wharf House has brokered a TV rights deal on behalf of the International Sepak Takraw Federation with StarHub in Singapore. The deal covers live and highlights coverage of this year’s inaugural ISTAF World Cup and the 2011-12 ISTAF Super Series on StarHub TV. Coverage begins with the opening match of the 2011 ISTAF WC from Malaysia in Jul, broadcast on its SuperSports Arena channel. The 2011 ISTAF WC will be followed by the 2011/12 ISTAF Super Series of five tournaments staged in Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Iran and China. UFA Sports Asia’s deal with StarHub follows the completion of recent sepak takraw deals with pan-Asian Eurosport and Thailand’s FTA, Channel 3.
=> Officials have denied that Chongqing satellite TV channel had run into problems after turning from a commercial channel into a public TV one in March 2010. There were rumours that Chongqing Municipal Broadcasting and Television Station (CMBTS) had cut 20% of its staff and reduced wages by 15% in order to fund the channel. The rumours were denied by CMBTS. The channel intended to be the first "red" satellite channel in China to honour the Communist Party (CPC). Two months later, advertising seemed to evaporate and in its slots were programmes promoting "red culture."
NEW MEDIA
=> Over 10 mil live internet streams of the Cricket World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan on March 30 were delivered by ESPN Star Sports. The match was streamed on www.espnstar.com/cwclive, which also generated over 275 mil page views over the course of the tournament which took place on February 15 to April 3. The streams were delivered by Akamai Technologies.
STATS & DATA
=> A new survey from ABI Research concluded that connectivity continues its inexorable march into home entertainment, forecasting 3 bil shipments of connected TV devices by 2016. The most common home entertainment devices to include media connectivity will be TVs and Blu-ray players. Such devices are predicted to grow by 21% until 2016. TV and video player connectivity is driven by streaming services such as Netflix (US) and LOVEFiLM (UK). Gaming consoles also create powerful demand for connectivity and still rank strongly in connected home entertainment which will increase shipment numbers through 2014.
=> Current lack of compelling content and high costs has not stopped 3DTV from ramping up, according to RNCOS. Analysts believe the sluggish 3D market is about to throw off its concerns the general challenging economic conditions, to grow at a CAGR of 84% until 2013. This compares to 5% growth predicted for general global consumer electronics industry over the same period. Sales is expected to grow rapidly as manufacturers implement 3D as a standard feature across their HD flat-panel product lines. RNCOS anticipates increasingly slight price differential to encourage consumers to opt for 3D capable TVs. The US, Japan, and Western Europe will be the key markets for 3D TV sales in coming years.
=> The value of STBs have grown over 2010 according to In-Stat. The 4Q10 Set Top Box Database Update shows worldwide STB revenues up in 4Q10 over 4Q09, totalling $5.7 bil for the quarter compared to $5.3 bil in 4Q09. Regional differences between platforms were stronger in particular markets. In N. America, satellite STB unit shipments approached 18 mil in 2010 while worldwide IPTV STB unit shipments increased by 3.7 mil in 2010. European cables STB revenues are forecast to be $212 mil in 1Q11. N. America and Asia-Pac saw significant migration from SD to HD while in the developing Middle East/Africa and Latin America markets SD is still growing with HD only just making an appearance. In-Stat found that in 2010, in Latin America, 8 mil more SD set top box units were shipped than HD boxes.
EVENTS
=> Wimbledon has announced that singles champions - men and women - will each receive a record £1.1 mil at the 2011 tournament. The All England Club has increased the winners' pot by £100,000 on last year, raising the total prize fund by 6.4% to £14.6 mil. Wimbledon will also unveil the new #3 and #4 courts this year, increasing overall capacity by 1,000 to 38,500. To celebrate the 125th championships, Wimbledon has arranged for the Antiques Roadshow to record an episode at the All England Club, Blue Peter will record a special to be broadcast on the second Mon of the championships, and AELTC has commissioned four 30-minute documentaries charting the history of Wimbledon.
=> The Philippine Basketball Association received interest from two broadcasters for domestic rights to the country’s PBA league from next season. ABS-CBN’s Studio 23 and TV5 network have expressed their interest and could take over the rights from Solar Entertainment, the PBA said. Solar Entertainment has said that it would not renew its 160-mil-pesos ($3.7-million) /year rights deal, which expires at the end of the 2010-11 season.
=> The S.African Football Association is looking for domestic live coverage for its women’s and junior national teams, not just for its men’s team. An exclusive rights deal with pubcaster, SABC, expired at the end of March and SAFA seeks now to split the rights between broadcasters so that live coverage of all of its games can be ensured. It is claimed that SAFA is looking for as much as R1 billion ($145.2 million) over five years from the new broadcast deal.
=> Australia’s Seven has taken the lead in a race to win domestic broadcast rights for Australian Football League from 2012-16, while telecom Telstra’s digital interest could help push rights value beyond A$1 bil($1.05 bil). Seven is likely to clinch FTA rights with a bid of A$450 mil, with rival Ten Network pulling out of the race. Pay-TV Foxtel, which is 50% owned by Telstra, is preparing to pay about A$500 mil for exclusive rights to five games per round and simulcasting the four games on FTA. Seven and Ten currently jointly pay A$780 mil for rights and sub-licenses four games a week to Foxtel. Presently, Telstra is paying between A$50 to A$60 mil to broadcast AFL games with on 12-hr delay, but is now prepared to pay more for enhanced exclusivity and expanded rights.
=> Spanish network, Telecinco, has acquired Spanish TV rights to 2012 UEFA Euro Championships for US$100 mil. The Mediaset-owned commercial channel will pay roughly US$7 mil short of UEFA’s asking price, as was paid by Sogecable for Euro 2008. The reduction is a reflection of the lack of competition in the Spanish TV market. Telecinco’s deal sees Spain become the second ‘big five’ European TV market to conclude a deal for Euro 2012, following Germany’s ARD and ZDF for their renewal of rights, also for a reduced fee. Telecinco will pay addition US$2.85 mil to UEFA for rights to U-21 Championships in Denmark this June. Spain go into Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine next year, as defending champions.
=> Austrian pubcaster, ORF, acquired Sat highlights rights to the Austrian Bundesliga until end 2012-13 season, complementing its one live match /week. ORF begins its highlights coverage end April. The broadcaster already holds live rights to broadcast the League’s Sun afternoon match but has not shown highlights from the league since 2004. Commercial broadcaster, Puls 4, reportedly made an unsuccessful bid of €400,000 ($571,000) for the same highlights rights last autumn. ORF and pay-TV Sky, retained live rights to the 10-team league from 2010/11 to 2012/13, agreeing to €17 mil total /season. ORF’s share is about €8m /season.
=> Austria’s pay-TV, Sky Österreich, renewed rights to show UEFA Champions League until the end of the 2014/15 season. The new 3-yr deal in Austria follows renewal of Champions League rights in Germany by parent, Sky Deutschland. Sky Österreich will have exclusive rights in Austria for 15 of the 16 games each match week, with commercial channel, Puls 4, recently winning rights to show one game per match week. Sky Deutschland’s deal is reported to be worth over €50 mil ($72.5 mil) /season, including rights to broadcast all Champions League games on a live and delayed basis and to show highlights on Tue and Wed, while also renewing its rights to the Uefa Europa League.
=> Broadcast rights negotiations for Italian basketball’s Serie A could stretch into Jul when no award was made at the end of the tender process issued in Feb. Sky Italia presently holds rights to covers the Coppa Italia, the annual competition featuring the league clubs, and the Supercoppa tournament, which pits the Coppa Italia winner against the league champions, and is worth around €3 mil ($4.34 mil).
=> Uni. of South Dakota (USD) has agreed a 10-year, US$10 mil deal with Learfield Sports, who will oversee the school’s multimedia rights to athletic events. Learfield will operate USD’s marketing efforts within and outside the uni’s home and be responsible for sponsorship deals for its radio broadcasts and website. Learfield contracts with over 50 other US universities. Learfield will work with the Midco Sports Network, which serves South Dakota as well as Minnesota and North Dakota, in negotiating TV rights to selected USD contests. It will also look to renew USD’s radio contract with B102.7 in Sioux Falls, which expires next year.
=> US college sports’ Pac-12 is also in line for a new broadcast deal with NBC for its American football, basketball and other sports from Western universities. Pac-12 sought a 10-yr deal worth $220 mil /year, plus commitment to launch a regional network. Start-up would cost in the region of $100 mil. The news comes after Fox Sports earlier signed a 13-yr, multi-million-dollar deal to acquire exclusive cable rights to the Big 12 Conference. In Jan, ESPN announced that it will launch a TV channel for events featuring the University of Texas after agreeing a 20-yr deal worth $300 mil in rights fees. IMG College negotiate the deal as the university’s multimedia rights holder.
BROADCAST & RIGHTS DISTRIBUTION
=> The US Tennis Association has selected IMG Media as US Open TV consultant for a wide range of non-US territories. The appointment covers the 4-year period from 2013-2016. IMG Media will represent the USTA in TV negotiations in Europe, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and Asia (exc. Japan), for tennis' most famous competition. The 2010 US Open was seen in over 180 countries and 40,000 hours of TV coverage. The USTA will work with current US Open TV consultant Lagardère through this year as well as on a number of additional outside projects.
=> UEFA announced the first broadcast deal in Asia for UEFA Champions League for new cycle 2012/13 to 2014/15, with Hong Kong’s i-Cable. The broadcaster renewed its exclusive rights to Champions League and Europa League after signing a new deal with Team Marketing. Live and delayed broadcasts of matches from both competitions will be shown on i-Cable’s Super Soccer and Cable Sports channels, with live internet and mobile coverage also offered in Hong Kong as part of the multi-platform coverage. The invitation to submit offers in Hong Kong was issued on Mar 14, closing on Apr 11. Elsewhere in Asia, Team recently issued invitations to submit offers in the Indian sub-continent, Malaysia Myanmar and Thailand (plus Laos and Cambodia).
=> MP & Silva agreed a second broadcast deal in China for the Liga ACB basketball league, signing with Guangzhou TV. Having signed up Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation (Chinese coalition of 14 terrestrial, satellite, pay and mobile TV), Guangzhou TV has acquired rights for two matches per week. The deal marks the league’s third in Asia signed by MP & Silva after Singapore’s StarHub.
=> UFA Sports Asia and Wharf House has brokered a TV rights deal on behalf of the International Sepak Takraw Federation with StarHub in Singapore. The deal covers live and highlights coverage of this year’s inaugural ISTAF World Cup and the 2011-12 ISTAF Super Series on StarHub TV. Coverage begins with the opening match of the 2011 ISTAF WC from Malaysia in Jul, broadcast on its SuperSports Arena channel. The 2011 ISTAF WC will be followed by the 2011/12 ISTAF Super Series of five tournaments staged in Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Iran and China. UFA Sports Asia’s deal with StarHub follows the completion of recent sepak takraw deals with pan-Asian Eurosport and Thailand’s FTA, Channel 3.
=> Officials have denied that Chongqing satellite TV channel had run into problems after turning from a commercial channel into a public TV one in March 2010. There were rumours that Chongqing Municipal Broadcasting and Television Station (CMBTS) had cut 20% of its staff and reduced wages by 15% in order to fund the channel. The rumours were denied by CMBTS. The channel intended to be the first "red" satellite channel in China to honour the Communist Party (CPC). Two months later, advertising seemed to evaporate and in its slots were programmes promoting "red culture."
NEW MEDIA
=> Over 10 mil live internet streams of the Cricket World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan on March 30 were delivered by ESPN Star Sports. The match was streamed on www.espnstar.com/cwclive, which also generated over 275 mil page views over the course of the tournament which took place on February 15 to April 3. The streams were delivered by Akamai Technologies.
STATS & DATA
=> A new survey from ABI Research concluded that connectivity continues its inexorable march into home entertainment, forecasting 3 bil shipments of connected TV devices by 2016. The most common home entertainment devices to include media connectivity will be TVs and Blu-ray players. Such devices are predicted to grow by 21% until 2016. TV and video player connectivity is driven by streaming services such as Netflix (US) and LOVEFiLM (UK). Gaming consoles also create powerful demand for connectivity and still rank strongly in connected home entertainment which will increase shipment numbers through 2014.
=> Current lack of compelling content and high costs has not stopped 3DTV from ramping up, according to RNCOS. Analysts believe the sluggish 3D market is about to throw off its concerns the general challenging economic conditions, to grow at a CAGR of 84% until 2013. This compares to 5% growth predicted for general global consumer electronics industry over the same period. Sales is expected to grow rapidly as manufacturers implement 3D as a standard feature across their HD flat-panel product lines. RNCOS anticipates increasingly slight price differential to encourage consumers to opt for 3D capable TVs. The US, Japan, and Western Europe will be the key markets for 3D TV sales in coming years.
=> The value of STBs have grown over 2010 according to In-Stat. The 4Q10 Set Top Box Database Update shows worldwide STB revenues up in 4Q10 over 4Q09, totalling $5.7 bil for the quarter compared to $5.3 bil in 4Q09. Regional differences between platforms were stronger in particular markets. In N. America, satellite STB unit shipments approached 18 mil in 2010 while worldwide IPTV STB unit shipments increased by 3.7 mil in 2010. European cables STB revenues are forecast to be $212 mil in 1Q11. N. America and Asia-Pac saw significant migration from SD to HD while in the developing Middle East/Africa and Latin America markets SD is still growing with HD only just making an appearance. In-Stat found that in 2010, in Latin America, 8 mil more SD set top box units were shipped than HD boxes.
EVENTS
=> Wimbledon has announced that singles champions - men and women - will each receive a record £1.1 mil at the 2011 tournament. The All England Club has increased the winners' pot by £100,000 on last year, raising the total prize fund by 6.4% to £14.6 mil. Wimbledon will also unveil the new #3 and #4 courts this year, increasing overall capacity by 1,000 to 38,500. To celebrate the 125th championships, Wimbledon has arranged for the Antiques Roadshow to record an episode at the All England Club, Blue Peter will record a special to be broadcast on the second Mon of the championships, and AELTC has commissioned four 30-minute documentaries charting the history of Wimbledon.
Friday, 15th April 2011
RIGHTS FEE
=> Prisa TV is to sign a deal with Athletic Bilbao for €30 mil ($43.5 mil) per season from 2012/13 to 2014/15. The deal will be a blow to rival Mediapro, presently holding the club’s rights until 2011/12. It marks Prisa’s intention to return to the soccer media rights arena. Prisa last held Athletic’s media rights in 2005/06. The new deal with Prisa represents a 76% increase over its present deal which pays it €17 mil per season. It also means that media rights revenue will represent 50% of the club’s total revenues, up from 30% now, which allows the club to strengthen its squad with new signings and maintain economic stability over the next few years.
=> [Excerpt] The Copa del Rey is a big money-spinner for the Spanish RFEF. The national association is set to earn up to €15 mil ($21.7 mil) from media rights and ticketing revenue, according Prime Time Sport. This year's final, pitting Real Madrid and Barcelona for the first time since 1990, will involve 850 journalists, 148 radio commentators, 56 TV commentators and media professionals from 40 broadcasters that have acquired media rights to the match. The two clubs are set to play each other four times in the next month; in a league fixture where RM plays at home this week, in the Champions League semi-finals, and if Barcelona win the League title this season, they will also play RM in the two-leg Supercopa. National broadcaster TVE pays rights-holder Grupo Santa Mónica €6 mil per season for 3 matches of the Copa del Rey and Supercopa finals.
=> The German DFB has launched a tender for domestic broadcast rights for Germany’s home international matches from 2012/13 onwards. The rights cover 4 seasons from 2012/13 to 2015/16 although Germany’s home qualification for the 2016 European Championships (in seasons 2014/15 and 2015/16) will be marketed centrally by UEFA. ARD and ZDF have a contract until the end of the 2011/12 season for Germany’s home games, the DFB Pokal, the 3. Liga and the Frauen Bundesliga, in a deal worth €80 mil ($115.7 mil) per season. Sky Deutschland pays €18 mil per season for rights to all 63 DFB Pokal matches per season from 2008/09 to 2011/12.
=> Belgacom, holder of live rights to Belgian Jupiler Pro League, is yet undecided on whether it will bid to renew its current contract, which is worth €45.7 mil ($65.9 mil) /season. Tender for rights from 2011/12 to 2013/14 has been delayed. The Pro League had hoped to launch its tender at end 2010, but a row over format of the league from next season onwards contributed to a delay in a proceedings. The league is also awaiting the outcome of proceedings involving telco, Telenet, who is a potential bidder in the rights auction which will determine if Telenet has to offer live rights to its competing operators, a condition imposed by authorities. The deal for 2008/09 to 2010/11 was below the target of €50 mil to €65 mil /season, but over the €36 mil /season by Belgacom in the previous rights period. Belgacom subsequently sub-licensed highlight rights to pubcasters VRT and RTBF for €8 mil /season.
BROADCAST & DISTRIBUTION
=> The Rugby World Cup in New Zealand is to be broadcast in 3D for the first time after the International Rugby Board appointed 3DLive as official 3D broadcaster of the tournament. 3DLive, a pioneer of 3D broadcast technology in New Zealand, will offer a 3D feed of the semi-finals, bronze final and final to broadcasters. Sky New Zealand said that it would be the first broadcaster in New Zealand to deliver 3D programming. The Rugby World Cup is scheduled for September 9 to October 23 this year.
DATA
=> Internet usage in Malaysia has increased to 41%, with consumers aged 20-24 recorded as the highest age group accessing the internet, according to Nielsen's Mobile Insights Malaysia 2010. This age group averagely spends 22.3 hours online, 36% of them being internet subscribers. Social networking commands 71% of online activities and instant messaging is a distant second at 35%. However, non-subscribers in all the age groups high; 50% of the total surveyed. 72% of subscribers said coverage is a key satisfying factor and speed is second at 54%. Mobile broadband gained popularity with market share doubling from 20% in 2009 to 54% in 2010. The survey was conducted between Oct and Dec 2010, polling 4,000 consumers nationwide about usage of mobile phones and the internet.
=> Pay-TV subscribers worldwide increased 6% in 2010, according to In-Stat, with China being the world's largest pay-TV market. At end 2010, China had 160 mil subs; the largest operator is Shanghai Media's SITV but no platform has clear dominance, all having under 5 mil customers. Biggest regional pay-TV market is Western Europe, with 17.5 mil subs. In the Caribbean and Latin America, the biggest player is Net Servicos de Comunicacao of Brazil. Many regions showed gains in 2010 but cable providers were impacted by migration to satellite and/or IPTV across all regions. Only Western Europe showed gains in total number of cable TV subscribers.
EVENT
=> The Japanese Football Association confirmed it will be sending its national team to Argentina in July to play the Copa America, after reaching agreement with its top league. Japan and Mexico have been invited by Conmebol as guest participants in this year's cup, but Japan initially indicated that it would withdraw from the event in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that struck the country in Mar. The disaster has caused a 6-week hiatus of the J-League, with backlog fixtures now having to be rescheduled during the tournament. The J-League clubs earlier told the JFA that they did not want to send their top players to Argentina.
=> Prisa TV is to sign a deal with Athletic Bilbao for €30 mil ($43.5 mil) per season from 2012/13 to 2014/15. The deal will be a blow to rival Mediapro, presently holding the club’s rights until 2011/12. It marks Prisa’s intention to return to the soccer media rights arena. Prisa last held Athletic’s media rights in 2005/06. The new deal with Prisa represents a 76% increase over its present deal which pays it €17 mil per season. It also means that media rights revenue will represent 50% of the club’s total revenues, up from 30% now, which allows the club to strengthen its squad with new signings and maintain economic stability over the next few years.
=> [Excerpt] The Copa del Rey is a big money-spinner for the Spanish RFEF. The national association is set to earn up to €15 mil ($21.7 mil) from media rights and ticketing revenue, according Prime Time Sport. This year's final, pitting Real Madrid and Barcelona for the first time since 1990, will involve 850 journalists, 148 radio commentators, 56 TV commentators and media professionals from 40 broadcasters that have acquired media rights to the match. The two clubs are set to play each other four times in the next month; in a league fixture where RM plays at home this week, in the Champions League semi-finals, and if Barcelona win the League title this season, they will also play RM in the two-leg Supercopa. National broadcaster TVE pays rights-holder Grupo Santa Mónica €6 mil per season for 3 matches of the Copa del Rey and Supercopa finals.
=> The German DFB has launched a tender for domestic broadcast rights for Germany’s home international matches from 2012/13 onwards. The rights cover 4 seasons from 2012/13 to 2015/16 although Germany’s home qualification for the 2016 European Championships (in seasons 2014/15 and 2015/16) will be marketed centrally by UEFA. ARD and ZDF have a contract until the end of the 2011/12 season for Germany’s home games, the DFB Pokal, the 3. Liga and the Frauen Bundesliga, in a deal worth €80 mil ($115.7 mil) per season. Sky Deutschland pays €18 mil per season for rights to all 63 DFB Pokal matches per season from 2008/09 to 2011/12.
=> Belgacom, holder of live rights to Belgian Jupiler Pro League, is yet undecided on whether it will bid to renew its current contract, which is worth €45.7 mil ($65.9 mil) /season. Tender for rights from 2011/12 to 2013/14 has been delayed. The Pro League had hoped to launch its tender at end 2010, but a row over format of the league from next season onwards contributed to a delay in a proceedings. The league is also awaiting the outcome of proceedings involving telco, Telenet, who is a potential bidder in the rights auction which will determine if Telenet has to offer live rights to its competing operators, a condition imposed by authorities. The deal for 2008/09 to 2010/11 was below the target of €50 mil to €65 mil /season, but over the €36 mil /season by Belgacom in the previous rights period. Belgacom subsequently sub-licensed highlight rights to pubcasters VRT and RTBF for €8 mil /season.
BROADCAST & DISTRIBUTION
=> The Rugby World Cup in New Zealand is to be broadcast in 3D for the first time after the International Rugby Board appointed 3DLive as official 3D broadcaster of the tournament. 3DLive, a pioneer of 3D broadcast technology in New Zealand, will offer a 3D feed of the semi-finals, bronze final and final to broadcasters. Sky New Zealand said that it would be the first broadcaster in New Zealand to deliver 3D programming. The Rugby World Cup is scheduled for September 9 to October 23 this year.
DATA
=> Internet usage in Malaysia has increased to 41%, with consumers aged 20-24 recorded as the highest age group accessing the internet, according to Nielsen's Mobile Insights Malaysia 2010. This age group averagely spends 22.3 hours online, 36% of them being internet subscribers. Social networking commands 71% of online activities and instant messaging is a distant second at 35%. However, non-subscribers in all the age groups high; 50% of the total surveyed. 72% of subscribers said coverage is a key satisfying factor and speed is second at 54%. Mobile broadband gained popularity with market share doubling from 20% in 2009 to 54% in 2010. The survey was conducted between Oct and Dec 2010, polling 4,000 consumers nationwide about usage of mobile phones and the internet.
=> Pay-TV subscribers worldwide increased 6% in 2010, according to In-Stat, with China being the world's largest pay-TV market. At end 2010, China had 160 mil subs; the largest operator is Shanghai Media's SITV but no platform has clear dominance, all having under 5 mil customers. Biggest regional pay-TV market is Western Europe, with 17.5 mil subs. In the Caribbean and Latin America, the biggest player is Net Servicos de Comunicacao of Brazil. Many regions showed gains in 2010 but cable providers were impacted by migration to satellite and/or IPTV across all regions. Only Western Europe showed gains in total number of cable TV subscribers.
EVENT
=> The Japanese Football Association confirmed it will be sending its national team to Argentina in July to play the Copa America, after reaching agreement with its top league. Japan and Mexico have been invited by Conmebol as guest participants in this year's cup, but Japan initially indicated that it would withdraw from the event in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that struck the country in Mar. The disaster has caused a 6-week hiatus of the J-League, with backlog fixtures now having to be rescheduled during the tournament. The J-League clubs earlier told the JFA that they did not want to send their top players to Argentina.
Thursday, 14th April 2011
RIGHTS FEES
=> Germany’s DFL claimed that revenue from international broadcast rights for the Bundesliga will "clearly exceed" €50 mil ($72.4 m) for the first time in the 2011/12 season. The DFL succeeded in raising €40 mil for the 2010/11 season, 15% higher than originally projected. In comparison, revenue from Bundesliga’s international deals during the 2005/06 season was only around €12 mil. The Bundesliga has a worldwide broadcast reach today of around 2.25 bil, enjoying exposure of over 30,000 broadcast hours in 208 countries, including live coverage in 198 countries with up to five games shown per match day. The DFL has already brokered new broadcast deals for 2012/13 to 2014/15 with Eurosport, Russia’s NTV+, South Africa’s Supersport and Malaysia’s Astro.
BROADCAST & DISTRIBUTION
=> The rate for a 30-sec spot in the May 25 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show is a cool $1 mil, making it the fourth highest unit cost for a series finale in TV history. Media buyers say the end of Oprah's 25-yr run should prove to be an indelible TV event, justifying the hefty price tag. Ratings are expected to be a blockbuster although not tied to any sort of traditional ratings guarantee; no one's truly interested in forking over a $145 CPM, which is how it weighs against Oprah's year-ago average delivery of 7 mil viewers per ep but odds are deliveries for the finale could bump the total up to as many as 25 million viewers, making the CPM much friendlier at $40. The all-time record was set by NBC on May 4, 2006, when advertisers paid $2 mil for the finale of Friends after a 236-ep run. 52.5 mil viewers watched that finale.
NEW MEDIA
=> The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup ripped all web traffic records for ESS's website, ESPNcricinfo.com, hitting 1.9 mil visitors and 52.4 mil page views on March 30 for the India-Pakistan semifinal. This is a rise of 2,166% compared to daily average for all of 2010, already a record year for the site. Fans consumed more content from ESPNcricinfo online and on mobile devices than ever before. At its peak during India v Pakistan, ESPNcricinfo's total global audience was 36.1% online and 63.6% on the mobile Web. The Indian subcon generated the most mobile Web usage during the World Cup, logging over 377.3 mil page views and 807.2 mil minutes of content consumption on mobile devices. The free ESPNcricinfo app for iPhone and Android devices was top sports app in all major cricket markets, collectively generating 191 mil page views and 342 mil minutes through the tournament.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> Global forex brokerage, FxPro Financial Services Ltd, signed on as an official partner of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League 2011. Brokered by World Sport Group, FxPro’s branding will be displayed on-screen at various stages of the "live" telecast of each of the 117 AFC Champions League matches. The AFC Champions League, annually running from Mar to Nov, is contested by the best thirty-two clubs from Asia's top ten leagues - Australia, China, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Uzbekistan, and two teams from India, Indonesia, Qatar, Syria, Thailand and UAE who qualify through play-offs, for a total prize money of US$14 million and a place in the FIFA Club World Cup.
=> Amir Khan’s world title defence will be shown on British pay-per-view platform Primetime, after Khan was unable to reach financial terms with BSkyB to broadcast the fight. The World Boxing Association (WBA) light welterweight champion, faces Ireland’s undefeated European champion Paul McCloskey in the fourth defence of his crown at the Manchester Evening News (MEN) Arena later in the week. Khan, managed by Golden Boy Promotions, had his fight downgraded from BSkyB’s PPV platform to screening on one of their subscription channels, meaning Khan stood to lose US$1.6 mil due to his single-fight move to Primetime.
=> Germany’s DFL claimed that revenue from international broadcast rights for the Bundesliga will "clearly exceed" €50 mil ($72.4 m) for the first time in the 2011/12 season. The DFL succeeded in raising €40 mil for the 2010/11 season, 15% higher than originally projected. In comparison, revenue from Bundesliga’s international deals during the 2005/06 season was only around €12 mil. The Bundesliga has a worldwide broadcast reach today of around 2.25 bil, enjoying exposure of over 30,000 broadcast hours in 208 countries, including live coverage in 198 countries with up to five games shown per match day. The DFL has already brokered new broadcast deals for 2012/13 to 2014/15 with Eurosport, Russia’s NTV+, South Africa’s Supersport and Malaysia’s Astro.
BROADCAST & DISTRIBUTION
=> The rate for a 30-sec spot in the May 25 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show is a cool $1 mil, making it the fourth highest unit cost for a series finale in TV history. Media buyers say the end of Oprah's 25-yr run should prove to be an indelible TV event, justifying the hefty price tag. Ratings are expected to be a blockbuster although not tied to any sort of traditional ratings guarantee; no one's truly interested in forking over a $145 CPM, which is how it weighs against Oprah's year-ago average delivery of 7 mil viewers per ep but odds are deliveries for the finale could bump the total up to as many as 25 million viewers, making the CPM much friendlier at $40. The all-time record was set by NBC on May 4, 2006, when advertisers paid $2 mil for the finale of Friends after a 236-ep run. 52.5 mil viewers watched that finale.
NEW MEDIA
=> The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup ripped all web traffic records for ESS's website, ESPNcricinfo.com, hitting 1.9 mil visitors and 52.4 mil page views on March 30 for the India-Pakistan semifinal. This is a rise of 2,166% compared to daily average for all of 2010, already a record year for the site. Fans consumed more content from ESPNcricinfo online and on mobile devices than ever before. At its peak during India v Pakistan, ESPNcricinfo's total global audience was 36.1% online and 63.6% on the mobile Web. The Indian subcon generated the most mobile Web usage during the World Cup, logging over 377.3 mil page views and 807.2 mil minutes of content consumption on mobile devices. The free ESPNcricinfo app for iPhone and Android devices was top sports app in all major cricket markets, collectively generating 191 mil page views and 342 mil minutes through the tournament.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> Global forex brokerage, FxPro Financial Services Ltd, signed on as an official partner of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League 2011. Brokered by World Sport Group, FxPro’s branding will be displayed on-screen at various stages of the "live" telecast of each of the 117 AFC Champions League matches. The AFC Champions League, annually running from Mar to Nov, is contested by the best thirty-two clubs from Asia's top ten leagues - Australia, China, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Uzbekistan, and two teams from India, Indonesia, Qatar, Syria, Thailand and UAE who qualify through play-offs, for a total prize money of US$14 million and a place in the FIFA Club World Cup.
=> Amir Khan’s world title defence will be shown on British pay-per-view platform Primetime, after Khan was unable to reach financial terms with BSkyB to broadcast the fight. The World Boxing Association (WBA) light welterweight champion, faces Ireland’s undefeated European champion Paul McCloskey in the fourth defence of his crown at the Manchester Evening News (MEN) Arena later in the week. Khan, managed by Golden Boy Promotions, had his fight downgraded from BSkyB’s PPV platform to screening on one of their subscription channels, meaning Khan stood to lose US$1.6 mil due to his single-fight move to Primetime.
Wednesday, 13th April 2011
RIGHTS FEE
=> The IAAF has announced the conclusion of a broadcasting deal negotiated by Dentsu with Ten Sports securing the rights for the Indian Sub Continent. Dentsu is IAAF’s exclusive commercial partner for all media rights worldwide, excluding Europe and Africa. Industry sources say that Ten’s payout for the rights is in the region of $ 100,000. Ten Sports will cover seven territories that includes a commitment to broadcast the IAAF World Championships and World Indoor Championships, during the period 2011 to 2014.
=> The race in Australia for AFL TV rights has stepped up, with Ch. 9 on equal footing with current FTA broadcasters Ch. 7 and 10. A decision could come within 2 weeks. Nine has a chance to snap up 4 games. If so, it could sub-licence two of the 4 games to Seven or Ten. Ability to show key games live into developing markets was a sticking point. But Nine could use multi-channels to ensure the option of choosing between live NRL and AFL. The league is keen for A$1 bil for the 5-year TV rights deal. Current pay-TV, Foxtel, shows every game live and this has changed the TV landscape for the AFL. Foxtel will pay A$500m for pay-TV rights for nine live games a round, four of which will be shared with FTA.
=> The NHL is poised for its biggest media rights deal, as presence of 3 bidders push annual rights fee above $200 mil. The NHL will entertain offers from ESPN and NBC/Versus and get a push from Turner. Fox is not in the running to pick up the rights. The presence of three bidders will push the league's rights fee well beyond $77.5 mil /year that Versus now pays. The fee is expected to exceed $120 mil /year average that ESPN paid from 1999 to 2004, still the NHL's largest contract to date. The league's current deal with NBC is a revenue-sharing deal that does not involve a rights fee. NBC and Versus hold advantage over other bidders; their current contracts give them the right to match other offers the NHL gets. Turner makes the most intriguing potential, looking to add sports to its TruTV lineup into its 93 mil homes.
=> [Excerpt] In the USA, industry analysts claim that Fox are paying the Big 12 an enormous $90 mil annually for 13 years for second tier games, making it the key for keeping the Big 12 together. With this deal, media-rights money would equal or surpass income of Big Ten and Southeastern Conference schools because it would be added to the $60 mil annually the Big 12 receives from ABC and ESPN for first-tier games. The Big 12 would prefer for contracts for its first- and second-tier games aligned, but that’s not the case; the ABC/ESPN deal expires in 2015-16. The media-rights income doesn’t include bowl games and NCAA Tournament.
BROADCAST & DISTRIBUTION
=> The Australian Open said it is in talks with Panasonic about 3D broadcast of next year's tournament. The focus is on the Australian Open as the only grand slam yet to announce 3D plans. The 2012 Australian Open takes place Jan 16 to 29. Ch. 7 hold rights to the Australian Open until 2014, as does pay-TV, Fox Sports, who agreed with Seven to share coverage. This year, Wimbledon’s men’s singles semi and final and ladies’ singles final will be filmed in HD 3D and screened at cinemas around the world in co-operation between Sony, The AELTC and host broadcaster BBC.
DATA
=> Global advertising, largely thought to be in recovery, suffered setbacks with events in the Middle East and Japan making for a $2.4 bil loss this year. Publicis Group’s ZenithOptimedia, (ZO) shows the industry is posting reasonable growth of 4.2%, but global events forced a revision of initial estimates for 2011. ZO said in Egypt, there was almost no advertising on TV during the revolution, and advertisers are now very careful about content and placement of their messages. In Japan, most commercial ad slots were replaced with public-service announcements. Asia Pacific still managed to maintain momentum; it is expected to maintain growth of 6.6% and Asia-Pac (exc. Japan) will grow 10.2%. China (forecasted to grow avg 13.6% a year to 2013) will overtake Germany to be the world's third-largest ad market in 2011. China is currently 54% the size of Japan, the second-largest ad market, and will be 77% of its size in 2013. Brazil (15.4% annual growth) will overtake France (2.9%) to take sixth place in 2011. Russia (23.3% growth) will rise from 12th place in 2010 to tenth in 2011, eighth in 2012, and then seventh in 2013.
=> ZenithOptimedia's forecasts also show internet spending growing at breakneck pace, with average growth rate of 14.4% expected between 2010 and 2013. Online spending is forecast to overtake newspapers to become the world's second largest ad medium in 2013. This year, display advertising took over from search as main driver of internet ad growth. Display, broadly defined to include online video and social media, has been invigorated by these fast-growing segments. TV remains the largest medium and continues to increase its market share. TV held 40.4% of global adex in 2010, up from 37.3% five years earlier, and is expected to attract 41.7% in 2013.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> FIFA has said the main qualifying draw for the 2014 World Cup will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Jul 30 at the Marina da Gloria, the venue for sailing at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The draw will allocate teams from 6 continental confederations into qualifying groups. Last month, FIFA ruled that there would be no change to number of World Cup places for each confederation in 2014, although there will be a draw for the 4 countries that play off for two spots. Hosts Brazil have already qualified, meaning there could be as many as six South American countries in the 2014 World Cup, scheduled between Jun 13 and Jul 13 in 12 Brazilian cities.
=> The IAAF has announced the conclusion of a broadcasting deal negotiated by Dentsu with Ten Sports securing the rights for the Indian Sub Continent. Dentsu is IAAF’s exclusive commercial partner for all media rights worldwide, excluding Europe and Africa. Industry sources say that Ten’s payout for the rights is in the region of $ 100,000. Ten Sports will cover seven territories that includes a commitment to broadcast the IAAF World Championships and World Indoor Championships, during the period 2011 to 2014.
=> The race in Australia for AFL TV rights has stepped up, with Ch. 9 on equal footing with current FTA broadcasters Ch. 7 and 10. A decision could come within 2 weeks. Nine has a chance to snap up 4 games. If so, it could sub-licence two of the 4 games to Seven or Ten. Ability to show key games live into developing markets was a sticking point. But Nine could use multi-channels to ensure the option of choosing between live NRL and AFL. The league is keen for A$1 bil for the 5-year TV rights deal. Current pay-TV, Foxtel, shows every game live and this has changed the TV landscape for the AFL. Foxtel will pay A$500m for pay-TV rights for nine live games a round, four of which will be shared with FTA.
=> The NHL is poised for its biggest media rights deal, as presence of 3 bidders push annual rights fee above $200 mil. The NHL will entertain offers from ESPN and NBC/Versus and get a push from Turner. Fox is not in the running to pick up the rights. The presence of three bidders will push the league's rights fee well beyond $77.5 mil /year that Versus now pays. The fee is expected to exceed $120 mil /year average that ESPN paid from 1999 to 2004, still the NHL's largest contract to date. The league's current deal with NBC is a revenue-sharing deal that does not involve a rights fee. NBC and Versus hold advantage over other bidders; their current contracts give them the right to match other offers the NHL gets. Turner makes the most intriguing potential, looking to add sports to its TruTV lineup into its 93 mil homes.
=> [Excerpt] In the USA, industry analysts claim that Fox are paying the Big 12 an enormous $90 mil annually for 13 years for second tier games, making it the key for keeping the Big 12 together. With this deal, media-rights money would equal or surpass income of Big Ten and Southeastern Conference schools because it would be added to the $60 mil annually the Big 12 receives from ABC and ESPN for first-tier games. The Big 12 would prefer for contracts for its first- and second-tier games aligned, but that’s not the case; the ABC/ESPN deal expires in 2015-16. The media-rights income doesn’t include bowl games and NCAA Tournament.
BROADCAST & DISTRIBUTION
=> The Australian Open said it is in talks with Panasonic about 3D broadcast of next year's tournament. The focus is on the Australian Open as the only grand slam yet to announce 3D plans. The 2012 Australian Open takes place Jan 16 to 29. Ch. 7 hold rights to the Australian Open until 2014, as does pay-TV, Fox Sports, who agreed with Seven to share coverage. This year, Wimbledon’s men’s singles semi and final and ladies’ singles final will be filmed in HD 3D and screened at cinemas around the world in co-operation between Sony, The AELTC and host broadcaster BBC.
DATA
=> Global advertising, largely thought to be in recovery, suffered setbacks with events in the Middle East and Japan making for a $2.4 bil loss this year. Publicis Group’s ZenithOptimedia, (ZO) shows the industry is posting reasonable growth of 4.2%, but global events forced a revision of initial estimates for 2011. ZO said in Egypt, there was almost no advertising on TV during the revolution, and advertisers are now very careful about content and placement of their messages. In Japan, most commercial ad slots were replaced with public-service announcements. Asia Pacific still managed to maintain momentum; it is expected to maintain growth of 6.6% and Asia-Pac (exc. Japan) will grow 10.2%. China (forecasted to grow avg 13.6% a year to 2013) will overtake Germany to be the world's third-largest ad market in 2011. China is currently 54% the size of Japan, the second-largest ad market, and will be 77% of its size in 2013. Brazil (15.4% annual growth) will overtake France (2.9%) to take sixth place in 2011. Russia (23.3% growth) will rise from 12th place in 2010 to tenth in 2011, eighth in 2012, and then seventh in 2013.
=> ZenithOptimedia's forecasts also show internet spending growing at breakneck pace, with average growth rate of 14.4% expected between 2010 and 2013. Online spending is forecast to overtake newspapers to become the world's second largest ad medium in 2013. This year, display advertising took over from search as main driver of internet ad growth. Display, broadly defined to include online video and social media, has been invigorated by these fast-growing segments. TV remains the largest medium and continues to increase its market share. TV held 40.4% of global adex in 2010, up from 37.3% five years earlier, and is expected to attract 41.7% in 2013.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> FIFA has said the main qualifying draw for the 2014 World Cup will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Jul 30 at the Marina da Gloria, the venue for sailing at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The draw will allocate teams from 6 continental confederations into qualifying groups. Last month, FIFA ruled that there would be no change to number of World Cup places for each confederation in 2014, although there will be a draw for the 4 countries that play off for two spots. Hosts Brazil have already qualified, meaning there could be as many as six South American countries in the 2014 World Cup, scheduled between Jun 13 and Jul 13 in 12 Brazilian cities.
Tuesday, 12th April 2011
RIGHTS FEE
=> As the IPL season IV got off to a great start, Australians will not get to see it after Ten Network pulled the plug on a 5-year deal it had originally signed with World Sport Group, after the deal fell into limbo when BCCI cancelled WSG's rights. Ten, which paid between US$10 and US$15 mil for rights when it signed with WSG in 2008, had telecast matches on FTA TV, followed by repeats on Ten's HD channel. When Ten first signed on to the IPL deal it was seen as giving the network a beach head with which to challenge the dominance that Channel Nine has had vis-a-vis cricket broadcasting in Australia for the last 30 years.
=> The Italian Serie A will discuss guidelines for domestic broadcast rights tender later this year. The league is keen to seal new agreements before the 2011/12 season begins in Aug, making a tender launch in May or July a possibility. Pay-TV Sky Italia has the ‘platinum live’ package of domestic rights worth €1.16 bil ($1.67 bil), or €580 mil /season. Mediaset Premium paid €437 mil (€211 mil for 2010/11 and €226 mil for 2011/12) for terrestrial rights. In 2009, pubcaster RAI, bought Serie A highlights rights for €30 mil /season, meaning the league raised €852.5 mil from domestic rights sales for 2010/11, with another €89.5 mil generated from international rights to MP & Silva. 2011/12 yielded more overall because of increased payments by Mediaset Premium and MP & Silva, with domestic and international rights going for a total of €957.5 mil.
BROADCAST & DISTRIBUTION
=> Pan-European Motors TV has secured live TV rights to Superleague Formula in 2011. Motors TV will screen full live coverage of all 12 races; 2.5 hours of live action on Sunday from the 40-min feature races and its 6-car 5-lap Super Finals, both on race day. Superleague Formula is currently broadcast in Europe by ESPN in the UK and Ireland, Sportstv and Galatasaray TV (GSTV) in Turkey, Cytavision in Cyprus and Sport TV in Portugal, a network also serving Angola, Cape Verde and Mozambique. The 2011 Superleague Formula season begins in Portugal at the Circuito de Estoril over the weekend of the 28th and 29th May.
=> Outdoor Channel has secured 21 carriage agreements in the Philippines, including with Destiny Cable, Cablelink Holdings and Angeles City Cable TV Network. Over the coming months, Outdoor Channel will also launch on Kalibo Cable, Satellite Cable Network, Parasat Cable TV (CDO), Cotabato Cable, Barbaza Multi-Purpose Co-op, Blackstone Cable and others. The agreements were negotiated by Outdoor Channel’s exclusive Philippine distributor, Cable Boss.
=> Major League Baseball has signed new or extended broadcast deals with 12 worldwide networks. New deals were agreed with VTC3 (Vietnam), Tiajin TV and Xiamen Satellite TV (China ) to carry MLB programming and games, while renewals were signed with ESPN, Fox Sports and DirecTV. MLB also extended agreements with OBS (Korea), One HD (Australia), TV Marti (Cuba) and Colombian duo Mejia Group and IASN. Renewals with ESPN International and ESPN America will run through the 2013 season covering Latin America, Europe, Caribbean, Pacific Rim, Africa and the Middle East. The league's matches are already aired in Asia on ESPN Star Sports.
=> Golf’s Asian Tour agreed a new deal for distribution via the Golf Channel in N. America, Latin America and Japan, negotiated by Asian Tour Media. The tour claimed that the new deal, taken together with other recent rights agreements with Sky Deutschland, OSN in the Middle East, Group AB in France and My TV in Vietnam, means that the Asian Tour “now boasts a truly worldwide TV platform.” Others include: Fox (Australia); BSkyB (UK); Guangdong Golf Channel and CCTV (China); ESPN (India); Fox Int. (Mid East); JGolf (Japan) and Viasat (Scandinavia).
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> The value of Brand IPL declined from $4.13 bil in 2010 to $3.67 bil in 2011, representing an erosion of $460 mil of value, according to Brand Finance India. However, value of individual franchises have risen with Mumbai Indians pipping Chennai Super Kings as the most-valued franchise. Brand value of Mumbai Indians is $57.13 mil followed by Chennai Super Kings $55.37 mil and Royal Challengers Bangalore $47.58 mil. IPL franchises were valued based on performances in cricketing, marketing excellence and corporate governance.
=> The PetroVietnam Low Pressure Gas Distribution Joint Stock Company (PVGD) has committed US$45,000 to Vietnamese beach volleyball. The deal will throughout 2011 and was agreed with the Vietnam Volleyball Federation. The deal will see PVGD back the Vietnamese team's training and competition costs, including a major contribution to the salary of each player. Vietnam will be participating in qualifying rounds for London 2012 and in the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia this Nov as part of six key tournaments across 2011.
=> Stan Kroenke has upped his majority stake in Arsenal, and will now make a bid to complete a full takeover of the club. Kroenke, already owned over 29% of Arsenal when he upped his stake to over 60% when he bought shares held by Danny Fiszman and Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith for a total of £234 mil (US$382 mil). Passing the 30% mark obliges Kroenke to make an offer for all remaining shares in Arsenal at the level of the highest amount he has paid for shares in the last 12 months. Kroenke's offer is £11,750 (US$19,190) per share, valuing the entire issued share capital of Arsenal at just over £730 mil (US$1.192 bil).
=> Tennis’ Champions Series has signed 3 new multi-year sponsorship agreements. Donnay, insurer Geico and HSBC have agreed to be corporate sponsors of the newly-revamped tennis circuit for champion players over the age of 30. Expanded and reformatted, the Champions Series will now feature the likes of Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras and Jim Courier. They will compete in one-night tournaments taking place in 12 cities across the United States over the course of five weeks this autumn. The Champions Series, created in 2005 by InsideOut Sports & Entertainment, has players competing for ranking points and a bonus pool worth US$1 mil that will be shared between the top-3 finishers at the conclusion of the event.
=> As the IPL season IV got off to a great start, Australians will not get to see it after Ten Network pulled the plug on a 5-year deal it had originally signed with World Sport Group, after the deal fell into limbo when BCCI cancelled WSG's rights. Ten, which paid between US$10 and US$15 mil for rights when it signed with WSG in 2008, had telecast matches on FTA TV, followed by repeats on Ten's HD channel. When Ten first signed on to the IPL deal it was seen as giving the network a beach head with which to challenge the dominance that Channel Nine has had vis-a-vis cricket broadcasting in Australia for the last 30 years.
=> The Italian Serie A will discuss guidelines for domestic broadcast rights tender later this year. The league is keen to seal new agreements before the 2011/12 season begins in Aug, making a tender launch in May or July a possibility. Pay-TV Sky Italia has the ‘platinum live’ package of domestic rights worth €1.16 bil ($1.67 bil), or €580 mil /season. Mediaset Premium paid €437 mil (€211 mil for 2010/11 and €226 mil for 2011/12) for terrestrial rights. In 2009, pubcaster RAI, bought Serie A highlights rights for €30 mil /season, meaning the league raised €852.5 mil from domestic rights sales for 2010/11, with another €89.5 mil generated from international rights to MP & Silva. 2011/12 yielded more overall because of increased payments by Mediaset Premium and MP & Silva, with domestic and international rights going for a total of €957.5 mil.
BROADCAST & DISTRIBUTION
=> Pan-European Motors TV has secured live TV rights to Superleague Formula in 2011. Motors TV will screen full live coverage of all 12 races; 2.5 hours of live action on Sunday from the 40-min feature races and its 6-car 5-lap Super Finals, both on race day. Superleague Formula is currently broadcast in Europe by ESPN in the UK and Ireland, Sportstv and Galatasaray TV (GSTV) in Turkey, Cytavision in Cyprus and Sport TV in Portugal, a network also serving Angola, Cape Verde and Mozambique. The 2011 Superleague Formula season begins in Portugal at the Circuito de Estoril over the weekend of the 28th and 29th May.
=> Outdoor Channel has secured 21 carriage agreements in the Philippines, including with Destiny Cable, Cablelink Holdings and Angeles City Cable TV Network. Over the coming months, Outdoor Channel will also launch on Kalibo Cable, Satellite Cable Network, Parasat Cable TV (CDO), Cotabato Cable, Barbaza Multi-Purpose Co-op, Blackstone Cable and others. The agreements were negotiated by Outdoor Channel’s exclusive Philippine distributor, Cable Boss.
=> Major League Baseball has signed new or extended broadcast deals with 12 worldwide networks. New deals were agreed with VTC3 (Vietnam), Tiajin TV and Xiamen Satellite TV (China ) to carry MLB programming and games, while renewals were signed with ESPN, Fox Sports and DirecTV. MLB also extended agreements with OBS (Korea), One HD (Australia), TV Marti (Cuba) and Colombian duo Mejia Group and IASN. Renewals with ESPN International and ESPN America will run through the 2013 season covering Latin America, Europe, Caribbean, Pacific Rim, Africa and the Middle East. The league's matches are already aired in Asia on ESPN Star Sports.
=> Golf’s Asian Tour agreed a new deal for distribution via the Golf Channel in N. America, Latin America and Japan, negotiated by Asian Tour Media. The tour claimed that the new deal, taken together with other recent rights agreements with Sky Deutschland, OSN in the Middle East, Group AB in France and My TV in Vietnam, means that the Asian Tour “now boasts a truly worldwide TV platform.” Others include: Fox (Australia); BSkyB (UK); Guangdong Golf Channel and CCTV (China); ESPN (India); Fox Int. (Mid East); JGolf (Japan) and Viasat (Scandinavia).
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> The value of Brand IPL declined from $4.13 bil in 2010 to $3.67 bil in 2011, representing an erosion of $460 mil of value, according to Brand Finance India. However, value of individual franchises have risen with Mumbai Indians pipping Chennai Super Kings as the most-valued franchise. Brand value of Mumbai Indians is $57.13 mil followed by Chennai Super Kings $55.37 mil and Royal Challengers Bangalore $47.58 mil. IPL franchises were valued based on performances in cricketing, marketing excellence and corporate governance.
=> The PetroVietnam Low Pressure Gas Distribution Joint Stock Company (PVGD) has committed US$45,000 to Vietnamese beach volleyball. The deal will throughout 2011 and was agreed with the Vietnam Volleyball Federation. The deal will see PVGD back the Vietnamese team's training and competition costs, including a major contribution to the salary of each player. Vietnam will be participating in qualifying rounds for London 2012 and in the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia this Nov as part of six key tournaments across 2011.
=> Stan Kroenke has upped his majority stake in Arsenal, and will now make a bid to complete a full takeover of the club. Kroenke, already owned over 29% of Arsenal when he upped his stake to over 60% when he bought shares held by Danny Fiszman and Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith for a total of £234 mil (US$382 mil). Passing the 30% mark obliges Kroenke to make an offer for all remaining shares in Arsenal at the level of the highest amount he has paid for shares in the last 12 months. Kroenke's offer is £11,750 (US$19,190) per share, valuing the entire issued share capital of Arsenal at just over £730 mil (US$1.192 bil).
=> Tennis’ Champions Series has signed 3 new multi-year sponsorship agreements. Donnay, insurer Geico and HSBC have agreed to be corporate sponsors of the newly-revamped tennis circuit for champion players over the age of 30. Expanded and reformatted, the Champions Series will now feature the likes of Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras and Jim Courier. They will compete in one-night tournaments taking place in 12 cities across the United States over the course of five weeks this autumn. The Champions Series, created in 2005 by InsideOut Sports & Entertainment, has players competing for ranking points and a bonus pool worth US$1 mil that will be shared between the top-3 finishers at the conclusion of the event.
Monday, 11th April 2011
RIGHTS FEE & DISTRIBUTION
=> Eurosport Events has agreed broadcast deals in Germany and China for 2011 FIA World Touring Car Championship. German commercial broadcaster, RTL, renewed its rights, while a new agreement was made with China’s CCTV. CCTV5 will air highlights of each WTCC event during its weekly 'Auto Times' programme.
=> The French LFP will launch its tender for domestic broadcast rights to Ligue 1 from 2012-13 onwards in mid-May. Ligue 1 rights are presently shared by Canal Plus and Orange in deals worth €668 mil ($936.4 mil) /season. The LFP will launch CFoot, its own TV channel, next season and the new venture could show Ligue 1 matches from 2012-13 onwards given Orange’s stance and Canal Plus’ warning that it will not pay more than €465 mil ($669.7 mil) /season that it presently pays for rights.
=> Supersport has acquired rights in Nigeria to soccer’s uefa Champions League for the 2011/12 season as HiTV, the incumbent, said is shifting focus away from soccer. Supersport holds Champions League and Europa League rights for the current cycle (2009/10 to 2011/12) in South Africa and also in sub-Saharan Africa (through a separate deal). HiTV originally signed a deal for the Champions League and Europa League rights from 2009/10 to 2011/12. HiTV also agreed a deal worth over $120 mil for England’s Premier League (for 2010/11 to 2012/13) but that agreement was ripped up when the Premier League re-sold the rights to Supersport in July 2010 as HiTV was understood to have failed to meet the terms of its contract.
=> Austrian pubcaster, ORF, made an offer for Sat evening highlights from the Austrian Bundesliga. ORF already holds live rights to the Sunday afternoon match and wants to show a Saturday highlights show. It is reported that commercial rival, ProSiebenSat.1’s Puls 4, made an unsuccessful €400,000 ($576,191) offer for the Saturday highlights in the autumn. ORF and pay-TV, Sky, both retained rights to the 10-team league from 2010/11 to 2012/13, agreeing to pay total of €17 mil /season. ORF’s share is thought to be €8m /season.
=> [Excerpt] The AFL’s $1 billion-plus TV deal with Channels Seven, Ten and Fox has demonstrated how much cash is locked in in-demand. Local Soccer, a game is currently monopolized by Fox, pays $20 mil /year for exclusive rights to all content — the A-League and the Socceroos. The onus on Ben Buckley, credited for his role as negotiator for the AFL’s earlier successes, to screw as much money as he can out of broadcasters to underwrite the sport of soccer for the Football Association of Australia, which he now heads.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> Pepsi was dealt two significant blows ahead of 2011 Indian Premier League (IPL) with two franchises switching allegiances to rivals Coca Cola for the upcoming season, but have also announced a number of significant new partnerships of their own. The Mumbai Indians, captained by Coke brand ambassador Sachin Tendulkar, and Kings XI Punjab, both backed last year by PepsiCo, will be sponsored by Coke for the IPL’s 4th edition. Coke will now sponsor five of the ten franchises in the IPL. Sources estimate that Coke will spend US$11 mil on advertising the brand at the tournament – an increase of about 25% on last year. Official sponsor of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, Pepsi, announced partnership with the other five IPL franchises.
=> Prize money in F1 increased by 21% to $658 mil last year. Formula One Administration had net income of $296 mil in 2010 after turnover grew by 2% to $1.08 bil by adding races in South Korea and Canada. In 2009, payments to F1 teams went up 4% to $544 mil following renegotiation of the Concorde Agreement. After buying F1 in 2006, CVC Capital Partners agreed to up prize money to teams to prevent a breakaway series. Payout to teams in 2010 was 164% more than 2007, the last year of the previous agreement. Meanwhile, CVC also said the salary of the top-earning executive in F1 rose by 21% to £4.85 mil ($7.96 mil).
=> Eurosport Events has agreed broadcast deals in Germany and China for 2011 FIA World Touring Car Championship. German commercial broadcaster, RTL, renewed its rights, while a new agreement was made with China’s CCTV. CCTV5 will air highlights of each WTCC event during its weekly 'Auto Times' programme.
=> The French LFP will launch its tender for domestic broadcast rights to Ligue 1 from 2012-13 onwards in mid-May. Ligue 1 rights are presently shared by Canal Plus and Orange in deals worth €668 mil ($936.4 mil) /season. The LFP will launch CFoot, its own TV channel, next season and the new venture could show Ligue 1 matches from 2012-13 onwards given Orange’s stance and Canal Plus’ warning that it will not pay more than €465 mil ($669.7 mil) /season that it presently pays for rights.
=> Supersport has acquired rights in Nigeria to soccer’s uefa Champions League for the 2011/12 season as HiTV, the incumbent, said is shifting focus away from soccer. Supersport holds Champions League and Europa League rights for the current cycle (2009/10 to 2011/12) in South Africa and also in sub-Saharan Africa (through a separate deal). HiTV originally signed a deal for the Champions League and Europa League rights from 2009/10 to 2011/12. HiTV also agreed a deal worth over $120 mil for England’s Premier League (for 2010/11 to 2012/13) but that agreement was ripped up when the Premier League re-sold the rights to Supersport in July 2010 as HiTV was understood to have failed to meet the terms of its contract.
=> Austrian pubcaster, ORF, made an offer for Sat evening highlights from the Austrian Bundesliga. ORF already holds live rights to the Sunday afternoon match and wants to show a Saturday highlights show. It is reported that commercial rival, ProSiebenSat.1’s Puls 4, made an unsuccessful €400,000 ($576,191) offer for the Saturday highlights in the autumn. ORF and pay-TV, Sky, both retained rights to the 10-team league from 2010/11 to 2012/13, agreeing to pay total of €17 mil /season. ORF’s share is thought to be €8m /season.
=> [Excerpt] The AFL’s $1 billion-plus TV deal with Channels Seven, Ten and Fox has demonstrated how much cash is locked in in-demand. Local Soccer, a game is currently monopolized by Fox, pays $20 mil /year for exclusive rights to all content — the A-League and the Socceroos. The onus on Ben Buckley, credited for his role as negotiator for the AFL’s earlier successes, to screw as much money as he can out of broadcasters to underwrite the sport of soccer for the Football Association of Australia, which he now heads.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> Pepsi was dealt two significant blows ahead of 2011 Indian Premier League (IPL) with two franchises switching allegiances to rivals Coca Cola for the upcoming season, but have also announced a number of significant new partnerships of their own. The Mumbai Indians, captained by Coke brand ambassador Sachin Tendulkar, and Kings XI Punjab, both backed last year by PepsiCo, will be sponsored by Coke for the IPL’s 4th edition. Coke will now sponsor five of the ten franchises in the IPL. Sources estimate that Coke will spend US$11 mil on advertising the brand at the tournament – an increase of about 25% on last year. Official sponsor of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, Pepsi, announced partnership with the other five IPL franchises.
=> Prize money in F1 increased by 21% to $658 mil last year. Formula One Administration had net income of $296 mil in 2010 after turnover grew by 2% to $1.08 bil by adding races in South Korea and Canada. In 2009, payments to F1 teams went up 4% to $544 mil following renegotiation of the Concorde Agreement. After buying F1 in 2006, CVC Capital Partners agreed to up prize money to teams to prevent a breakaway series. Payout to teams in 2010 was 164% more than 2007, the last year of the previous agreement. Meanwhile, CVC also said the salary of the top-earning executive in F1 rose by 21% to £4.85 mil ($7.96 mil).
Friday, 8th April 2011
RIGHTS FEE & DISTRIBUTION
=> Romanian state broadcaster, TVR, has offered only €1 mil ($1.43 mil) /season for an unnamed package of rights to Romania’s Liga 1, under a third of the starting price. The LPF began a tender process for rights from 2011/12 to 2013/14 and TVR withdrew from the race citing financial reasons. TVR is now only willing to pay €1 mil /season (total €3 mil) for 1 of the 9 packages, far from the asking price of €3.5 mil /season (total €10.5 mil). Earlier, cable operator RCS-RDS emerged winner of the 1st package bidding €13.2 mil (€4.4 mil /season). Romtelecom won 2nd package, bidding €12.9 mil (or €4.3 mil /season). Antena 1 won 8th package, agreeing to €10.5 mil (or €3.5 mil /season). Current Liga 1 rights from 2008/09 to 2010/11 are with consortium of RCS-RDS and Antena 1 in a deal worth €85 mil ($121 mil) or €102 mil in total, but the three new deals agreed are worth only €36.6 mil.
BROADCAST
=> Japan is close to reversing its decision to pull out of the 2011 Copa America. The Japan Football Association met with the Argentinian Football Association and Conmebol where they agreed "to try to find a solution" to allow Japan to take part in the Copa America while its domestic J-League continues. Reports suggested Japan's withdrawal would have negative impact on Asian TV rights holders. However, appointed rights agency FSA Media, has sold rights to broadcasters across the region and says interest will remain high regardless of Japan's involvement. Deals in Asia for Copa America have been signed with CCTV, Hong Kong Cable, NHK, RCTI, BBTV, Astro, StarHub, SBS, VCTV, Elta, Sky Net, TDM, SBS and Sky NZ.
=> The ICC World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka drew an average rating of 23.2, with a peak rating of 35.91. Over 120 mil viewers sampled the match, delivering an All-India reach of 61%. The rating surpassed the 21 TVR garnered by the high profile India-Pakistan semi-final match, which was sampled by 115 mil viewers. Overall, average TVR for the 2011 World Cup was 3.86, compared to 2.02 TVR in 2007 when India was knocked out of the tournament in the first round. All 9 of India matches in the tournament delivered an average TVR of 12. The finals was watched live by 180 mil viewers on Star Sports, Star Cricket and DD Sports, which is 90% of the total cable/sat viewers, while ESS racked up 166.2 mil viewers, 84% of the total cable/sat viewers.
=> French TV group Trace announced its international sport celebrity channel Trace Sport to be launched in June 2011. Pre-launch will begin in May in Asia, showing 70 % of Trace’s programmes and on its launch day in June, it will be offered into 30 countries. A distribution agreement has been signed with Multichoice dish platform DStv in Sub-Saharan Africa. In France, Trace Sports will go to IPTV platforms and Numericable with an objective to reach 50 mil households in three years. Targeting the 15-49 demographic, the new channel will be carried in 8 languages and will not offer sporting events but documentary, infotainment and profiles of sport celebrities. It will start with a €10 million budget, with 60 % going to content, as 70 % of them will be produced in Native HD.
=> French sports news channel, L’Equipe TV, owned by the Amaury Group is eyeing a spot on France’s digital free TV network, but is not targeting exclusive sports rights. The channel is illegible candidate for one of two new spaces for a high-definition free DTT channel. L’Equipe TV, launched in 1998, is already available on satellite, cable and IPTV. The budget for the channel will be tripled to €30 mil ($42.8 mil) and will envisage €40 mil in advertising revenue. CSA, France’s broadcast watchdog, is yet to launch the tender for new spaces on the free DTT network. L’Equipe TV holds live rights in France to the World Series of Boxing, the 12-team, city franchise-based competition created by the AIBA.
NEW MEDIA
=> Google is working on a major overhaul of its YouTube online video platform to make it compete better with broadcasters and cable TV firms. Google will invest up to $100 mil on original content as YouTube is overhauled to organise its content around arts and sports. About 20 of those channels will feature hours of professionally produced original programming a week with other channels assembled from content already on the site. A major push into content has been expected for some time. Back in Feb, Google was reported to be in discussions to stream live basketball and hockey games over YouTube.
EVENT
=> A compromise seems to be emerging between the FIH recognised Hockey India and rival Indian Hockey Federation in the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament , which will have players from both camps. Hockey India selectors had a look at a group of 40 training at the National Stadium and a batch of 21 sent in by the IHF. The first list of 45 have been selected, including players from both lists. The final list of the team that will turn out for the Azlan Shah will be announced on 19 April.
=> Road cycling’s new Tour of Beijing is a “significant step” in globalising cycling and will benefit from major media exposure around the world. UCI and the Beijing municipal government, finalised a 4-year deal for the Chinese capital to host an event on the top-tier UCI WorldTour from 2011 to 2014. The event will be an extension of the UCI WorldTour to a fourth continent after Europe, Oceania (Tour Down Under) and North America (GP Cycliste de Quebec and de Montreal). The race will draw participation of the 18 UCI ProTeams and is expected to reach 150 mil television homes worldwide.
=> Punjab will hold a 4 or 6-nation hockey tournament with a prize ranging between $100,000 to $150,000 around September at the 5 stadia it is developing at a cost of nearly Rs1 bil. The plan is to bring in national teams of India, Pakistan, Australia and Holland for a 4-nation tourney, adding England and Germany for a 6-nation one. The event will be a double-leg tournament for the prize for which the state is confident of finding sponsors. With all plans in place and on track, the state is only waiting a mandate from Hockey India to proceed with the event.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> LeBron James has acquired a minority stake in Liverpool FC after entering a partnership with Fenway Sports Group, the club’s US owner. The size of James’ stake in Liverpool has not been disclosed. FSG said the partnership would target developing sports markets such as Asia, where both James and Liverpool have a large following. Meanwhile, Liverpool announced plans for a tour of Asia this summer, including matches in Guangzhou, Kuala Lumpur and Seoul. The pre-season tour in July will be sponsored by Standard Chartered, the bank which is Liverpool’s shirt sponsor and has significant interests in the Far East.
=> Romanian state broadcaster, TVR, has offered only €1 mil ($1.43 mil) /season for an unnamed package of rights to Romania’s Liga 1, under a third of the starting price. The LPF began a tender process for rights from 2011/12 to 2013/14 and TVR withdrew from the race citing financial reasons. TVR is now only willing to pay €1 mil /season (total €3 mil) for 1 of the 9 packages, far from the asking price of €3.5 mil /season (total €10.5 mil). Earlier, cable operator RCS-RDS emerged winner of the 1st package bidding €13.2 mil (€4.4 mil /season). Romtelecom won 2nd package, bidding €12.9 mil (or €4.3 mil /season). Antena 1 won 8th package, agreeing to €10.5 mil (or €3.5 mil /season). Current Liga 1 rights from 2008/09 to 2010/11 are with consortium of RCS-RDS and Antena 1 in a deal worth €85 mil ($121 mil) or €102 mil in total, but the three new deals agreed are worth only €36.6 mil.
BROADCAST
=> Japan is close to reversing its decision to pull out of the 2011 Copa America. The Japan Football Association met with the Argentinian Football Association and Conmebol where they agreed "to try to find a solution" to allow Japan to take part in the Copa America while its domestic J-League continues. Reports suggested Japan's withdrawal would have negative impact on Asian TV rights holders. However, appointed rights agency FSA Media, has sold rights to broadcasters across the region and says interest will remain high regardless of Japan's involvement. Deals in Asia for Copa America have been signed with CCTV, Hong Kong Cable, NHK, RCTI, BBTV, Astro, StarHub, SBS, VCTV, Elta, Sky Net, TDM, SBS and Sky NZ.
=> The ICC World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka drew an average rating of 23.2, with a peak rating of 35.91. Over 120 mil viewers sampled the match, delivering an All-India reach of 61%. The rating surpassed the 21 TVR garnered by the high profile India-Pakistan semi-final match, which was sampled by 115 mil viewers. Overall, average TVR for the 2011 World Cup was 3.86, compared to 2.02 TVR in 2007 when India was knocked out of the tournament in the first round. All 9 of India matches in the tournament delivered an average TVR of 12. The finals was watched live by 180 mil viewers on Star Sports, Star Cricket and DD Sports, which is 90% of the total cable/sat viewers, while ESS racked up 166.2 mil viewers, 84% of the total cable/sat viewers.
=> French TV group Trace announced its international sport celebrity channel Trace Sport to be launched in June 2011. Pre-launch will begin in May in Asia, showing 70 % of Trace’s programmes and on its launch day in June, it will be offered into 30 countries. A distribution agreement has been signed with Multichoice dish platform DStv in Sub-Saharan Africa. In France, Trace Sports will go to IPTV platforms and Numericable with an objective to reach 50 mil households in three years. Targeting the 15-49 demographic, the new channel will be carried in 8 languages and will not offer sporting events but documentary, infotainment and profiles of sport celebrities. It will start with a €10 million budget, with 60 % going to content, as 70 % of them will be produced in Native HD.
=> French sports news channel, L’Equipe TV, owned by the Amaury Group is eyeing a spot on France’s digital free TV network, but is not targeting exclusive sports rights. The channel is illegible candidate for one of two new spaces for a high-definition free DTT channel. L’Equipe TV, launched in 1998, is already available on satellite, cable and IPTV. The budget for the channel will be tripled to €30 mil ($42.8 mil) and will envisage €40 mil in advertising revenue. CSA, France’s broadcast watchdog, is yet to launch the tender for new spaces on the free DTT network. L’Equipe TV holds live rights in France to the World Series of Boxing, the 12-team, city franchise-based competition created by the AIBA.
NEW MEDIA
=> Google is working on a major overhaul of its YouTube online video platform to make it compete better with broadcasters and cable TV firms. Google will invest up to $100 mil on original content as YouTube is overhauled to organise its content around arts and sports. About 20 of those channels will feature hours of professionally produced original programming a week with other channels assembled from content already on the site. A major push into content has been expected for some time. Back in Feb, Google was reported to be in discussions to stream live basketball and hockey games over YouTube.
EVENT
=> A compromise seems to be emerging between the FIH recognised Hockey India and rival Indian Hockey Federation in the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament , which will have players from both camps. Hockey India selectors had a look at a group of 40 training at the National Stadium and a batch of 21 sent in by the IHF. The first list of 45 have been selected, including players from both lists. The final list of the team that will turn out for the Azlan Shah will be announced on 19 April.
=> Road cycling’s new Tour of Beijing is a “significant step” in globalising cycling and will benefit from major media exposure around the world. UCI and the Beijing municipal government, finalised a 4-year deal for the Chinese capital to host an event on the top-tier UCI WorldTour from 2011 to 2014. The event will be an extension of the UCI WorldTour to a fourth continent after Europe, Oceania (Tour Down Under) and North America (GP Cycliste de Quebec and de Montreal). The race will draw participation of the 18 UCI ProTeams and is expected to reach 150 mil television homes worldwide.
=> Punjab will hold a 4 or 6-nation hockey tournament with a prize ranging between $100,000 to $150,000 around September at the 5 stadia it is developing at a cost of nearly Rs1 bil. The plan is to bring in national teams of India, Pakistan, Australia and Holland for a 4-nation tourney, adding England and Germany for a 6-nation one. The event will be a double-leg tournament for the prize for which the state is confident of finding sponsors. With all plans in place and on track, the state is only waiting a mandate from Hockey India to proceed with the event.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> LeBron James has acquired a minority stake in Liverpool FC after entering a partnership with Fenway Sports Group, the club’s US owner. The size of James’ stake in Liverpool has not been disclosed. FSG said the partnership would target developing sports markets such as Asia, where both James and Liverpool have a large following. Meanwhile, Liverpool announced plans for a tour of Asia this summer, including matches in Guangzhou, Kuala Lumpur and Seoul. The pre-season tour in July will be sponsored by Standard Chartered, the bank which is Liverpool’s shirt sponsor and has significant interests in the Far East.
Thursday, 7th April 2011
RIGHTS FEE & DISTRIBUTION
=> ESPN International extended its deal to broadcast golf’s US Masters in Latin America, the Caribbean and Middle East and North Africa regions. ESPN International acquired exclusive pay-TV rights, along with online and mobile rights.
=> German pubcaster, ZDF has acquired FTA TV rights for the UEFA Champions League for seasons 2012/13 to 2014/15. The contract comprises one live game per match day, daily highlights reports from other games as well as the qualifying games and the UEFA Super Cup. Pay-TV, Sky Deutschland, will continue to screen all matches of the Champions and Europa Leagues. UEFA is reported to have secured an increase from €40 mil (US$56.75 mil) to €54 mil (US$76.7 mil) per year.
=> [Excerpt] In Germany, ARD and ZDF were willing to offer €6 mil ($8.2 mil) for the rights to the IAAF World Athletics Series from 2011 to 2013, well below IEC’s asking price of €15 mil. By comparison, ARD and ZDF paid over €20 mil for previous IAAF rights package that included the 2007 World Championships in Osaka and the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, plus a further fee, thought to be worth up to a two-digit million figure (in Euros), for production costs in Berlin.
=> UK’s Sky Sports has agreed a £195 mil (US$316.6 mil) 3-year deal with the Football League to be the exclusive TV broadcaster of lower-league soccer and two domestic cup competitions, starting 2012/13. Sky Sports will show 75 matches from the nPower Football League, the promotion play-offs including all three finals, 15 matches in the Carling Cup and at least two matches and the final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy per season for three years. This new contract marks a decrease in value compared to the current TV rights, held by the BBC and Sky, signed in 2009, worth UK£264 (US$420.5 million), equating to a 26% drop. An FTA highlights package is expected to command a seven-figure sum and is still available to broadcasters.
=> Italian broadcast group, Mediaset, has been awarded digital terrestrial rights to Italian second-tier Serie bwin previously held by Dahlia TV. The deal covers the remainder of the 2010-11 season, including promotion and relegation playoffs, and is reported to be worth €900,000 ($1.28 mil). Another digital broadcaster, Europa 7 had also bid for ‘Live Gold Package B’ rights.
=> Only 3 of the 9 packages have been sold in domestic broadcast rights tender launched by Romanian soccer’s top-tier Liga 1 after broadcasters displayed little interest in some of the rights on offer. Liga 1 rights from 2008-09 to 2010-11 were acquired by RCS-RDS and Antena 1 for €85 mil ($121 mil) but three deals in the latest tender for the period from 2011-12 to 2013-14 are worth only €36.6 mil. RCS-RDS won package 1 bidding €13.2 mil (or €4.4 mil) per season. Romtelecom was the only bidder for package 2, winning with €12.9 mil (or €4.3 mil) per season. Antena 1 picked up package 8, paying €10.5 mil (or €3.5 mil) per season.
=> Belgium’s Pro League is close to launching domestic broadcast rights tender for top-tier Jupiler Pro League after various delays. Live rights to the league are currently held by telecom, Belgacom, which pays €45.7 mil ($64.8 mil) per season. The deal for 2008-09 to 2010-11 was below the set target of €50 -65 mil per season, but more than €36 mil per season paid by Belgacom in the last rights period. Having acquired all TV rights, Belgacom sub-licensed highlights rights to public-service broadcasters VRT and RTBF for around €8 mil a season.
=> Télévision Tunisienne, national broadcaster in Tunisia, has written to the Fédération Tunisienne de Football demanding changes to its contract to show Tunisia’s top-tier Ligue 1 after the competition was suspended in Jan following political unrest. Originally signed for a 2-year deal for 2010-11 and 2011-12, the broadcaster asked for the length of deal to be reduced and rights payment changed to TD4 mil ($2.91 mil). The broadcaster held rights to the league in the previous two seasons, showing games on its Tunisie 7 and Tunisie 21 channels.
=> ESPN has filed a suit against Conference USA, alleging the college sports body violated its contract by failing to negotiate in good faith and by striking a new agreement with national TV network Fox. ESPN claimed it is owed damages and attorneys' fees because at the time C-USA struck the deal with Fox, a period of exclusivity over contract negotiations still existed with ESPN. Fox is not named in the suit. In January, C-USA agreed a 5-year, $43-mil deal with Fox running to the end of the 2015/16 season. A selection of C-USA events will continue to be shown on the CBS College Sports television network. The ESPN agreement, which totaled $21.9 mil over 5 years, expired after the 2010-11 season.
BROADCAST
=> The Asia-Pac broadcasting and cable TV market had total revenue of $73,004.8 mil in 2009, representing a CAGR of 4% for the period 2005-09, according to Datamonitor in their Asia-Pacific Media Industry Guide, which also states that Asia-Pac media industry had total revenue of $192.5bn in 2010, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.5% for the period 2006-10. Meanwhile, Asia-Pac movies and entertainment market generated total revenues of $20.7bn in 2009, representing a CAGR of 1.8% for the period 2005-09. The music and video market had total revenue of $9.5bn in 2009, representing a CAGR of -5.2% for the period 2005-09.
=> China is undergoing a broadcast boom and revenues from TV and radio businesses exceeded 210 bil Yuan (£19.5bn) last year, according to the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT). The vice-director of SARFT, Zhang Haitao, said the period of the government's 11th Five Year Plan, 2006 to 2010, annual revenues from broadcasting rose by 20% per year. CCTV, the Shanghai Media Group and the Hunan Broadcasting System led the field, each taking in over 10 bil Yuan in ad revenues. CCTV is still undisputed number one, but Shanghai Media Group now has equaled CCTV’s status in the new media and IPTV area.
NEW MEDIA
=> Major League Baseball Advanced Media expects revenues of $550 mil in 2011, according to MLB commissioner, Bud Selig. Selig described MLBAM as “the perfect marriage of the old guard, baseball, and the new guard, the internet.” He said: “In 2010, MLB.com had more than 2 billion visitors for the fourth consecutive year.” Last year, 34 million tickets for MLB games were sold online, he said, concluding: “MLBAM will play a critical role in engaging with the next generation of fans.”
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> Natalie Grainger is standing down as president of the Women's International Squash Players' Association with immediate effect. Grainger had been a board member of WISPA for 13 years and president for eight. Vice-president Jaclyn Hawkes will be acting president of WISPA for an interim period. WISPA also announced that it is re-branding its top-tier championships as the WISPA World Series, bringing it into line with men’s squash’s top-tier PSA World Series. The series was previously known as the WISPA World Tour. The events that will make up 2011 WISPA World Series: Cayman Islands Open, Australian Open, Qatar International, Hong Kong Open and the World Open.
=> IMG World has announced that it will exit its venture with AIBA for the World Series of Boxing. WSB was jointly created by AIBA and IMG in 2009, in which AIBA had a 75% controlling majority per stake and IMG held 25%. WSB had an inauspicious start when Indian corporate biggie Videocon pulled out as sponsor of WSB's Delhi franchise just before the first WSB campaign was to get underway last Nov. Subsequently, the Delhi franchise was dropped from WSB after AIBA-IMG failed to find a replacement sponsor. WSB concludes later this month, with the team finals on 6-7 May and the individual championships on 27-28 May.
=> ESPN Star Sports has played down mounting talk of a split, a move which would have a significant impact on the sports rights landscape across the continent. The ESS joint venture was always regarded as a marriage of convenience that could unravel at any time and there are now claims that they have divergent ideas on the future direction of the business, which led to a decision to part company, possibly as early as the end of June. The broadcaster now operates 17 ESPN and Star Sports networks throughout Asia and has been developing 3D television, internet and mobile services and events management business in the past year.
=> Hockey Australia is to experiment with a new international tournament that the FIH hopes can be the platform to entice new fans, broadcasters and commercial partners. The International Super Series is to be held in conjunction with the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting event in Perth, playing between Oct 20 and 23, with Australian national teams competing against India, Pakistan, Malaysia and New Zealand. The International Super Series will adopt a short format, with each match consisting of two 15-minute halves, compared with the traditional match length of two 35-minute halves.
=> ESPN International extended its deal to broadcast golf’s US Masters in Latin America, the Caribbean and Middle East and North Africa regions. ESPN International acquired exclusive pay-TV rights, along with online and mobile rights.
=> German pubcaster, ZDF has acquired FTA TV rights for the UEFA Champions League for seasons 2012/13 to 2014/15. The contract comprises one live game per match day, daily highlights reports from other games as well as the qualifying games and the UEFA Super Cup. Pay-TV, Sky Deutschland, will continue to screen all matches of the Champions and Europa Leagues. UEFA is reported to have secured an increase from €40 mil (US$56.75 mil) to €54 mil (US$76.7 mil) per year.
=> [Excerpt] In Germany, ARD and ZDF were willing to offer €6 mil ($8.2 mil) for the rights to the IAAF World Athletics Series from 2011 to 2013, well below IEC’s asking price of €15 mil. By comparison, ARD and ZDF paid over €20 mil for previous IAAF rights package that included the 2007 World Championships in Osaka and the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, plus a further fee, thought to be worth up to a two-digit million figure (in Euros), for production costs in Berlin.
=> UK’s Sky Sports has agreed a £195 mil (US$316.6 mil) 3-year deal with the Football League to be the exclusive TV broadcaster of lower-league soccer and two domestic cup competitions, starting 2012/13. Sky Sports will show 75 matches from the nPower Football League, the promotion play-offs including all three finals, 15 matches in the Carling Cup and at least two matches and the final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy per season for three years. This new contract marks a decrease in value compared to the current TV rights, held by the BBC and Sky, signed in 2009, worth UK£264 (US$420.5 million), equating to a 26% drop. An FTA highlights package is expected to command a seven-figure sum and is still available to broadcasters.
=> Italian broadcast group, Mediaset, has been awarded digital terrestrial rights to Italian second-tier Serie bwin previously held by Dahlia TV. The deal covers the remainder of the 2010-11 season, including promotion and relegation playoffs, and is reported to be worth €900,000 ($1.28 mil). Another digital broadcaster, Europa 7 had also bid for ‘Live Gold Package B’ rights.
=> Only 3 of the 9 packages have been sold in domestic broadcast rights tender launched by Romanian soccer’s top-tier Liga 1 after broadcasters displayed little interest in some of the rights on offer. Liga 1 rights from 2008-09 to 2010-11 were acquired by RCS-RDS and Antena 1 for €85 mil ($121 mil) but three deals in the latest tender for the period from 2011-12 to 2013-14 are worth only €36.6 mil. RCS-RDS won package 1 bidding €13.2 mil (or €4.4 mil) per season. Romtelecom was the only bidder for package 2, winning with €12.9 mil (or €4.3 mil) per season. Antena 1 picked up package 8, paying €10.5 mil (or €3.5 mil) per season.
=> Belgium’s Pro League is close to launching domestic broadcast rights tender for top-tier Jupiler Pro League after various delays. Live rights to the league are currently held by telecom, Belgacom, which pays €45.7 mil ($64.8 mil) per season. The deal for 2008-09 to 2010-11 was below the set target of €50 -65 mil per season, but more than €36 mil per season paid by Belgacom in the last rights period. Having acquired all TV rights, Belgacom sub-licensed highlights rights to public-service broadcasters VRT and RTBF for around €8 mil a season.
=> Télévision Tunisienne, national broadcaster in Tunisia, has written to the Fédération Tunisienne de Football demanding changes to its contract to show Tunisia’s top-tier Ligue 1 after the competition was suspended in Jan following political unrest. Originally signed for a 2-year deal for 2010-11 and 2011-12, the broadcaster asked for the length of deal to be reduced and rights payment changed to TD4 mil ($2.91 mil). The broadcaster held rights to the league in the previous two seasons, showing games on its Tunisie 7 and Tunisie 21 channels.
=> ESPN has filed a suit against Conference USA, alleging the college sports body violated its contract by failing to negotiate in good faith and by striking a new agreement with national TV network Fox. ESPN claimed it is owed damages and attorneys' fees because at the time C-USA struck the deal with Fox, a period of exclusivity over contract negotiations still existed with ESPN. Fox is not named in the suit. In January, C-USA agreed a 5-year, $43-mil deal with Fox running to the end of the 2015/16 season. A selection of C-USA events will continue to be shown on the CBS College Sports television network. The ESPN agreement, which totaled $21.9 mil over 5 years, expired after the 2010-11 season.
BROADCAST
=> The Asia-Pac broadcasting and cable TV market had total revenue of $73,004.8 mil in 2009, representing a CAGR of 4% for the period 2005-09, according to Datamonitor in their Asia-Pacific Media Industry Guide, which also states that Asia-Pac media industry had total revenue of $192.5bn in 2010, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.5% for the period 2006-10. Meanwhile, Asia-Pac movies and entertainment market generated total revenues of $20.7bn in 2009, representing a CAGR of 1.8% for the period 2005-09. The music and video market had total revenue of $9.5bn in 2009, representing a CAGR of -5.2% for the period 2005-09.
=> China is undergoing a broadcast boom and revenues from TV and radio businesses exceeded 210 bil Yuan (£19.5bn) last year, according to the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT). The vice-director of SARFT, Zhang Haitao, said the period of the government's 11th Five Year Plan, 2006 to 2010, annual revenues from broadcasting rose by 20% per year. CCTV, the Shanghai Media Group and the Hunan Broadcasting System led the field, each taking in over 10 bil Yuan in ad revenues. CCTV is still undisputed number one, but Shanghai Media Group now has equaled CCTV’s status in the new media and IPTV area.
NEW MEDIA
=> Major League Baseball Advanced Media expects revenues of $550 mil in 2011, according to MLB commissioner, Bud Selig. Selig described MLBAM as “the perfect marriage of the old guard, baseball, and the new guard, the internet.” He said: “In 2010, MLB.com had more than 2 billion visitors for the fourth consecutive year.” Last year, 34 million tickets for MLB games were sold online, he said, concluding: “MLBAM will play a critical role in engaging with the next generation of fans.”
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> Natalie Grainger is standing down as president of the Women's International Squash Players' Association with immediate effect. Grainger had been a board member of WISPA for 13 years and president for eight. Vice-president Jaclyn Hawkes will be acting president of WISPA for an interim period. WISPA also announced that it is re-branding its top-tier championships as the WISPA World Series, bringing it into line with men’s squash’s top-tier PSA World Series. The series was previously known as the WISPA World Tour. The events that will make up 2011 WISPA World Series: Cayman Islands Open, Australian Open, Qatar International, Hong Kong Open and the World Open.
=> IMG World has announced that it will exit its venture with AIBA for the World Series of Boxing. WSB was jointly created by AIBA and IMG in 2009, in which AIBA had a 75% controlling majority per stake and IMG held 25%. WSB had an inauspicious start when Indian corporate biggie Videocon pulled out as sponsor of WSB's Delhi franchise just before the first WSB campaign was to get underway last Nov. Subsequently, the Delhi franchise was dropped from WSB after AIBA-IMG failed to find a replacement sponsor. WSB concludes later this month, with the team finals on 6-7 May and the individual championships on 27-28 May.
=> ESPN Star Sports has played down mounting talk of a split, a move which would have a significant impact on the sports rights landscape across the continent. The ESS joint venture was always regarded as a marriage of convenience that could unravel at any time and there are now claims that they have divergent ideas on the future direction of the business, which led to a decision to part company, possibly as early as the end of June. The broadcaster now operates 17 ESPN and Star Sports networks throughout Asia and has been developing 3D television, internet and mobile services and events management business in the past year.
=> Hockey Australia is to experiment with a new international tournament that the FIH hopes can be the platform to entice new fans, broadcasters and commercial partners. The International Super Series is to be held in conjunction with the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting event in Perth, playing between Oct 20 and 23, with Australian national teams competing against India, Pakistan, Malaysia and New Zealand. The International Super Series will adopt a short format, with each match consisting of two 15-minute halves, compared with the traditional match length of two 35-minute halves.