Spain's FIBA World Cup game against Serbia on Sept. 4 will tip off at 10pm local time, but "it is possible" that the start of Mediaset's coverage of the game will be delayed to 10:50pm due to "a schedule conflict with the Spanish national football team's friendly against France" at 9pm. With the games overlapping, Mediaset, which owns the rights to both contests, "is planning to delay coverage of the basketball game," which has "exasperated fans of basketball." Using the hashtag #AscoMediaset, thousands have "taken to Twitter showing their frustration" with the broadcaster's plan (LIBERTAD DIGITAL, 8/18). ... Before Barcelona's exhibition game against Liga MX side León on Monday, an announcer for Spanish channel TV3 "had some controversial words." The commentator said, "It's not worth it to announce the lineups for León" (LIBERTAD DIGITAL, 8/18). ... Bulgaria’s Nova Broadcasting Group "acquired the exclusive rights for TV and online broadcasting of the matches of the Bulgarian Football Championship, the Bulgarian Cup and Super Cup" for the '14-15 and '15-16 seasons. The Nova, Diema and Nova Sport channels "will broadcast several matches in every round of the A Group, the top division of the Bulgarian football league system" (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 8/18).
NFL IN BRAZIL: The NFL and ESPN reached an agreement that establishes the sports media company as the only pay-TV broadcast partner in Brazil through the 2016 season. The new agreement provides ESPN with the rights to televise a game in every available broadcast time. During the upcoming season, ESPN will air up to six games per week, plus the playoff games, Pro Bowl and Super Bowl XLIX (ESPN).
