Combat sports specialist CSI Sports has secured carriage for its Fight Sports HD channel with cable operator and digital-terrestrial broadcaster DNA in Finland. The deal will give DNA subscribers the opportunity to view live WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO boxing World Title events, Championship Kickboxing, K-1, MMA and combat sports-related documentary and reality programming. Past fights from HBO Championship Boxing will also be available (DIGITAL TV EUROPE, 11/22).
The BBC will air a new documentary series, Behind The Scenes at Watford FC, featuring behind-the-scenes footage of the Premier League club. The four-part series is being filmed in November and December by Goalhanger Films, a production company owned by Gary Lineker, who will also narrate the program (SPORTS MOLE, 11/22).
Diego Maradona has come out in support of Lionel Messi and the Argentina players over their decision to boycott the media. Messi announced after last week's 3-0 home win over Colombia in a 2018 World Cup qualifier that he and the rest of the squad would not speak to the press until further notice because "they felt they were mistreated." Maradona: "I was the creator of the 'silenzio stampa' [full silence] with Napoli 30 years ago. I'm not inside the Argentina team and I don't know what the motivation to take this decision is but if the whole group thinks it is a right decision, then (this) is perfect for me" (ESPN.com, 11/22).
U.K. pay-TV operator Sky has tapped Telstra-owned online video platform provider Ooyala to automate the global syndication of clips for Sky Sports with Ooyala Flex, its media logistics solution. Sky Sports will use Ooyala’s platform to deliver Premier League in-game clips and highlight packages for "online and linear consumption" to 40 int'l licensee partners (DIGITAL TV EUROPE, 11/22).
Investment company Medicam is set to launch AfroSport TV, a new sports channel in Cameroon. Medicam said that "it has been awarded TV rights by the Ministry of Communications Authorization Decree to launch channel AfroSport TV." The company plans to launch an African, European and Middle East-focused sports network. Afrosport said that it will be the "first sports TV channel to be launched in Cameroon." The company has already secured cable distribution agreements with TV Cam and SWE Cable, and is "in negotiations" with another 12 cable companies. It sees a market in Cameroon of 5 million potential daily viewers (TELECOMPAPER, 11/21).
