Tencent Sports reached an agreement with FIFA to become the exclusive digital media rights holder in China for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia. The deal will see the online sports platform provide live streaming of the tournament, as well as offering video-on-demand, highlights and original programs "across its various digital channels." Tencent Sports also acquired the exclusive media rights in China for the 2017 U17 World Cup, which will be held in India in October (SOCCEREX, 6/16).
FIBA and Greek public broadcaster ERT announced an agreement for the '17-21 cycle of FIBA events. The agreement is in place for all of Greece's games at FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017, FIBA EuroBasket 2017, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers and Final Round as well as the FIBA EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers and Final Round. ERT will also broadcast all Olympic Qualifying Tournaments for men and women for the Tokyo 2020 Games (FIBA).
Spain's National Commission of Markets & Competition (CNMC) fined La Liga for "impeding Mediaset channels' access to football stadiums." It is the CNMC's "first formal fine to La Liga after the competition started managing broadcasting rights of every football club in the country." The fine, against which La Liga is entitled to appeal, is €250,000 ($280,000) (RAPID TV NEWS, 6/17).
Spain's top broadcasters "are finalizing their initial offers for the rights to the Champions League from the '18-19 season through '20-21." Offers must be submitted by Tuesday. From there, "each broadcaster will negotiate with UEFA individually." Antena 3 and TV3, which currently have the free-TV rights, "will fight to keep them." They will also face competition from Mediaset and TVE. It is "possible" that the Champions League could end up being carried exclusively by pay-TV channels -- which has been the case in the U.K. since '15 (AS, 6/17).
