During the tournament, 36% of UK Roku accounts visited the Football Zone to check where the next match was showing. Of those, 46% went on to stream a game or piece of football content directly from the Zone, while 61% came back more than once, checking fixtures, following the live scoreboard, or tracking the goalscorer leaderboard.

“Brilliant results like these prove the Football Zone is the kind of experience UK viewers want — one place for every part of the action in big cultural moments that bring streamers together. It shows the power of innovating our home screen, and we’re already looking at new opportunities to build on our success. We’d also like to thank our partners at the BBC, ITV and STV who worked with us to make this such a great experience for viewers” said Richard Halton, Country Manager, Roku UK.

Roku’s Football Zone launched in the UK in June 2026 ahead of the tournament, bringing together live matches, highlights, replays and football-related content from the archive from BBC, ITV and STV in one hub, along with a live scoreboard and top-scorer leaderboard.

The launch date was confirmed by the German pay-TV broadcaster, recently acquired by RTL Deutschland, as part of a new campaign highlighting the role of live sport in driving business for bars, restaurants and hotels. According to Sky, the dedicated channel will provide an additional platform for American football fans to watch NFL coverage outside the home.

Sky Sport NFL will form part of Sky’s expanded NFL rights package agreed with RTL Deutschland and the NFL in July. The agreement runs through the 2028/29 season and covers Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein.

Sky is positioning its Sky Business offering as a way for bars, restaurants and hotels to turn major sporting events into additional footfall and sales opportunities. According to the company’s latest out-of-home panel data for the 2025/26 season, around two million people in Germany watch live Sky Sport broadcasts outside the home every week.

Those visitors also generate significant spending for hospitality businesses. According to Sky, guests spend an average of €15.89 per visit when watching live sport from Sky Sport outside the home.

The Bundesliga remains the main driver of this business. An average of 1.59 million fans per week watch Bundesliga matches on Sky Sport in bars and other hospitality venues. Sky reports that the number of Bundesliga kick-off times increased by 44% from the 2025/26 season, while guest frequency during Bundesliga broadcasts rose by 38%.

For landlords and operators, Sky argues that more live sporting events mean more occasions to bring customers into their premises. The combination of additional visitors and spending on food and drinks can make individual matchdays a significant source of incremental revenue.

The Sky Business Sportsbar package gives commercial customers access to a broad range of live sport. For the Bundesliga, this includes all Friday matches, the individual Saturday afternoon matches and the Saturday evening top match, as well as the ability to use Sky’s Multiview feature to show simultaneous matches. All second-tier Bundesliga matches from Friday to Sunday are also included.

The package additionally covers Premier League football, the DFB-Pokal, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, NBA, NHL and other sports. The Tuesday top match of the UEFA Champions League is also included through Sky’s partnership with Amazon Prime Video.

The new NFL channel, announced in July, is intended to extend these opportunities beyond the traditional football weekend. From 13 September, Sky Sport NFL will offer a continuous schedule of American football programming in bars, restaurants and hotels.

On Sundays, the channel will show two individual NFL games, the German-language NFL conference and the original US version of NFL RedZone. Night games and further NFL programming will fill out the schedule during the rest of the week.

At the start of the 2026 regular season, Sky Sport will show, among other fixtures, the Cincinnati Bengals against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Minnesota Vikings against the Green Bay Packers.

The launch therefore gives Sky Business customers an additional live-sport proposition aimed at a sizeable and increasingly engaged fan base, while providing hospitality operators with another reason to attract guests on Sunday evenings.

The wider RTL/Sky rights agreement provides up to nine individual NFL games live per week across the two partners. RTL continues to show two Sunday games free-to-air, while RTL+ carries an additional early game. Sky Sport has two exclusive Sunday fixtures.

The rights package also includes the NFL International Games in Europe, with matches in London, Madrid and Munich as well as the league’s first regular-season game in Paris.

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Under the agreement, LiveModeTV will stream one free match per round of both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League on its YouTube channel in Portugal. All matches will continue to be available live on DAZN, which retains full rights to all 380 Premier League games and more than 80% of Champions League fixtures.

The collaboration brings together two companies that share a vision of making top‑tier football more accessible. LiveModeTV, which broke YouTube audience records in Portugal during the FIFA World Cup 2026, will provide a free entry point for fans who may not yet subscribe to DAZN. DAZN, meanwhile, maintains the depth and exclusivity of its premium portfolio.

The free match streams are designed to introduce new audiences to the competitions, clubs and players that define each season — creating a pathway for fans to follow the action more closely.

DAZN remains the exclusive home of the Premier League in Portugal, and recently secured rights to the competition through 2031. From 2028, DAZN will also carry the Emirates FA Cup in full and exclusively, bringing the total number of English football matches available on the platform to more than 500 per season.

In the UEFA Champions League, DAZN will continue to broadcast 166 of the 203 matches each season. From 2027/28, DAZN’s European football offering will expand even further, with 508 matches per season across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League — around 93% of all games, with the latter two competitions entirely exclusive.

João Diogo Ferreira, Managing Director of DAZN Portugal, said the partnership is rooted in a simple idea: “The more people experience top‑level international football, the greater the opportunity to create new fans. We’re confident this innovative partnership will expand the reach of these competitions and create value for both companies — and above all, for the fans.”

João Mesquita, General Manager of LiveModeTV, said the collaboration reinforces LiveModeTV’s role as a complementary digital platform: “Streaming Premier League and Champions League matches online strengthens our mission to bring major football moments to fans through a native digital experience. We want to create a space where supporters can follow football their own way, with family, friends and a growing community.”

Speaking to CNBC’s David Faber, Bonta said Paramount is trying to steer the conversation away from the core allegations in the states’ complaint. “They wanted to talk about everything except for what this case is about,” Bonta said. “We want to talk about the three markets we set forth in our complaint, where we think there’s antitrust violation.”

California, joined by Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington, filed suit in July to stop the deal. The states argue that a combined Paramount–WBD would control nearly one‑third of all films and almost one‑third of basic cable programming, creating what Bonta calls a “presumptively illegal market concentration.”

The merger would unite two of Hollywood’s most storied studios — Warner Bros. and Paramount — along with a vast portfolio of TV networks including CBS, MTV, BET, CNN, Discovery and others. It would also combine streaming platforms Paramount+ and HBO Max.

Paramount originally aimed to close the acquisition by September 30, but has agreed to delay the deal until June 2027. A federal trial is scheduled for March.

Speculation has grown over whether settlement talks could avert the courtroom showdown. Bonta says he is open to discussions — but only if Paramount engages seriously with the allegations. “Coming to the table has always been on the table,” he said. “We prefer to resolve cases in the boardroom instead of the courtroom, but for now we’re bringing our case.”

Paramount has argued that declining cable subscriptions and the rise of streaming undermine the states’ claims. Bonta dismissed that line of reasoning. “Whether the market is shrinking or growing is really irrelevant,” he said. “We’ve looked at this from a straight‑up law and facts perspective under the Clayton Act.” He described the case as “meat‑and‑potatoes, black‑and‑white, bread‑and‑butter antitrust.”

Paramount has called the lawsuit a “misrepresentation of competition in the entertainment industry today” and says it will vigorously defend the merger. Lead trial counsel Jeffrey Kessler told CNBC the company is prepared to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. CEO David Ellison said during the company’s August earnings call that he remains “confident” the deal will ultimately close.

Based in Paris, he will spearhead growth across three of Europe’s most advanced broadcast and streaming markets, as demand surges for cloud‑native broadcast, FAST channel operations, and AI‑driven media workflows.

France, Benelux and the Nordics are among Europe’s most mature and innovative media ecosystems. Broadcasters and content owners across these markets are rapidly shifting from legacy infrastructure to cloud‑based playout, dynamic FAST distribution and AI‑powered content operations. Amagi says expanding its regional footprint is essential as the boundaries between broadcast and streaming continue to blur.

Thomas d’Hérouville brings more than 20 years of experience across media, broadcast and digital technology. He has led international teams, scaled global organisations and guided companies through major operational transformations — expertise Amagi sees as critical for its next phase of European growth.

Emma Whitmore, SVP Sales‑EMEA at Amagi, said: “France, Benelux and the Nordics are strategically critical markets for Amagi. Thomas’ industry expertise and proven track record in business transformation make him the ideal leader to drive our expansion in the region.”

In his new role, d’Hérouville will focus on expanding Amagi’s relationships with broadcasters, OTT platforms and content owners.

Thomas d’Hérouville said the region is united by a common challenge: “Broadcasters and content owners are under pressure to modernize their operations while managing increasingly complex distribution across broadcast, FAST and connected TV. Amagi’s platform gives them a way to do both without adding complexity.”

The findings highlight how FAST platforms are rapidly expanding the volume and variety of sports they distribute — signalling a shift in how sports audiences are being served across streaming ecosystems.

Gracenote, Nielsen’s content intelligence division, reports that:
– Sports FAST channels increased 13.8% year over year, reaching 264 globally.
– Unique sports programme titles jumped 31.2% over the same period.
– Individual games and events surged 37.5%, showing the strongest growth of all.

These three measures capture different layers of FAST’s sports expansion. While channel count shows how many dedicated sports channels exist, program titles reflect the breadth of offerings. Tracking individual games and events reveals the true scale of sports distribution, and that scale is rising sharply.

In July alone, sports programming appeared on 20 FAST channels not classified as sports, mirroring traditional TV patterns where sports often complements entertainment or general‑interest lineups. This blending suggests FAST platforms are increasingly using sports as both anchor content and a flexible programming tool.

FAST as a whole continues to grow, but sports is expanding even faster: Global FAST channel count rose 17.5% year over year to 2,172; Total video distribution increased 18.6% and TV programme titles grew 19.4%.

Sports programming’s 31–38% growth rate far exceeds these benchmarks, giving FAST operators more inventory to build varied schedules and reduce reliance on repetitive content, a common challenge in the FAST model.

Gracenote says the trend indicates that competitive differentiation in FAST will increasingly depend on programming depth and volume, not simply the number of channels a platform offers.

The Gracenote Data Hub provides quarterly insights into programming across major global SVOD platforms — including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix and Paramount+ — as well as more than 2,170 FAST channels. By pairing programme title counts with data on individual episodes, games and events, the Data Hub offers a granular view of how content libraries evolve beneath headline catalog numbers.

The agreement ensures fans can continue to watch every Serie A match live, with seven games per round available exclusively on DAZN.

The renewal strengthens DAZN’s position as a leading global football destination and extends its long‑standing partnership with Lega Serie A, where DAZN is already the league’s largest media rights partner both in Italy and internationally.

DAZN’s UK & Ireland customers will continue to access a broad football portfolio that includes:
– Every Serie A match, with seven exclusive fixtures per round
– Free and exclusive access to FIFA+, featuring thousands of live events, archive content and original programming
– Exclusive coverage of the National League, National League North and National League South
– Highlights from major European leagues and additional football content

The renewed deal follows DAZN’s earlier announcement that it has secured exclusive Serie A rights in France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland through 2028–29, covering Serie A, Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana.

Serie A remains one of Europe’s most storied competitions, home to iconic clubs, world‑class players and historic rivalries. DAZN’s coverage will give UK & Ireland fans access to every storyline, goal and decisive moment throughout the season.

Shay Segev, CEO of DAZN Group, said the renewal reflects DAZN’s long‑term commitment to premium football: “Serie A is one of the world’s great football competitions, with a passionate fanbase and a rich football heritage. We are delighted to continue our partnership with Lega Serie A and to bring every match to fans across the UK and Ireland for the 2026–27 season.

“DAZN is proud to be Serie A’s largest partner both in Italy and internationally, reflecting the depth of our commitment to the league and our shared ambition to expand its global audience.”

The collaboration, announced on 20 August 2026 at FC Bayern’s training ground at Säbener Straße in Munich, brings together two of the world’s best-known sports brands. German NHL players Leon Draisaitl and JJ Peterka, along with FC Bayern defender Alphonso Davies, attended the launch.

According to the NHL, the partnership will focus on cross-sport initiatives spanning fan engagement, youth development, community programmes and original content. The two organisations also plan digital and social media campaigns, co-branded merchandise, street hockey events in Munich, watch parties and activations at FC Bayern’s Allianz Arena.

Player appearances, hospitality and business networking events are also planned, alongside further cross-promotional and community initiatives.

“Germany continues to be one of the NHL’s most important international growth markets, and FC Bayern is among the most recognisable and respected sports brands in the world,” said NHL President of Business Keith Wachtel. He added that the partnership would help introduce hockey to new audiences while strengthening engagement with existing fans.

FC Bayern Board Member and Chief Marketing Officer Rouven Kasper described the agreement as a “special partnership” that could create synergies between the two organisations in sport and beyond.

The partnership comes as the NHL expands its presence in Germany through its Global Series. Düsseldorf will host two regular-season games between the Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks on 18 and 20 December 2026 at PSD Bank Dome.

Germany will receive another four NHL games in the 2027-28 regular season. Munich will host the Boston Bruins and Munich native JJ Peterka at SAP Garden, while Cologne will stage games featuring the Edmonton Oilers and Cologne-born Leon Draisaitl at Lanxess Arena.

The NHL has identified Germany as a key international growth market. The country has produced a number of prominent NHL players, including Draisaitl and Peterka, while the league has increasingly used its Global Series to build its audience in Europe.

For FC Bayern, the agreement adds another international dimension to its commercial and fan-engagement strategy. The club has more than one billion interested followers worldwide and has established international offices in the US, China, Thailand and South Korea.

The partnership will provide the NHL with access to FC Bayern’s extensive global supporter base, particularly as the two organisations develop content and campaigns designed to appeal to both football and hockey fans.

The companies argue the FCC’s actions amount to unconstitutional retaliation over ABC’s programming and commentary, and they are seeking an immediate court order to halt the process.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, asks for a temporary restraining order to block an accelerated license renewal review that the FCC initiated in April. Disney calls the move an “existential threat” to its stations, noting that the agency has not forced an early license renewal in more than 50 years.
Under normal circumstances, the ABC stations in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Houston, Fresno and Durham would not face renewal until 2028 at the earliest, and some not until 2031. Instead, the FCC ordered all eight stations to file renewal applications within 30 days, compressing a months‑long process into a single month.

Former FCC officials from both parties publicly warned that the order was alarming even before Disney filed suit. Disney complied with the directive but submitted its applications “under protest,” calling the order “unlawful, arbitrary, and unconstitutional.”

The timing is central to Disney’s argument. The FCC issued the early‑renewal order one day after President Trump publicly demanded that ABC fire Jimmy Kimmel over a joke about First Lady Melania Trump. Disney’s complaint highlights this sequence, along with Trump’s repeated criticism of ABC, late‑night hosts and his past suggestion that broadcast licenses should “be terminated.”

Carr has rejected any suggestion that political pressure or Kimmel’s remarks influenced the FCC’s decision.

The lawsuit opens with a stark declaration: “Government censorship is profoundly un‑American.” Disney argues the administration has used the FCC as a tool to punish ABC for content it dislikes, describing a “retaliatory campaign” that began early in Trump’s presidency and has escalated.

“Acting through the Federal Communications Commission, the Administration has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts.”

The company also points to broader concerns raised by former FCC commissioners, who warned that early license reviews could become leverage over editorial decisions — a scenario that would undermine the independence of broadcast journalism.

The lawsuit sets up a major constitutional confrontation over free speech, regulatory power and political influence. If the court grants Disney’s request for a temporary restraining order, the FCC’s accelerated review would be paused while the case proceeds.

New figures from market researcher Telecompaper show that in the first quarter of 2026, SVOD platforms such as Netflix, Videoland and Viaplay generated €301 million in revenue, a year‑on‑year increase of 10 percent. Traditional TV packages fell to €291 million, a decline of 3.5 percent.

The tipping point confirms a shift that has been visible in viewing behaviour for years: Dutch consumers not only spend more time on streaming platforms, they now also spend more money on them than on linear TV. For telecom operators, the trend is a clear signal to redesign their offerings around streaming rather than traditional channel bundles.

Providers such as Ziggo and KPN are feeling the pressure of cord‑cutting, as more households cancel their classic TV subscriptions. In response, operators are transforming from traditional TV distributors into streaming hubs, where fast broadband and fibre connections form the core of the product.

Streaming services are increasingly offered as flexible add‑ons or discounted bundles, integrated directly into the operator’s own set‑top box. This allows customers to combine multiple platforms in one interface, while operators maintain relevance in a market where linear TV continues to shrink.

The revenue crossover marks a structural change in the Dutch media landscape. Internet connectivity — rather than TV distribution — is becoming the primary business driver for cable companies. Meanwhile, streaming platforms strengthen their position as the dominant form of home entertainment, capturing both viewing time and household budgets.