Industry Shorts: The Fa, R&a, European Tour
The FA says it will review broadcast rights decisions as it comes under fire after FA Cup games were streamed on the websites of betting companies.
The governing body for football in England agreed a media rights deal with IMG in 2017 – before it announced an end to its relationship with gambling companies in June of that year – which allowed live rights to be sold to bookmakers.
An FA spokesperson said: “We will review this element of the media rights sales process ahead of tendering rights to the new cycle from the 2024/25 season onwards. Leagues and clubs continue to govern their own relationships with gambling companies.”
The R&A and the men’s European Tour have both given their approval to the new joint venture between the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour (LET).
A joint venture between the pair was announced in late 2019 in an effort to grow playing opportunities, financial rewards, and television exposure for women’s golf. The R&A and the European Tour will provide financial support to the new initiative as well leveraging other assets, while the bodies will have each have one seat on the new LPGA-LET Joint Venture Board of Directors.
Ascot Racecourse has appointed HBA Media to market its global media rights as part of a five-year agreement.
The media rights agency which specialises in horse racing will be responsible for the distribution of Ascot’s international non-betting rights portfolio, including Royal Ascot, as well as all Flat and National Hunt Racing, excluding QIPCO British Champions Day.
The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) says there is ‘negative sentiment’ amongst cricket players around a proposed move to shorten Test matches from five days to four.
FICA Executive Chairman Tony Irish has called for clarity on the proposals and has asked for the ICC and national cricket boards to clarify “how any additional calendar space in the playing schedule would be used,” and to present “compelling reasons for change” before it could support any measures.
