UKTV Channels split between BBC and Discovery

(Reuters) – Discovery Inc and the BBC have agreed to split up broadcaster UKTV and strike a new 10-year agreement that will lead to the creation of a new global subscription video-on-demand service, the two companies said on Monday.

The new service, owned by Discovery, will pool the nature, science and wildlife libraries of the companies, and is aimed at viewers used to binge-watching shows on services like Netflix Inc.

BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the public broadcaster, will pay Discovery 173 million pounds ($225.40 million), which include the assumption of 70 million pounds of debt, to take over seven entertainment themed channels: Alibi, Dave, Drama, Eden, Gold, Yesterday and W.
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IPL UK rights: BT Sport to show every game in 2019

UK broadcaster BT Sport has secured rights to every match of the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket tournament.

BT confirmed the deal via its official Twitter account just days after pay-TV rival Sky Sports revealed that it had lost coverage of the competition only one season into its multi-year agreement with global rights holder Star India.
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MBC secures broadcast rights for Formula One for MENA region

The MBC Group has acquired five-year exclusive rights to the FIA Formula One race weekends.

MBC will offer F1 racing free-to-air in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) area. MBC will air all stages of the tournament, including practice sessions, qualifying as well as the Grand Prix race.

Last month, broadcaster BeIn Sports said it did not renew its Formula 1 contract for the Middle East and North Africa rights due to rampant piracy.
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BBC Programme Guide Problems

For the last few week, the BBC have been having problems with their programme guide data they send to Sky, Freesat and Freeview boxes.

Amongst the problems :

– BBC One HD and BBC Two HD not showing the programmes are in HD (the HD indicator is not present);

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BT Sport loses IndyCar rights

BT Sport will not broadcast coverage of the IndyCar Series this season after losing the rights to the championship.

BT Sport have covered Indycar since 2013.

BT Sport Indycar commentator Tom Gaynor said “Unfortunately it looks like IndyCar will not be on BT Sport this year, no more information at the moment! I know a lot of you have been asking, so if it changes I’ll let you know I’m as disappointed as you are”.
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