LONDON • Eleven Sports, the self-styled "Netflix of sport", has saved its operations in the fiercely competitive Britain and Ireland markets from closure after reaching deals to offload the rights to Italy's Serie A and continue coverage of Spain's LaLiga.
In December, it emerged that the streaming service, which is thought to have attracted 50,000 subscriptions since its August launch, was unable to attract enough subscribers.
The company, which stopped its pay-TV operations in Singapore and became unavailable on Singtel TV from August last year, attempted to renegotiate rights deals at a much cheaper rate to try and avoid pulling the plug.
It has now concluded talks with IMG, which acts as the agent for Serie A rights, with the Britain and Ireland rights to move to Premier Sports from next month until 2021.
Premier Sports also picked up the rights to the Dutch Eredivisie and Chinese Super League from Eleven.
Eleven has also concluded a new agreement with LaLiga, giving it temporary breathing space to keep broadcasting matches until the end of the season. In the summer, it will have to negotiate another deal.
"The strategic direction we have chosen allows us to focus on LaLiga, which not only drives real value for us in the UK and Ireland but is also a property which we continue to have a valued partnership with in five markets globally," said a spokesman for Eleven Sports, which is controlled by Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani.
The Italian businessman said last December that Eleven could not rely on Internet subscribers alone to make its British venture work and is working out distribution deals for his channel.
Eleven said that as a result of the cutback in sports content, existing and new subscribers will see the price of its monthly pass reduced from £5.99 (S$11) to £4.99 from next month.
Last November, it struck a deal with Scottish broadcaster STV to show two live LaLiga and Serie A games a week through its online streaming service. Last October, it was forced to stop its controversial practice of broadcasting European games on Saturday afternoons after pressure from football stakeholders.
Eleven, which had outbid Sky and BT, Britain's two largest sports broadcasters, for the rights that the two companies had previously owned, said that despite the setbacks it is still looking for new sports rights deals.
Endeavour, the Hollywood talent agency which owns Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the increasingly popular mixed martial arts competition, and IMG hold a minority stake in Eleven Sports UK & Ireland. Eleven, which also operates in markets including Poland and Portugal, is controlled via the holding company Aser, which in turn is controlled by Radrizzani.
Late last year, UFC opted to move back to previous rights holder BT with a new broadcast deal.
THE GUARDIAN
Football: Pochettino's positivity propels pursuit of progress LONDON • In his biography, Brave New World, Mauricio Pochettino explains his belief in a concept called "energia universal" - the idea that people, places and things are charged with a hidden energy, positive or negative.
Football: Pochettino blames lack of focus for Spurs defeat
allmysportsnews.com/soccer/football-pochettino-blames-lack-of-focus-for-spurs-defeat-against-wolves/
Football: Pochettino blames lack of focus for Spurs defeat against Wolves Posted on 12/29/2018 LONDON (AFP) - Mauricio Pochettino said Tottenham played with their hearts rather than their heads as they blew a chance to put pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool with a shock 3-1 home defeat to Wolves on Saturday (Dec 29).
Football: Pochettino pledges to stay with Spurs | All My
allmysportsnews.com/soccer/football-pochettino-pledges-to-stay-with-spurs/
Football: Pochettino reaffirms Spurs commitment amid Real interest ; Football: No need to buy to be jolly, insists Spurs manager Pochettino ; Football: Pochettino's positivity propels pursuit of progress ; Football: Pochettino blames lack of focus for Spurs defeat against Wolves
Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham side look to take bull by
Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League Semi Final - Portugal v Switzerland - Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal - June 5, 2019 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their first goal REUTER
Portugal coach says Ronaldo can stay at the top for several
UEFA says anti-racism protocol not followed in Koulibaly case Date created : 28/12/2018 - 23:29 FIFPro and UEFA are "very concerned" that the Inter v Napoli match played on despite racist abuse
UEFA says anti-racism protocol not followed in Koulibaly case
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United are not scared of playing the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against at the Camp Nou after drawing Barcelona on Friday. United were originally drawn to play at Barcelona in the first leg, which would have given them the safety net of playing the decisive return at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer: United don't fear Camp Nou test - Daily Nation
Newcastle took a huge step towards securing their Premier League survival as Ayoze Perez sealed a win against Leicester at King Power Stadium. Perez heads Newcastle closer to Premier League safety
Perez heads Newcastle closer to Premier League safety
Paine and Kohli clash as Australia takes a grip on the second Test Meghan and Harry post new baby photo to mark Mother's Day At least six dead as gunmen storm church in Burkina Faso
Grip and bare it: the grit of new Australian cricket era
Pakistan did not qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, being eliminated by Bangladesh in the first round of the AFC qualifying section, losing the first game 3-0, but drawing 0-0 in the return game, being 3-0 as the aggregate score. In 2014, Pakistan played a 2 match friendly series with India.
Philippines women's national football team - Howling Pixel
winner | Malaysia News is a newsreader (RSS reader) providing a summary of headlines and latest news stories disseminated in the reliable news sources from Malaysia News. Malaysia News reads latest regional, national and local headlines in English and Melayu.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic fails to attend training for Paris Saint
Cristiano Ronaldo has pledged his long term future to the old lady as he said he will be staying at Juventus "1000%" after the club won an eighth consecutive Serie A title with victory over Fiorentina.
Zidane sure of Ronaldo's stay | The Guardian Nigeria News
Kane 'proud' of England response to race jibes during Monday's Euro 2020 qualifier in Podgorica, which England won 5-1. any supporters found to have racially abused England's black
Wasteful Barca held to goalless 0-0 draw at defiant Lyon Barca dominated possession early on, but Lyon had the first two shots on target and it took a couple of superb saves from Ter Stegen to
Wasteful Barca held to goalless draw at defiant Lyon
Pogba strikes twice as Man United win on Solskjaer home bow Wednesday December 26 2018 Manchester Unuted's Paul Pogba celebrates a goal against Huddersfield on December 26, 2018 at Old Trafford.
Pogba strikes twice as Man Utd win on Solskjaer home debut
0 comments:
Post a Comment