The German Football League (DFL) "approved the use of virtual advertising technology" in the Bundesliga. The technology, produced by Supponor and Lagardère Sports, was trialed at the match between Borussia Dortmund and Augsburg on Feb. 26, "with an additional world feed outside the German-speaking area broadcast live for the first time in international markets." The virtual advertising technology "leverages additional advertising space through the creation of broadcast standard virtual overlays of physical perimeter boards" (SOCCEREX, 3/13).
Digital football platform Dugout and News Corp revealed plans for the acquisition by Dugout of News Corp's mobile and online platform ballball, which delivers near-live highlights of the world's leading football leagues and other content in southeast Asia. The move highlights Dugout's focus on expanding its global presence. Dugout's acquisition of ballball will see it showcase the platform's content in Vietnam and Indonesia (Dugout).
A $22.7M fine levied against beIN sports and its Chair, Nasser al-Khalaifi, was "upheld by the Cairo Economic Court." The Egyptian Competition Authority said that the Qatari company "abused its position when transmitting its coverage of the main African football competitions." Rather than transmit the coverage on Egypt’s Nilesat satellite, viewers were "required to point their dishes at Qatar’s Suhail Sat satellite" (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 3/13).
