Analysis
New bidder forced Sky Italia to raise fees for top clubs
Sky Italia’s expensive and quickly-negotiated deals with Italy’s top three football clubs were to at least a large extent the result of a rival bid from a newly-formed group of top sports executives and bankers.
EBU won’t get its cartel exemption, but will it matter?
The EBU is unlikely to be awarded a fresh exemption from competition law to buy sports rights collectively on behalf of its members.
Sky gives BBC sharp reminder of satellite risk
The Premier League and British Sky Broadcasting have given the BBC a sharp reminder of the risks inherent in its decision to transmit its programmes via satellite unencrypted.
We were naïve in our Sky dealings, says Brussels
The European Commission admitted that it was “naïve” in its attempt to break up BSkyB's monopoly over the Premier League’s television rights.
Warren faces US TV pressure
There is considerable pressure on UK boxing promoter Frank Warren and his biggest fight asset, Ricky Hatton, to come up with a top-ranking US opponent in the next few months.
Premier League’s strong TV hit by too-quick Arsenal
The 66 Premier League matches broadcast by British Sky Broadcasting in the season just ended attracted an average audience of 1.356 million.
League’s fight to sell rights likely to end in courts
Ownership row continues after the publication of an independent report by the country’s national competition authority.
Uefa restrictions will hit regional bid fees by agencies
The flexibility which an agency would have in selling on Euro 2008 television rights will be limited
Rights packages
Uefa is asking for bids for two packages of rights
Latin America sews up Cup
The Infront agency has brought in $232 million (£126.6 million/ €182.4 million) from Latin America
Bidders resist Uefa demand to cherry-pick best countries
The European Broadcasting Union and top sports agencies will strongly resist Uefa’s plan to retain an option to remove individual countries from their pan-regional bids
Top TV Sports programmes in Europe
Football dominates European sports viewing in the TV Sports Markets survey for March.
Why unopposed ITV paid more to renew F1 rights
Commercial broadcaster ITV was unopposed when it won the UK television rights for motorsport’s Formula 1 championship.
Dutch league expects strong mobile-rights bids
The Eredivisie expects strong competition for its mobile-telephone rights, from Dutch and international operators.
Bundesliga set for big rise in foreign TV fees
The value of German football’s Bundesliga international rights is expected to increase by up to 40 per cent next season.
Mediaset to bid against Rai for away qualifiers
Italian commercial broadcaster Mediaset is set to make another attempt to show the national football team’s matches for the first time.
Serie A’s big three increase TV fees
Sky Italia’s new deals with Italy’s top three clubs cover two seasons, 2005-06 and 2006-07.
Uefa drops Octagon from shortlist
Octagon was dealt a fresh blow last week when it was eliminated from the bidding to handle the commercial rights for football’s Uefa Champions League.