European sports broadcaster Eleven Sports acquired key distribution assets of U.S. outfit One World Sports, enabling it to "break into" the U.S. market through distribution deals with AT&T, DirecTV, Verizon, Charter Communications and NCTC, according to DIGITAL TV EUROPE. Eleven said that it "now intends to build a strong portfolio of rights" in the U.S. from sports including cycling, ice hockey, basketball, football, rugby, lacrosse, cricket, drone racing and other "millennial-focused sports, with specific details being made public in the near future" (DIGITAL TV EUROPE, 3/17). MULTI CHANNEL's Mike Farrell reported One World had been "on the ropes" over the past several months, after one suitor "unexpectedly backed away from a deal for the network, which forced it to furlough much of its staff." Eleven Sports is owned by global investment company Aser and its founder, Italian investor Andrea Radrizzani, the founding partner and vice-chair of MP & Silva (MULTI CHANNEL, 3/16). BROADBAND TV NEWS' Robert Briel reported Eleven Sports is already available in five territories across Europe and Asia and will position itself in the U.S. "as the sports network For the Fans, where emerging and established sports will be combined." Featuring sports content that is not readily available, Eleven will be the network for "under-represented fans" (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 3/16).
