Eleven Sports#Eleven Sports 1 HD
{{Short description|Sports TV channel network based in the UK}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Eleven
| logo =
| type =
| industry = Sports broadcasting
| founded = 2015
| founder = Andrea Radrizzani
| defunct = {{End date|df=yes|2023|02|15}}
| hq_location_city = London
| hq_location_country = United Kingdom
| areas_served = {{ubl|Worldwide}}
| key_people = Andrea Radrizzani, Executive Chairman; Marc Watson, Chief Executive Officer; Guillaume Collard, Group Chief Rights Acquisitions Officer; Graham Wallace, Aser Group Chief Corporate & Financial Officer; Pedro Presa, Group Chief Direct to Consumer Officer; John West, Team Whistle Founder & Executive Chairman
| products =
| fate = Acquired by DAZN Group
| num_employees = 300
| num_employees_year = 2021
}}
Eleven Sports was a multinational sports and entertainment media group headquartered in the United Kingdom.
Eleven Sports' business model initially centred around the acquisition of major international sports rights in smaller countries. The company operates a network of linear television and/or digital services, broadcasting a mix of premium, niche, and grassroots sports as well as original programming, and provided SaaS livestreaming services.
In September 2022, Eleven Sports was acquired by DAZN Group. Its business operations were subsequently integrated into relevant operations of its own sports streaming platform DAZN.
History
Eleven Sports first launched in Belgium and Luxembourg in 2015 with a linear and OTT service.{{cite web |title=Scoring OTT goals with sports broadcasting |url=https://www.ibc.org/publish/scoring-ott-goals-with-sports-broadcasting/5427.article |publisher=IBC 365 |access-date=2 April 2020 |archive-date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023215901/https://www.ibc.org/publish/scoring-ott-goals-with-sports-broadcasting/5427.article |url-status=live }}
In February 2016, Eleven Sports acquired Polish rights to Formula One. In July 2016, Eleven Sports acquired rights to the English Premier League in Taiwan. Both of the properties were marketed by Radrizzani's sister company MP & Silva.{{cite web|title=Eleven Sports Network picks up Premier League in Taiwan|url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/eleven_sports_network_picks_up_premier_league_in_taiwan|website=SportsPro|date=5 July 2016|access-date=17 March 2017|archive-date=5 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405215015/http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/eleven_sports_network_picks_up_premier_league_in_taiwan|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Eleven Sports Network pockets F1 rights from MP & Silva|url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/eleven_sports_network_pockets_f1_rights_from_mp_silva|website=SportsPro|date=15 February 2016|access-date=17 March 2017|archive-date=5 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405215110/http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/eleven_sports_network_pockets_f1_rights_from_mp_silva|url-status=live}}
On 16 March 2017, Eleven Sports announced that it had acquired "certain distribution assets" of the fledgling U.S. international sports channel One World Sports, which had been replaced by a U.S. version of Eleven Sports Network in advance of the announcement. Financial details of the sale were not disclosed.{{cite web|title=Eleven Sports Buys One World Assets|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/sports/eleven-sports-buys-one-world-assets/411573|website=Multichannel News|date=16 March 2017|access-date=17 March 2017|archive-date=27 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227192359/http://www.multichannel.com/news/sports/eleven-sports-buys-one-world-assets/411573|url-status=live}}
In May 2017, Eleven Sports acquired a majority share of Italian provider Sportube, which was renamed in September of that year. As of 2021, Eleven Sports Italy offers Serie C, volleyball, waterpolo, handball, basketball and more to fans.
On 9 January 2018, Eleven announced that it would televise 120 games in the 2017–18 NBA G League season in the United States.{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2018/01/09/nba-g-league-announces-new-broadcast-partnership-eleven-sports/1016067001/|title=NBA's G League announces broadcast partnership with Eleven Sports|work=USA Today|access-date=2018-05-27|language=en|archive-date=21 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121074021/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2018/01/09/nba-g-league-announces-new-broadcast-partnership-eleven-sports/1016067001/|url-status=live}}
In May 2018, Eleven Sports secured a three-year deal to broadcast La Liga football matches in the UK and Ireland, which had been previously broadcast on Sky Sports.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43976560|title=La Liga: Eleven Sports gain TV rights from Sky in three-year deal|work=BBC Sport|access-date=2 May 2018|archive-date=28 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828195441/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43976560|url-status=live}} Two months later, they secured exclusive UK three-year deals to screen Serie A matches, previously broadcast by BT Sport,{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44818136|title=Serie A: Eleven Sports gain TV rights from BT in three-year deal|work=BBC Sport|access-date=13 July 2018|archive-date=28 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828195356/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44818136|url-status=live}} the Eredivisie and the Chinese Super League (both previously televised by Sky Sports) and Sweden's Allsvenskan{{Cite news|url=https://www.a516digital.com/2018/07/eleven-sports-takes-eredivisie-chinese.html|title=Eleven Sports scoops up UK Eredivisie and other football rights|work=a516digital.com|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-date=25 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825124203/https://www.a516digital.com/2018/07/eleven-sports-takes-eredivisie-chinese.html|url-status=live}} but 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.a516digital.com/2019/01/eleven-sports-to-lose-some-football.html |title=Eleven Sports to lose some football rights; Premier Sports steps in |access-date=4 August 2020 |archive-date=22 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622163709/https://www.a516digital.com/2019/01/eleven-sports-to-lose-some-football.html |url-status=live }}
Also in May 2018, Eleven sold a 50% stake in its Polish operations to Telewizja Polsat for around €38 million.
In 2018, Eleven Sports launched services in Myanmar under the brand MY Sports, which broadcasts fixtures of Myanmar national team, U-23, U-21, U-18 teams and also exclusively broadcast Myanmar National League, General Aung San Shield, Serie A, FA Cup and Chinese Super League. They also have partnerships with MRTV-4, Channel 7, MRTV, Mizzima TV and Fortune TV for broadcasting football matches under MY Sports.{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2018/06/22/eleven-sports-to-launch-service-in-myanmar/|title=Eleven Sports to launch service in Myanmar|date=2018-06-22|website=Digital TV Europe|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-02-06|archive-date=26 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926192439/https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2018/06/22/eleven-sports-to-launch-service-in-myanmar/|url-status=live}}
In March 2019, Eleven renewed its rights to Formula One in Poland through 2022, also sub-licensing highlights to Polsat and race replays to TVP.{{Cite web|title=Eleven Sports extends Polish F1 rights through 2022|url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/eleven-sports-polish-f1-rights-2022|access-date=2020-08-04|website=SportsPro|date=22 March 2019|archive-date=21 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121010909/https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/eleven-sports-polish-f1-rights-2022/|url-status=live}} It also launched services in Japan as its eleventh market, streaming games from NPB Farm League teams with associated digital coverage.{{Cite web|title=Eleven continues global expansion with Japan streaming service|url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/eleven-sports-japan-ott-streaming-service-launch|access-date=2020-08-04|website=SportsPro|date=14 March 2019|archive-date=7 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107223902/https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/eleven-sports-japan-ott-streaming-service-launch|url-status=live}} In July 2019, nearly the remainder of Eleven Sports Poland was sold to Polsat, with Radrizzani maintaining a single share.{{Cite web|title=Polsat completes Eleven Sports Network takeover in Poland|url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/polsat-eleven-sports-network-takeover-poland|access-date=2020-08-04|website=SportsPro|date=12 July 2019|archive-date=25 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325095408/https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/polsat-eleven-sports-network-takeover-poland|url-status=live}} In July 2019, Eleven Sports UK began to wind down operations, with Radrizzani admitting that trying to compete with the existing duopoly of Sky Sports and BT Sport was a "mistake".{{Cite web |date=3 July 2020 |title=UK launch a 'mistake' admits Eleven Sports CEO |url=https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2020/07/03/uk-launch-a-mistake-admits-eleven-sports-ceo}}{{Cite web |date=2 July 2020 |title=Eleven Sports UK launch "a mistake", admits Radrizzani |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/eleven-sports-uk-launch-andrea-radrizzani |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703033817/https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/eleven-sports-uk-launch-andrea-radrizzani |archive-date=3 July 2020 |access-date=2020-08-04 |website=SportsPro}}
In June 2020, Eleven acquired rights to Pro League, Division B, and Women's Super League football in Belgium through the 2024–25 season, and later announced a partnership with Mediapro for the rights as part of a larger series of projects.{{Cite web|title=Eleven joins forces with Mediapro for Belgian Pro League coverage|url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/eleven-sports-mediapro-agreement-tv-rights-belgian-pro-league-channels|access-date=2020-08-04|website=SportsPro|date=2 July 2020|archive-date=3 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703013059/https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/eleven-sports-mediapro-agreement-tv-rights-belgian-pro-league-channels|url-status=live}}
In August 2020, the company announced a repositioning referred to as "Eleven 2.0", including a refocus (initially in Belgium, Italy, and Portugal) to include more "premium" sports rights, and also launching new verticals for women's sports, local sports ("Eleven Next"), and esports. A new logo rebranding the broadcaster as "Eleven" was also introduced.{{Cite web|title=Eleven joins forces with Mediapro for Belgian Pro League coverage|url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/eleven-sports-mediapro-agreement-tv-rights-belgian-pro-league-channels|access-date=2020-08-04|website=SportsPro|date=2 July 2020|archive-date=3 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703013059/https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/eleven-sports-mediapro-agreement-tv-rights-belgian-pro-league-channels|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Eleven expanding women's sports, esports and digital efforts as part of rebrand|url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/eleven-women-esports-digital-content-virtual-rights-rebrand-luis-vicente|access-date=2020-08-04|website=SportsPro|date=3 August 2020|archive-date=22 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622022504/https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/eleven-women-esports-digital-content-virtual-rights-rebrand-luis-vicente|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2020-08-03|title=Eleven unveils rebrand and trio of programming verticals|url=https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/eleven-unveils-rebrand-and-trio-of-programming-verticals/|access-date=2020-08-04|website=SportBusiness|language=en-US|archive-date=22 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022013328/https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/eleven-unveils-rebrand-and-trio-of-programming-verticals/|url-status=live}}
In October 2020, Eleven acquired rights to the Football Association of Thailand for the remainder of the calendar year.
In November 2020, Eleven acquired MyCujoo, which was integrated in 2021 to form a larger consumer streaming business.{{Cite web|title=Eleven to launch global streaming service after acquiring MyCujoo|url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/eleven-global-streaming-service-mycujoo-takeover|access-date=2020-11-12|website=SportsPro Media|date=10 November 2020|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112190846/https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/eleven-global-streaming-service-mycujoo-takeover|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Limited|title=Zense and Eleven Sports tune in|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/sports/2002831/zense-and-eleven-sports-tune-in|access-date=2020-11-12|website=Bangkok Post|archive-date=4 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104203127/https://www.bangkokpost.com/sports/2002831/zense-and-eleven-sports-tune-in|url-status=live}}
In March 2021, Eleven acquired Team Whistle, an American digital media company focused on sports-related content.{{Cite web|title=Team Whistle to Be Acquired by U.K.'s Eleven Sports|url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/team-whistle-acquired-eleven-sports-1234939941/|access-date=2021-01-04|website=Variety|archive-date=1 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001184029/https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/team-whistle-acquired-eleven-sports-1234939941/|url-status=live}}
In April 2022, Eleven announced that they would be supporting the delivery of the FIFA OTT platform FIFA+.{{Cite web|title=Eleven provides streaming tech for FIFA+ live matches|url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcasting/eleven-provides-streaming-tech-for-fifa-live-matches/5169584.article|access-date=2021-04-14|website=Broadcast Sport|archive-date=14 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414101341/https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcasting/eleven-provides-streaming-tech-for-fifa-live-matches/5169584.article|url-status=live}}
In September 2022, DAZN Group announced that it would acquire Eleven's sports media businesses, in a sale completed 15 February 2023. The agreement did not include its operations in Japan (where the service transitioned to the brand Easy Sports), and its Polish operations (which Polsat acquired the remaining share of later that year).{{Cite web |date=2022-09-27 |title=DAZN to acquire rival sports streamer Eleven |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/dazn-eleven-sports-acquisition-streaming/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608155442/https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/dazn-eleven-sports-acquisition-streaming/ |archive-date=8 June 2023 |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=SportsPro |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2023-02-15 |title=COMPLETION OF ELEVEN ACQUISITION ESTABLISHES DAZN AS THE WORLD'S ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR SPORTS FANS |url=https://corporate.elevensports.com/news/completion-of-eleven-acquisition-establishes-dazn-as-the-worlds-ultimate-destination-for-sports-fans |access-date=2023-02-17 |publisher=Eleven Sports}}{{Cite web |date=2023-09-28 |title=Polsat buys up Eleven Sports |url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2023/09/28/polsat-buys-up-eleven-sports/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Broadband TV News |language=en-GB}} The company began to merge Eleven's operations into the DAZN business in 2023, and used its existing customer base to launch the DAZN service in Belgium, Portugal, and Taiwan.{{Cite web |date=25 July 2023 |title=DAZN completes transition in trio of Eleven markets |url=https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/dazn-completes-transition-in-trio-of-eleven-markets |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725211223/https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/dazn-completes-transition-in-trio-of-eleven-markets/ |archive-date=25 July 2023 |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Sport Business}}
See also
- Next Level Sports, formerly Eleven Sports' outlet in the United States
References
{{reflist}}
Category:Mass media companies established in 2015
Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 2023
Category:Internet television channels
Category:Sports television networks
Category:2015 establishments in England
Category:2015 establishments in the United Kingdom
Category:Television channels and stations established in 2015
Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2023