Europe

UK pay-television broadcaster Sky has renewed an agreement for rights to Twenty20 cricket tournament the Indian Premier League.

The Premier League, the top division of English club football, has claimed its latest victory as part of its ongoing efforts to crack down on piracy of its broadcast rights through a Dutch court verdict against internet hosting provider Ecatel.

UK public-service broadcaster the BBC has extended a rights agreement for the World Indoor Bowls Championships.

The European Handball Federation has approved the start of negotiations with the Infront agency and digital sports content and media group Perform over the audio-visual and marketing rights to a raft of the organisation’s competitions.

Lega Serie A, the organising body of the top division of Italian club football, is set to enter into private negotiations over its media rights with Spanish agency Mediapro after talks with broadcasters failed to result in an agreement satisfying its goals for its next domestic contract.

Pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports has extended a rights deal in France for the Super League, the top division of rugby league in England.

Flemish-language public-service broadcaster VRT has acquired rights in Belgium for the Olympic Games in a sublicensing deal with media company Discovery Communications.

International sports broadcaster Eleven Sports has struck a three-season extension to its rights deal in Belgium for LaLiga, the top division of Spanish club football.

Commercial broadcaster RTL is poised to serve as the exclusive rights-holder of Formula One in Germany after pay-television broadcaster Sky confirmed it would not extend its long-running deal.

Italian state broadcaster Rai has acquired rights to a host of top football content, including the return of the Uefa Champions League to its screens for the first time in six years, while pay-television broadcaster Sky Italia has secured rights to the Euro 2020 national team tournament.

Pay-television broadcaster MTV Finland has agreed a one-season extension to its rights deal for MotoGP as the motorcycling championship prepares to return to the country next year.

Pay-television broadcaster Sky Italia will hold exclusive rights to the Formula One motor-racing championship for the first time after sealing a three-season extension to its contract.

French commercial broadcasters TF1 and M6 have confirmed the acquisition of rights for France national football team matches over four years, from 2018-19 to 2021-22.

Pay-television broadcaster O2 TV has acquired exclusive rights to the Uefa Champions League club football competition in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

UK viewing data for the week between Monday 8th and Sunday 14th January, including the Premier League, European Champions Cup and NFL playoffs. We also feature December's leading pay-television audiences.

Highlight Communications, backed by Lucerne-based Studhalter Investment, has struck a deal to acquire German media company Constantin Medien.