Europe

Russian state-controlled broadcasters Channel One and VGTRK, as well as sports broadcaster Match TV, will show coverage of the 2018 winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, according to Pyotr Makarenko, president of the Telesport agency.

The DOSB New Media division of the German Olympic Sports Confederation has agreed a rights deal with SportA, which negotiates rights acquisitions on behalf of public-service broadcasters ARD and ZDF, for the men’s 2018 European Handball Championship.

French public-service broadcaster France Télévisions’ sports budget will be cut by between €10m ($11.9m) and €15m in 2018, according to the AFP news agency.

Ice hockey’s Spengler Cup will be broadcast in China, the UK, Ireland and Georgia for the first time when its 2017 edition takes place later this month.

Italian broadcaster Mediaset has confirmed the acquisition of exclusive rights for football’s 2018 Fifa World Cup.

French commercial broadcaster M6 has acquired a package of rights for the national handball team, while digital-terrestrial television channel L’Équipe has agreed a deal for domestic club competition the Coupe de France.

UK viewing data for the week between Monday 4th and Sunday 10th December. This week we feature leading audiences for the 2017 Formula One season on both free-to-air and pay-television.

Pay-television broadcaster Proximus and commercial broadcaster RTL have renewed rights deals in Belgium for football’s Uefa Champions League.

Media company Discovery Communications will retain exclusive rights to the 2018 winter Olympic Games in Spain after unveiling its coverage plans.

Dutch pay-television broadcaster Ziggo has acquired rights for football’s Uefa Champions League.

A consortium led by French billionaire Xavier Niel has agreed a deal to acquire a majority stake in telecommunications company Eir, whose pay-television broadcaster Eir Sport is a key player in the Irish sports rights market.

Italian broadcaster Mediaset is set to acquire exclusive rights for football’s 2018 Fifa World Cup.

Media company Discovery Communications has struck an original content partnership for the 2018 winter Olympic Games with sports and entertainment agency Wasserman.

International sports broadcaster Eleven Sports will set a first in Belgium today (Wednesday) by live streaming a French Ligue 1 football game live on social media platform Facebook.

German commercial broadcaster RTL has extended its rights to the Formula One motor-racing championship and has also acquired rights to the Uefa Europa League club football competition from the 2018-19 season.

L’Équipe, the French digital-terrestrial television channel, has acquired rights for football’s 2018 Uefa Futsal Championship.