Television channel
 | |
| Broadcast area | United Kingdom Ireland |
|---|---|
| Network | Eleven Sports |
| History | |
| Launched | August 2018 |
| Closed | 2019 |
| Links | |
| Website | elevensports |
Eleven Sports UK & Ireland was a video streaming service that launched in August 2018. It was part of the Eleven Sports Group which was owned by Andrea Radrizzani.
History
In May 2018, Eleven Sports secured a three-year deal to broadcast La Liga football matches in the UK and Ireland. Two months later, they secured UK three-year deals to screen Serie A matches, the Eredivisie and the Chinese Super League and Sweden's Allsvenskan.
Eleven Sports launched in the UK & Ireland with rights to the 2018 U.S. PGA. Eleven then signed for coverage of six LPGA tour events. Eleven Sports is currently in discussions with traditional television platforms about the possibility of launching linear channels and/or providing access to the Eleven Sports app.
The network faced criticism for defying the FA's blackout rules—which prohibit the telecast of any football match between 2:45 p.m. and 5:15 p.m on Saturday matchdays—by streaming selected La Liga and Serie A matches. On 17 October 2018 Eleven Sports stated that it would no longer do so, but argued that the rules were outdated and encouraged illegal streaming. Representatives of the two leagues have supported Eleven Sports' position.
In November 2018, Eleven partnered with STV Group for it to become its digital advertising sales partner. As part of the partnership, STV Player also gained rights to stream selected La Liga and Serie A matches from Eleven within Scotland.
Eleven had announced an acquisition of rights to UFC mixed martial arts beginning January 2019. However, after Eleven failed to meet required targets for distribution, the promotion invoked an exit clause and renewed with BT Sport instead. It was also reported that the broadcaster was attempting to renegotiate some of its rights contracts at lower costs in order to sustain its business.
In January 2019, Eleven Sports dropped its rights to Serie A and Eredivisie football, passing on the rights to Premier Sports. Premier Sports also won the rights to the Chinese Super League and Swedish Allsvenskan, leaving Eleven with exclusive La Liga, Segunda Division play-offs, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa rights until at least the end of the season. Later in 2019 Eleven Sports closed its UK broadcast operations with Radrizzani later admitting that the attempt to expand into United Kingdom was a "mistake", as it was difficult to compete with or secure cooperation from the existing duopoly of Sky and BT.
Summary of past sports rights 2018-2019
Football
| Competition | Region | Broadcast Details |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 
|
Live coverage of all games for three years for 2018-19 season |
| Segunda División | Live coverage of 6 play-offs in 2018-19 season. 4 semi-finals and both finals. | |
| Copa del Rey | Live coverage of 5 matches in 2018-19 season. 4 semi-finals and a final. | |
| Serie A | 
|
Live coverage until matchday 25 only in 2018-19 season. |
| Eredivisie | 
|
Live coverage until matchday 23 only in 2018-19 season. |
| DFB-Pokal | 
|
Exclusive coverage until the quarter finals in 2018-2019 season. |
Club content
- La Liga TV
Golf
| Event | Country | Broadcast Details |
|---|---|---|
| US PGA Championship | 
|
Live and exclusive coverage in 2018 |
See also
References
- Ahmed, Murad (27 August 2018). "Eleven Sports live-streams disruption into traditional broadcasting". Financial Times.
- "La Liga: Eleven Sports gain TV rights from Sky in three-year deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- "Serie A: Eleven Sports gain TV rights from BT in three-year deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
- "Eleven Sports scoops up UK Eredivisie and other football rights". a516digital.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
- "PGA Championship goes online as Eleven Sports snap up live rights". National Club Golfer. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
- "Eleven Sports to broadcast LPGA golf tournaments". Sport-onthebox.com. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- Ahmed, Murad (27 August 2018). "Eleven Sports live-streams disruption into traditional broadcasting". Financial Times.
- "La Liga backs Eleven's UK stance: 'Blackout is from a different age'". SportsPro. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- "Eleven Sports to stop broadcasts during UK blackout". SportsPro. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- "Spanish Soccer League Backs Channel That Flouted U.K. Match Ban". Bloomberg.com. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- "Eleven Sports awards STV UK advertising brief". SportsPro. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- "Eleven takes La Liga and Serie A free-to-air in Scotland with STV". SportsPro. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- Sweney, Mark (14 December 2018). "Eleven Sports sees UFC go to BT as talks to avoid closure continue". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- Panja, Tariq (21 December 2018). "British Media Upstart May Exit". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
- Eleven Sports to lose some football rights; Premier Sports steps in
- "UK launch a 'mistake' admits Eleven Sports CEO". 3 July 2020.
- "Eleven Sports UK launch "a mistake", admits Radrizzani". SportsPro. 2 July 2020. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
External links
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