Europe

UK public-service broadcaster the BBC has extended a rights deal with the British Basketball League and Women’s British Basketball League domestic club competitions.

The French Football Federation has agreed a three-season rights deal with pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus for its Championnat National league. 

Swiss public-service broadcaster SRG-SSR has acquired free-to-air rights for two editions of the Olympic Games in a sublicensing deal with international media company Discovery Communications.

Irish telecommunications company Eir has extended a rights deal for the Formula One motor-racing world championship and rebranded pay-television service Setanta Sports as Eir Sport.

Maltese telecommunications company Go has acquired exclusive rights for football’s English Premier League, English FA Cup knockout tournament and Italian Serie A top division.

Italian media group Mediaset will open up its coverage of the Uefa Champions League club football competition to free-to-air television next season, according to multiple reports.

Broadcast coverage for this year’s European Athletics Championships, which began earlier today (Wednesday) in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam, has exceeded expectations, according to Svein Arne Hansen, president of the European Athletics governing body.

Irish pay-television broadcaster Eir Sport has acquired rights in the country to a host of World Rugby tournaments, including the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation has awarded its media rights for the five seasons from 2017-18 to 2021-22, with telecommunications company UPC and public-service broadcaster SRG SSR clinching contracts.

German media company ProSiebenSat.1 has formed a new umbrella body to manage its interests in the sports sector.

The British Rowing governing body has signed a partnership with digital media agency Engage Sports Media ahead of the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

International pay-television broadcaster Eleven Sports Network has acquired rights in Taiwan for football’s English Premier League.

France Télévisions has renewed a deal for Globecast to provide media distribution services for the French public-service broadcaster’s coverage of cycling events.

French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus has renewed rights deals for a selection of top golf properties.

Russian sports media platform Match TV will provide coverage of the Rio 2016 summer Olympic Games on six channels, according to the sport.ru website.

Tour de France organiser Amaury Sport Organisation has said the 2016 edition of the cycling race will have new broadcast partners as it prepares to commence tomorrow (Saturday).