Analysis
Uefa plays safe as EBU all set for Euro 2012 rights comeback
The EBU is set to win back a significant portion of Euro 2012 rights, after beating off competition from three agencies.
Nigeria to curb sport spending
Moves by Nigeria’s government and broadcast regulator could make it increasingly difficult for the country’s pay-television broadcasters to continue paying big money for international sports rights.
FASTRACK
UK pay-broadcaster BSkyB is set to agree a deal for cricket’s upcoming World Twenty20 Championship in England, ending a protracted 18-month long negotiation process with rights-holder ESPN Star Sports.
Serie A tender in sight after regulators give green light
Italy’s antitrust and communications authorities are close to approving the guidelines for the sale of the media rights to Serie A and Serie B from the 2010-2011 season onwards.
New competition draws out fresh Belgian bidders
The Belgian tender for Uefa’s new Europa League competition has coaxed two new bidders to make their first significant steps into the international sports rights market.
Belgacom blasts BeTV blow-out
An extraordinary situation has arisen this week in Belgium, whereby the climax of the top-tier domestic football league will be shown by BeTV, a rival of the league’s main broadcaster, Belgacom TV.
SBS comes out fighting as Korean golf battle beckons
The long-term television and sponsorship deal agreed last week by Korean media group SBS and the US PGA Tour reflects the desire of both parties to come out fighting in response to challenges in the market.
Gloves off again as Canal Plus-Viasat rivalry returns
Renewed competition between Scandinavian media companies TV4 and Modern Times Group’s Viasat has led to major rights-fee increases for Swedish domestic ice-hockey.
Beijing Olympic peaks show power of sport for TV
The Beijing Olympics accounted for the top four most-watched sports events in 2008, with the opening ceremony attracting the biggest global television audience in history.
TV Rights Deals 1: Football: Uefa deals, Belgian Pro Ligue and Greek Superleague
Football: Australian public-service broadcaster SBS and pay-channel ESPN acquired the rights for Uefa club competitions the Champions League and Europa League in a three-year deal, from 2009-10 to 2011-12,…
TV Rights Deals 2: NFL, NBA in Europe and Scandinavian ice hockey deals
American Football: The National Football League extended its television rights deals with US networks Fox and CBS for a further two years, up until the end of the 2012-13 season
Euroleague nets increased fees to beat global market blues
The European basketball league managed a 24-per-cent increase in television revenues this season and is optimistic of further growth next season.
IAAF ‘ready to consider’ pay-TV
The IAAF will consider selling its rights to pay-television broadcasters in some key European markets, after a period of exclusive negotiations with its incumbent partner, the EBU, failed to produce a new deal.
FASTRACK
The Premier League is set to stagger its next international rights sales process in a move that will rule out what was always a remote possibility of someone making a worldwide bid for the rights.
Lega Basket tender nets no bidders as flaw in law exposed
The Lega Basket has started private talks with five broadcasters after failing to elicit bids for its media rights in an auction last month.
Uefa avoids the chop in cut-price Japanese market
Champions League television rights fees in Japan will rise slightly in the next three-year period, bucking the trend in recent times of the country’s broadcasters paying less for European football.
End in sight for football war with Prisa on the brink
Spain’s football war between Prisa-owned pay-broadcaster Sogecable and the Mediapro agency could soon be over.
Patience pays off as Team wins Europa deal in Scandinavia
The decision by Team to delay Europa League sales in Scandinavia until after the completion of Swedish broadcaster TV4’s merger with the pan-regional Canal Plus premium channels appears to have paid off.