OSLO, Norway--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 2026--
NEP Europe today announced that Norsk Rikstoto has expanded its long-standing partnership with NEP Mediabank to support the launch of its new direct-to-consumer OTT streaming service, Play. NEP Mediabank now serves as the central media asset management (MAM) platform across Rikstoto’s entire media ecosystem, supporting content management and distribution for broadcast, its branded TV channel, digital platforms and OTT services.
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The extension marks an important step in a partnership that began in 2008, when Rikstoto first deployed NEP Mediabank as the operational backbone of Rikstoto Direkte, its branded TV channel. Over nearly two decades, NEP Mediabank has grown alongside Rikstoto’s ambitions, handling live ingest, long-term archiving, and the distribution of thousands of horse races each year. NEP Mediabank is delivered as a fully managed, around-the-clock service supported by NEP’s dedicated team.
With the launch of ‘Play’, Rikstoto now brings all distribution, broadcast, TV channel, digital, and OTT, into a single NEP Mediabank environment. This means live horse race content is instantly available across all channels at the same time, without duplicated workflows or separate data silos, and with one clear source for rights, metadata, results, and timing information.
Frode Martnes, Executive Producer at Norsk Rikstoto:
"Launching our OTT platform is about more than adding a new channel. It is about building a direct, lasting relationship with our audience on their terms. Having NEP Mediabank as the single foundation across all our distribution means we can move faster, operate more efficiently, and deliver a seamless experience to our fans, whether they are watching on television or on their phone. Sixteen years of partnership gave us the confidence to extend it further, and the results speak for themselves."
From NEP’s perspective, the move reflects a wider shift in how rightsholders approach their media operations.
Marius Borge, Key Account Manager at NEP:
"Rikstoto's decision to extend NEP Mediabank to their OTT platform reflects a broader shift in the industry. Rightsholders are moving towards a single, trusted media infrastructure that supports every distribution channel from one environment. We have been proud to run their broadcast operation around the clock for nearly two decades, and being chosen for this next step shows the trust built over time and what NEP Mediabank delivers."
Supporting Norsk Rikstoto, NEP Mediabank delivers:
NEP’s global ecosystem of media services supports customers across the entire content lifecycle—from capture through distribution. NEP delivers end-to-end solutions including IP-enabled OB facilities, specialty cameras and RF solutions, media infrastructure software solutions for media infrastructure including NEP Platform and its TFC broadcast control system, equipment rentals, connectivity and transmission, production services, multi-language and alternate-feed production, ad insertion, and distribution — providing scalable solutions tailored to each customer and production.
About NEP Mediabank
NEP Mediabank is a leading media asset management product and managed service platform designed for the demands of sports and entertainment. Unlike generic MAM solutions, it is built for the realities of high frequency live sports, including complex rights environments, real time data integration, multi platform distribution, and always on service requirements. It is used by leading sports broadcasters and rights holders across Europe.
Introducing the direct-to-consumer OTT streaming service, NEP Mediabank 'Play'.
With the launch of NEP Mediabank's 'Play' direct-to-consumer OTT streaming service, Rikstoto now brings all distribution, broadcast, TV channel, digital, and OTT, into a single environment. Left to right are Geir Lilleberg, Lena Pettersen, Maria Otterlei, Sondre Skandsen, Espen Stensrud and Frode Martnes at the launch of Rikstoto. Photo: Mari Bull/NEP
PARIS (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka's diamonds sparkled in the sun when she won her first-round match at the heat-soakedFrench Open on Tuesday.
Top-ranked Sabalenka looked light on her feet on Court Philippe-Chatrier, despite wearing two thick necklaces in a 6-4, 6-2 win against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
“Diamonds, I don’t really feel the heaviness, but I can imagine how it looks from the outside,” said Sabalenka, the tournament runner-up last year to Coco Gauff. “So I feel pretty comfortable. For me, it’s important to look good.”
The four-time major winner was initially going to wear three necklaces but said she thought that might be too much.
“It probably sounds a bit crazy, but when I feel good about what I’m wearing, how I look on court, I tend to perform much better,” she said. "I like to bring a little bit of a fashion on the tennis court. I know the dress that I will wear on the Grand Slam, and I just try to come up with something to match the outfit."
Sabalenka said she wasn't worried over her jewelry away from Roland Garros.
“I have my fiancé. He’s kind of like my security,” she said, smiling. “My physio does jujitsu, so I feel pretty secure walking around. If I go somewhere, I don’t go alone.”
Gauff began her title defense with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over fellow American Taylor Townsend, while four-time major winner Naomi Osaka beat Laura Siegemund 6-3, 7-6 (3) on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
The fashion-conscious Osaka again caught the eye with a sequined gold playing dress.
Frenchwoman Lois Boisson, who made a surprise run to the semifinals last year when she was ranked 361st, lost 6-2, 6-2 to the 22nd-seeded Anna Kalinskaya.
For a third consecutive day, the temperature in Paris was forecast to rise to at least 32 degrees Celsius (90 Fahrenheit).
The unusually hot conditions made the courts faster than usual.
Daniil Medvedev usually thrives in such conditions but he struggled in a five-set loss to 97th-ranked Australian opponent Adam Walton.
Walton, who received a wild card invitation from tournament organizers, beat Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4. It was Medvedev's second straight first round exit here and third in four years.
“I know why I don’t really play my best in Roland Garros, but if I say it, it’s (making) excuses,” he said. “So I keep it to myself.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 2021 runner-up to Novak Djokovic, was leading 6-2, 3-0 against Alexandre Muller when his French opponent retired. Muller injured his right calf, three months after injuring his left calf.
Alexander Blockx withdrew from the tournament with a right ankle sprain, making Alex de Minaur — his scheduled second round opponent — the first player into the third round.
Later, top-ranked Jannik Sinner looks to extend his 29-match winning streak when he opens against French wild card Clement Tabur in the night session.
French teenager Moïse Kouamé made the perfect start to his French Open career with a 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-1 win over Marin Cilic.
The 17-year-old Kouamé won one day after 39-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils made his last appearance at Roland Garros.
The teenager raised his arms in triumph after defeating the 37-year-old Cilic, who won the 2014 U.S. Open, finished runner-up at two other majors, and reached the French Open semifinals in 2022.
The ATP Tour said No. 318-ranked Kouamé became the first man born in 2008 or later to win a Grand Slam match.
In March, he became the youngest winner in Miami Masters history when he beat Zachary Svajda in the first round — earning a congratulatory message from Djokovic.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Spectators cover themselves from the sun with ab umbrella during the first round men's singles tennis match between Adam Walton of Australia and Daniil Medvedev of Russia at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Naomi Osaka of Japan returns to Laura Siegemund of Germany during their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Coco Gauff of the U.S. celebrates after winning against Taylor Townsend of the U.S. during their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Daniil Medvedev of Russia reacts as he plays against Adam Walton of Australia during their first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus returns to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts as she plays against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after winning against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Alexandra Eala of Philippines returns to Iva Jovic of the U.S. during their first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Iva Jovic of the U.S. reacts as she plays against Alexandra Eala of Philippines during their first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Daniil Medvedev of Russia serves to Adam Walton of Australia during their first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts as she plays against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after winning against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
