BT Sport has put its ad sales contract, which is estimated to be worth £30M ($46M) a year, up for review and both ITV and Sky "have submitted bids against the incumbent, Channel 4." Discussions with Sky "have already ended, although TV insiders were stunned that BT even held talks with its arch-rival." ITV’s involvement is "also surprising" because the U.K.’s "biggest TV sales house is heavily regulated." It holds more than 40% of the market (CAMPAIGN LIVE, 11/19). ... Neo Sports Broadcast Network, which owns and operates Neo Sports and Neo Prime channels, has "bagged the broadcast rights" to the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 2015. As part of the deal, "the broadcaster will telecast 34 matches of BPL live." The tournament will start Nov. 22 in Dhaka. In the second phase of the round robin league starting Nov. 29, it "will move on to Chittagong." The tournament will return to Dhaka for the playoffs, "finally culminating" on Dec. 15 (TELEVISION POST, 11/19).
MLS, FOX SPORTS PARTNERSHIP: Major League Soccer announced that it has partnered with global pay-TV broadcaster Fox Sports in Africa to broadcast league matches live across Sub-Saharan Africa. MLS is now distributed in nearly 140 countries and territories around the world. The deal, which will see Fox Sports Africa broadcast live MLS matches during the '15-18 seasons in 25 countries and territories across Africa, includes at least two live MLS regular season matches per week, the MLS All Star Game, the MLS Cup Playoff games and the MLS Cup. In addition, Fox Sports Africa will carry highlights, player features and other MLS content across its digital platforms (Major League Soccer).
