Analysis

Union Cycliste Internationale president Brian Cookson said it sold its rights to the European Broadcasting Union as the EBU was “the best player in the market to place our events on free-to-air broadcasters across Europe”.

All but one of Brazil’s 20 Série A clubs has taken a side in the battle over domestic football rights between Esporte Interativo and media company Globo.

The MP & Silva agency is thought to have paid an increase of just under 35 per cent to renew its global rights deal with Italy’s top men’s volleyball league, Lega Pallavolo Serie A.

Polish public-service broadcaster TVP has acquired a share of Euro 2016 rights from Polsat in what local experts believe is an excellent deal for the latter.

Czech public-service broadcaster Česká Televize acquired rights to the 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games from Discovery Communications this week, paying substantially more than the value of the 2014 and 2016 Games in the country.

Sky Italia’s deal for International Basketball Federation (Fiba) national team rights this month is part of a broader plan to help revive the fortunes of the sport in Italy.

Stronger ratings, new events and the offer of exclusivity helped World Snooker agree a contract extension with Eurosport last month at a significantly increased fee.

The European Broadcasting Union is in the process of finalising a long-form contract for international rights to Swiss skiing federation events, TV Sports Markets understands.

Eurosport continued its gradual rise from a basic-tier to a premium pay-television broadcaster this month in Russia, following deals for National Hockey League and Wimbledon tennis rights.

The International Table Tennis Federation awarded its rights in China to sports marketing company Seca as it believes it is the best partner to ease ITTF content into the Chinese digital market.

The price of Formula One media rights has fallen and stayed flat in recent deals for Austria and Russia respectively, reflecting the lack of competition for the property in both markets.

The BBC’s desire to renew its FA Cup rights before its charter is renewed helped the English Football Association increase the value of domestic FA Cup media rights by more than 27 per cent.

The investigation by Italy’s antitrust authority into the sale of Serie A rights, which led to €66m ($75m) in fines being handed down this month, centred on negotiations in a four-day period in June 2014 after bids had been made.

Australian commercial broadcaster Seven earlier this month maintained its hold on Rugby League World Cup rights at a significantly increased fee.

YLE will pay a 10-per-cent increase for media rights in Finland to the Olympic Games of 2018 and 2020, despite being unable to secure coverage of some of the most valuable events.

English Premier League rights fell in value in Cyprus this week as the league offered broadcasters a smaller package in an attempt to combat piracy.