Paramount takeover of UK sport cools despite Champions League grab Sport Business Paramount Skydance has no plans to launch a UK sports channel after acquiring Champions League rights from 2027 onwards in an indication that a major expansion into sport from the global streaming platform is unlikely. As it stands the Champions League is likely to be broadcast in this country on Paramount+, while the entertainment network [...]
San Francisco 49ers: Stake sale to OpenAI chair values NFL team at $9bn Sport Business The San Francisco 49ers have been valued at more than $9bn after the chairman of artificial intelligence behemoth OpenAI agreed to acquire a stake in the NFL franchise. Bret Taylor – who is also the co-founder and chief executive of fellow AI business Sierra, and formerly the board chairman of Twitter – will acquire one [...]
The politics behind the 2026 Fifa World Cup draw and schedule Sport Business By the time the Village People walked out on stage to close the 2026 Fifa World Cup draw, to the delight of US President Donald Trump and Fifa chief Gianni Infantino, many fans’ thoughts had already turned to who their team would be playing and when. And when the full schedule was confirmed 24 hours [...]
Londoner’s bid for rugby league’s Salford Red Devils has six-figure backing December 9, 2025 A Londoner who played for Salford Red Devils has said he has six-figure backing for a bid to rescue his fallen former club. Mason Caton-Brown has submitted an offer to buy the former Super League team after they were liquidated with debts of around £4m, ending a 152-year history in rugby league. His Salford Red [...]
Pro Climbing League names London first venue for new bouldering tour December 9, 2025 London is the first venue to be announced for the new Pro Climbing League, with Team GB’s Olympic champion Toby Roberts among those set to compete. The indoor bouldering competition is to be held at Greenwich venue Magazine London on 28 February and feature 16 of the world’s leading climbers, including Paris 2024 gold medal [...]
New British Cycling firm seeking equity and investment partners December 9, 2025 Key Hundred team adviser Oakwell Sports Advisory has been engaged by British Cycling as a new firm actively seeks “strategic equity and investment partners”. British Cycling Ventures has been formed to “supercharge commercial growth and target long term strategic investment” in the two-wheeled sport. Oakwell, who advised on The Sun Group’s acquisition of Hundred team [...]
LIV Golf is Formula 1 and PGA Tour is IndyCar, says CEO O’Neil December 8, 2025 LIV Golf chief Scott O’Neil says he wants the challenger circuit to be the Formula 1 to the PGA Tour’s IndyCar. The PGA Tour remains home to most of the top players in men’s golf but is US-centric, while LIV Golf is more international in outlook and innovative in presentation but has few stars at [...]
Reynolds and Mac sell stake in Wrexham AFC to major sport investors December 8, 2025 Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds have sold part of Championship football club Wrexham AFC to Apollo Sports Capital. The sports investment company recently acquired a majority stake in LaLiga giants Atletico Madrid and will now add a minority holding in the Welsh team – Reynolds and Mac will continue as controlling owners. Reynolds and Mac [...]
Golf’s Open to move into August to accommodate Olympics December 8, 2025 Golf’s Open championship will be moved to accommodate the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. The 156th edition, which is yet to have a confirmed host course, will shift into August to ensure the top players can compete in the Olympic golf at Riviera Country Club in the Pacific Palisades. Mark Darbon, the chief executive of [...]
Salah’s Egypt and Iran will contest a ‘pride match’ at 2026 Fifa World Cup December 8, 2025 The 2026 Fifa World Cup match between Egypt and Iran has been designated as host city Seattle’s “pride match”. Homosexuality is illegal in both Egypt and Iran but the local organising committee in host city Seattle – the Seattle Pride Match Advisory Committee, which is not affiliated with Fifa – has said the match on [...]