Broadcasting
World Cup Breaks Online Streaming Record
The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil has set new records for streaming data traffic around the world, as football fans watch matches online in greater numbers than ever before.
A report from the FIFA Media Office shows that the ongoing FIFA World Cup broadcast production has already broken television viewing records in several territories around the world.
It said, “The record underlines the growing popularity of the competition, including a breakthrough in the US.
“On the digital side, leading content delivery network provider Akamai has confirmed this is the biggest event in terms of video content streaming on record.
“And this was due to huge demand from fans accessing content live from the online platforms of FIFA’s Media Rights Licensees.
“In the US alone, a record-breaking 5.3 million unique viewers tuned in for the round of 16 matches between Belgium and the US on ESPN and Univision platforms.
“This represented an unprecedented traffic for both broadcasters.”
It quoted FIFA’s Director of Television, Niclas Ericson, as saying the 2014 World Cup is the biggest multimedia event in history.
He said, “We are proud to say that this FIFA World Cup has been the biggest multimedia sporting event in history, with more people watching matches and highlights online than ever before.
“FIFA TV actively supports its Media Rights Licensees with a variety of multimedia services including fully managed ‘white-label’ solutions for the web, tablets and smartphones.
“It is the first time that a project on such a scale has been offered to the broadcast community.
“The services are delivered by FIFA World Cup broadcast production service provider HBS, with the support of EVS, Netco Sports and deltatre.”
According to the report, 40 FIFA Media Rights Licensees have booked around 120 multimedia services for match coverage.
It said, “This gives them the ability to live stream multiple feeds of FIFA World Cup matches and to offer video-on-demand coverage from up to 24 camera angles to fans across the planet.
“The FIFA World Cup ‘white-label’ second screen application has been downloaded more than 10 million times in more than 20 broadcast territories since its launch at the start of June.
“This is up to three million fans accessing videos, statistics and live match content each day.
“Twenty-four million unique users have already watched some 15 million hours of content through FIFA’s multimedia services solutions alone.
“More and more football fans want to watch high quality, live coverage of matches on their tablets or mobile phones, as well as on their televisions.
“These figures show just how fast our industry is adapting to a truly multimedia world. Only on the digital platforms can fans watch the FIFA World Cup from every possible angle.”
Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has announced the postponement of its maiden annual Public Relations, Reputation, Ideas, Concepts and Excellence (PRICE) Awards and Prizes to January 25, 2026.
NIPR
The event, earlier scheduled for December 7, 2025, was deferred to accommodate stakeholders whose observance of Christmas festivities had commenced earlier than expected.
Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr. Israel Opayemi, urged stakeholders to note the new date and prepare to participate in the ceremony.
He said the awards would motivate professionals, practitioners and scholars, while enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness in the public relations ecosystem and strengthening brand equity for all stakeholders.
Opayemi reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to delivering a best-in-class award administration and ceremony, describing the PRICE Awards as a credible and enduring platform to identify, celebrate and elevate outstanding individuals, campaigns and organisations shaping the public relations landscape across sectors.
The development of the PRICE Awards peaked in September 2025 when the NIPR President and Chairman, Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku, inaugurated a 12-man committee to organise the maiden edition. The inauguration followed the Council’s adoption of the report of a technical team tasked with establishing the awards.
Netflix has announced a landmark agreement to acquire Warner Bros. and HBO Max in a transaction valued at $82.7 billion, a move analysts say will reshape the global entertainment industry.
Netflix
The deal, which includes Warner Bros.’ film and television studios, HBO, HBO Max, and Warner Bros. Games, was unanimously approved by the boards of both companies. Under the terms, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) shareholders will receive $23.25 in cash and $4.50 in Netflix shares for each WBD share.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos described the acquisition as “a defining moment” for the streaming giant, noting that the company intends to maintain Warner Bros.’ current operations while expanding its production capacity.
“By combining Warner Bros.’ incredible library of shows and movies with Netflix’s culture-defining titles, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling,” Sarandos said.
The transaction is expected to close within 12 to 18 months, following the planned spin-off of WBD’s TV networks division, Discovery Global, in 2026. Netflix projects annual cost savings of $2–3 billion by the third year after completion and expects the deal to be accretive to earnings per share by year two.
Industry groups, including the Directors Guild of America and Cinema United, have raised concerns about the impact on movie theaters, while regulators are expected to scrutinize the deal over antitrust issues. Netflix has pledged to continue supporting theatrical releases, with Warner Bros.’ cinema commitments running through 2029.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav hailed the agreement, saying it “combines two of the greatest storytelling companies in the world to bring to even more people the entertainment they love.”
Observers note that the acquisition comes 15 years after former Time Warner chief Jeff Bewkes dismissed Netflix as “the Albanian army,” underscoring the dramatic shift in the entertainment landscape.
A major shake‑up rocks viewers and subscribers of DSTV/GOTV as many channels are set to shut down and be removed on January 1, 2026.
The trigger for the upcoming shut‑down is a breakdown in negotiations between the owners of multiple global channels and the pay‑TV operator.
As of December 2025, the deal between Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and DStv/GOtv has expired and the two parties have not reached a renewal agreement.
Without a new carriage/distribution agreement, the channels belonging to WBD risk being pulled off the DStv/GOtv line‑up.
This is the most significant content cutback the service has seen in years.
The affected channels are:
Discovery Channel
TLC
Cartoonito
Cartoon Network
CNN International
Food Network
The Travel Channel
TNT
Investigation Discovery
Real Time
HGTV
Discovery Family
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