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
Brunei aim to keep momentum going, Football News & Top
Di Maria and Mbappe among the goals as PSG win big again - Vanguard With Neymar and Edinson Cavani still absent, Layvin Kurzawa also scored for PSG at the Parc
Di Maria and Mbappe among the goals as PSG win big again
Gylfi Sigurdsson deepened Cardiff City's Premier League relegation fears with two well-taken goals in Everton's 3-0 victory in the Welsh capital on Tuesday. A first half low on quality was
Football: Sigurdsson double helps Everton sink Cardiff
Cheer on your beloved football team with our latest sport-inspired styles from New Era. Our Tottenham Hotspur F.C. collection fuses contemporary designs with iconic silhouettes.
Football: Tottenham set for kick-off at new stadium to
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on January 13, 2019, with the headline 'Iran and Iraq qualify for last 16 with easy wins'. Print Edition | Subscribe Topics:
Football: Iran and Iraq qualify for last 16 with easy wins
Maurizio Sarri condemns the alleged racist abuse of Raheem Sterling by Chelsea supporters but wants the club's main focus to be on Thursday's clash with Vidi. The Blues visit Budapest this week
Sarri condemns 'disgusting' Sterling abuse - uk.sports.yahoo.com
The Observer Premier League Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via Email More than 30 years have elapsed since Watford embarked on their one and only campaign in Uefa competition but maybe
Deeney and Deulofeu seal Watford win at West Ham
Barcelona give fresh hope to La Liga rivals after Bilbao stalemate Lionel Messi was short of fitness and Barcelona lacked spark as a goalless draw away to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday offered fresh
La Liga: Barcelona give fresh hope to rivals after Athletic
The game is not over yet and Brighton have been plucky in the final third. Given the result at Anfield and City's one-goal lead, it only takes one goal from Brighton to turn their title race back
Silva unfazed by 'snake' taunts from angry Watford fans
What is another word for high-stakes gambler? Need synonyms for high-stakes gambler?Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.
Gambler's stakes -- Crossword clue | Crossword Nexus
Football: Klopp confirms Firmino fitness for Champions League final Roberto Firmino trained in Madrid on Friday and is fit after missing Liverpool's last three games, manager Jurgen Klopp said
Tottenham vs Liverpool: Roberto Firmino passed fit for
Players past and present have joined fans in paying tribute to England World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who has died at the age of 81. The news of his passing was released by his family
Gordon Banks: World Cup-winning goalkeeper dies aged 81
Football: Lions will not hold back against Oman but must stay
Football: Man City look like world's best side but Liverpool
0 comments:
Post a Comment