Vodafone Spain has "struck a deal with Telefónica that will enable it to air Formula 1 and MotoGP." The agreement "follows a dispute between the pair" that saw Vodafone file a complaint with Spain's National Commission of Markets & Competition (CNMC) over Telefónica’s "unwillingness to make its motorsport coverage available before July, when it is obliged to share premium services with rival providers as one of the conditions set to grant approval for its acquisition of the former Canal+ España pay-TV service." The new deal will "enable Vodafone to air Formula 1 from the start of the next season" in '17. Vodafone will "continue to air movie channel Movistar Estrenos until March, along with the ‘partidazo’ -- the major football game of each day, after which the movie channel will be replaced by Formula 1 and MotoGP" (DIGITAL TV EUROPE, 9/7).
Liverpool-based Rippleffect has been "appointed on a long-term contract to transform" Premier League side Stoke City's website and online retail store. The club is "looking to enhance its reputation" in the U.K. and abroad by launching two "modern, fully-responsive and commercially-effective websites." Rippleffect will unveil the club's ecommerce platform later this year "before developing a brand new fan-focused club website" in time for the start of the '17-18 season (PROLIFIC NORTH, 9/7).
The first 2018 World Cup qualifier for the French national team, played against Belarus on Tuesday, was watched by 5.9 million viewers on TF1. The number translated to a 25% market share. The game “drew a million more viewers” than the friendly Les Bleus played against Italy last week (L’ÉQUIPE, 9/7).
