The Bundesliga is launching full Chinese (Bundesliga.cn) and Spanish (Bundesliga.com/es) versions of its website, and is introducing mobile applications updates. After two successful years on Chinese-specific social channels (Weibo, Youku and Wechat) and becoming the No. 1 rated European football league on social media in China, the league is now launching a Chinese website. Also, in Spanish-speaking countries, the Bundesliga is launching its Spanish website as well as social channels. Both sites will be launched before the start of the '16-17 season in August (Bundesliga).
LEGAL DISPUTE: Fox in The Netherlands is looking to "force Dutch platforms to include its Fox Sports 1 channel in their basic packages," at a cost of €2 ($2.20) per subscriber. Fox Sports 1 is the "main premium channel featuring live football matches from the Dutch Eredivisie." However, Dutch telecom KPN has "started a lawsuit against Fox, claiming that including the premium sports channel in its basic tier is against the interest of its subscribers, as it would have to increase the monthly fee for all subs." The existing carriage contract between Fox and KPN "is expiring" on Aug. 1 (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 7/27).
MEDIA BRIEFS ...
Following the "recent events of violence" in Germany, German TV channel ProSieben has "cancelled all esports broadcasts," including this week's ELEAGUE Counter-Strike: Global Offensive matches. In addition, ProSieben has "deleted its ELEAGUE website." ELEAGUE's semifinals and finals "will still be streamed live for German fans on the 99Damage Twitch stream" (ESPORTS OBSERVER, 7/27).
Telefónica had 3.8 million pay-TV customers in its home market Spain "as of the end of the second quarter, a 4% organic growth on the same period last year." Of these, 750,000 were DTS satellite subscribers. Meanwhile, Telefónica’s Movistar Fusión had 4.3 million customers (+10% year-on-year) and 2.1 million additional mobile lines (+9%), with quarterly additions of 60,000 (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 7/28).
