Europe

Fifa, football’s global governing body, has launched an invitation to tender in Greece for the rights to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

UK viewing audiences for the week between Monday 12th and Sunday 18th June. We also look at leading audiences in May on free-to-air television and on Eurosport. Watching Brief Vol. 162

Media company 21st Century Fox’s bid to take full control of European pay-television operator Sky is set to be referred to the UK competition regulator, it emerged today (Thursday).

Pay-television sports broadcaster ESPN Brasil has struck a three-season extension to its rights deal with the Premier League, the top division of English club football.

Mediaset president Fedele Confalonieri has confirmed that the media company will participate in the new sales process for domestic rights to Serie A, the top division of Italian football, when it is launched later this year.

Polish pay-television operator NC Plus has acquired rights for the Volleyball Champions League European club competition.

UK pay-television broadcaster Sky is to rebrand its 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 sports channels with names that focus on specific sports, while it will also launch a new cheaper subscription package.

The Scottish Professional Football League has extended a rights deal with BBC Alba, the Gaelic-language channel operated by UK public-service broadcaster the BBC.

Swiss pay-television broadcaster Teleclub has acquired rights for the Uefa Champions League and Europa League European club football competitions.

German sports broadcaster Sport1 has acquired rights for the Star Sixes football legends tournament.

Media company 21st Century Fox has received regulatory approval in the Republic of Ireland for its proposed takeover of European pay-television operator Sky.

The England and Wales Cricket Board’s media-rights sales process for international and domestic cricket for the five-year period spanning 2020 to 2024 is set to close tomorrow (Wednesday), with competition between pay-television broadcasters Sky and BT Sport reportedly set to push the contract past the £1bn (€1.13bn/$1.26bn) mark.

Polish commercial and pay-television broadcaster Polsat has confirmed the acquisition of exclusive rights for the Uefa Champions League and Europa League club football competitions.

The Regional Court of Cologne has ruled in favour of international media and entertainment company Discovery Communications in a dispute over pay-television broadcaster Sky Deutschland’s recent marketing campaign surrounding Bundesliga football coverage in the country.

Online streaming platform Sina Sports has struck a strategic partnership with the All England Club, which operates the Wimbledon Championships.

German public-service broadcaster ZDF has said it is open to partnerships with rival operators in a bid to enhance its position in the sports-rights market.