The BBC will continue to broadcast live radio coverage of the Ashes, including the Women's Ashes, after renewing its partnership with Cricket Australia. The new five-year agreement includes "Test Match Special coverage of this winter's five-Test men's tour down under, which starts in November." TMS will also broadcast England's home Ashes series in the summer of '19 (BBC, 8/4).
Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 is set to be the most widely viewed to date as World Rugby announced the event will be broadcast live to more than 110 countries, with games also streamed on rwcwomens.com and World Rugby's social platforms (RWC Women's).
ESPN will broadcast live games from the English Football League in the U.S. this season. BAMTech, of which ESPN is a minority owner, reached a deal last week to acquire the U.S. rights to the games in the League Championship, League One and League Two -- as well as the EFL Cup. ESPN then reached a separate agreement with BAMTech to air the games, which will primarily be shown on digital platforms (ESPN).
German DTH platform HD+ "will broadcast the 45 Bundesliga games Eurosport will show live from the upcoming season on Astra (19.2° East) for German satellite households." The distribution deal was reached between Discovery Networks Deutschland and the subsidiary of Astra satellite operator SES. The Bundesliga games Eurosport will screen on Eurosport 2 HD Xtra will "not only be available on OTT service Eurosport Player, but also on a classic TV broadcast infrastructure" (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 8/4).
Eleven Sports secured the rights to show all live UFC events in Belgium and Luxembourg. In addition to broadcasting an average of 40 live events annually, Eleven Sports will deliver more than 150 hours of content including magazine review shows (Eleven Sports).
NBC Sports Group named gaming industry veteran Kevin Knocke as host of the Universal Open Rocket League, its inaugural esports tournament. Knocke is the VP of esports at ReKTGlobal, an esports infrastructure services company, and has been a host, caster and producer in the esports community since '10 (NBC Sports Group).
