The BBC agreed to a three-year deal to show the London Marathon until '21.
Under the agreement, the broadcaster will hold exclusive U.K. TV, radio and digital rights to the race.
Having televised every London Marathon since the event's inception in '81, the BBC's coverage will continue up to and including its 40th anniversary (BBC).
GAMES IN FINLAND: Discovery Communications announced a TV and multi-platform broadcast agreement in Finland. The 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games will be available to Finnish viewers on both Discovery's TV5, Eurosport and YLE, providing fans the opportunity to watch the Games across all screens. The deal means that YLE will sub-license from Discovery Communications free-to-air audiovisual and radio rights for the 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games. Under the agreement, Discovery Communications will retain exclusive content and a primetime highlights slot, which will be broadcast on TV5 and Eurosport during the Olympic Games. The deal means that for the first time, advertisers in Finland will have access to the Olympic Games across free-to-air and pay-TV linear channels, in addition to digital platforms (Discovery Communications).
MEDIA BRIEFS ...
Eleven Sports Network signed a multi-year agreement with Fighting Spirit to expand its offering of mixed martial arts and kickboxing for fans in Poland and Belgium.
The network will showcase live and exclusive coverage of MMA’s M-1 Challenge and Enfusion Live: The World Championships of Kickboxing in Poland until the end of '17, while viewers in Belgium will be able to view live M-1 Challenge and Enfusion Live events through the end of September (Eleven Sports Network).
Euroleague Basketball announced that the Eurocup Finals between Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul and Strasbourg will feature broader TV coverage thanks to agreements signed with NTVSPOR Turkey and Ma Chaine Sport France to broadcast both games of the elimination series. NTVSPOR and MCS join Eurocup partner Eurosport as official broadcasters of both games in their territories. With Eurosport as lead broadcaster, the games will be seen in more than 60 countries with a potential audience of 246 million (Euroleague).
Digiturk secured a package of digital rights in Turkey to Euro 2016.
The Turkish pay-TV broadcaster has sub-licensed live rights from the free-to-air Turkish Radio and Television Corp. (TRT) to the flagship continental competition.
The firm was acquired by Qatar's beIN Sports last year (SOCCEREX, 4/20).
Sportradar AG has acquired the shares and core business of sportsman media holding GmbH from the sportsman founders and CEOs Thomas Krohne and Karl Wieseneder. The sportsman is one of Europe's leading sports media rights, marketing and platform companies. The deal agreed upon by the parties will significantly upgrade Sportradar's offering in the audiovisual sports content sector. Under the terms of the deal, Sportradar will acquire the sportsman media group GmbH (the sports rights and marketing agency with the sportsman's betting and gaming services), LAOLA1.tv (int'l online sports TV), LAOLA1 Multimedia (the operator of Austria's largest sports website as well as new media service partner for clubs and organizations), and unas media productions (the live streaming and video-platform production arm), and will integrate them into the existing Sportradar business. The deal still needs to be approved by the relevant anti-trust authorities (Sportsman).
