Toronto-based JumpTV is adding to its roster of sports content by acquiring the Broadband Network business unit of XOS Technologies, a Florida-based sports broadcaster. The US$60.2-million deal, expected to close in August, will give the Internet broadcaster broadband-exclusive access to more than 150 U.S. college and university sporting properties, including the official website for sports teams and leagues.

XOS’ Broadband Network streams thousands of NCAA games, including football, men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and track and field events. It has about 24,000 subscribers and attracted about 4.9 million unique visitors in March 2007, according to the Nielsens. Heading into July and following its launch of more than 100 free-to-consumer channels in the U.S., JumpTV had 29,968 subscribers.

JumpTV’s strategy moving forward will be a hybrid business model of subscription- and ad-support with an emphasis on partner-based distribution, along with merchandising and portal partnerships. Its ethnic programming business will be grouped in a newly named ‘JumpTV International’ division, with key sporting assets — such as FIFA championship soccer tournaments in Canada, Euro2008 qualifying matches, Egyptian Football Federation and Israeli Football League — transferring to the JumpTVSports division.

From Media in Canada