Europe
Canal Plus pays a little for a lot more
French pay-broadcaster Canal Plus will pay only a small increase in rights fees for a much greater number of matches in a new four-year deal for French rugby union’s top-tier domestic league, the Top 1…
Six agencies in line for rugby league
Incumbent agency IMG Media, Australian agency ISTV, and some new entrants are among the bidders
ESS wants ICC to agree changes in eight-year deal
Changes sought to make rights easier to sell on
Five and BSkyB join bidders for Euro 2008
Bidders lack penetration required by UK listed-events legislation
Sportfive says new boss mustn’t be French or German
“Wanted: Chief executive for major worldwide sports agency with very good businesses in France and Germany. French and German nationals need not apply.”
TV channels sue league after rights awarded to telco
The pay-television members of a consortium of broadcasters have begun legal proceedings against the Belgian football league after losing out in the award of the league’s television rights
ITV and BSkyB in fight for top UK boxers
The outlook for television boxing in the UK looks brighter than for a long time with commercial broadcaster ITV poised to commit to the sport
EC could have ‘devastating effect’
European Commission wrong to try to establish price control in the sports rights market through the use of state aid law.
Germany hits back at EC attack on sports rights
The German government has staunchly defended the sports rights policies of public-service broadcasters ARD and ZDF
Rai has problems saving face
Rai wants to acquire the digital-terrestrial rights for the 2006 World Cup finals
Top Premier shows lose out as viewers learn to be choosy
Television audiences for football’s English Premier League have fallen for live and highlights matches
TV SPORTS RIGHTS CLIPS 2: NFL, horseracing, handball, tennis and more
American football: US network NBC acquired the so-called “network package” of American football’s National Football League rights, the main package of 23 matches per season, paying $600m (£316m/€465m) a year ov…
TV RIGHTS CLIPS 1: Football, Formula One and GP2 series deals
Football: UK pay-operator British Sky Broadcasting is set to acquire the rights to the English Football League’s Championship, lower divisions and the League Cup in a four-year deal worth at least £3…
How BBC channel could be funded
The BBC has a number of options on funding
Extra radio channel shows way forward for BBC
The BBC could point to a regulatory precedent in starting a sports channel – though in radio rather than television
Why BBC sports channel must not be too popular
One of the key questions that Peter Salmon left behind when he quit as BBC head of sport last month was whether the BBC should launch a dedicated sports channel
French league’s demands likely to kill strong bids
The French football league’s tender for the next League Cup insists upon free-to-air civerage
Polish state TV faces hard job to get football-fee cut
TVP has approached Sportfive to try to re-negotiate its Polish national team deal