The element that "links together the financial results of Sky and BT" is the "pull on costs from the FA Premier League contract." A week after the telecom said that it was dropping free access to its sports channels, BT announced it added 52,000 new customers in the quarter, taking its "installed base" on Dec. 31 to 1.7 million. BT Sport's average audience figures increased 15% (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 1/27).
News UK "folded freesheet title Sport Magazine to focus its investment on audio and digital brands at Wireless Group," which it acquired last year for £220M. The last issue will run on Friday. It is not yet known how many people from Sport Magazine's team will leave the business, though it is understood that some could be offered roles elsewhere in the company (THE DRUM, 1/27).
Eurosport confirmed exclusive and extended Giro d'Italia coverage along with additional races from '17 when the network will air over 200 days of live cycling. The four-year extension offers more exclusivity to Eurosport in Europe and Australia, as well as including a wide range of additional races available on Eurosport and the Eurosport Player. The rights for this cycling package were secured through IMG (Eurosport).
Italian media regulator Agcom asked the Lega Calcio to "make changes to its guidelines for the selling of centralised media rights to the Serie A." They would apply to the three seasons from '18-19. Agcom's proposals refer to "the protection of consumers and reception of the signal" (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 1/27).
The World Handball World Cup semifinal between France and Slovenia was watched by an average audience of 6.86 million viewers on TF1, translating to a 27.3% market share. The match, won by France 31-25, drew a peak audience of 7.7 million. Pay-TV channel beIN Sports also broadcast the semifinal, and drew an average audience of 781,000 viewers with a peak audience of 871,000 (L’ÉQUIPE, 1/27).