France

The Euroleague has secured much-improved deals in two of its key territories

French public-service broadcaster France Télévisions, commercial broadcaster TF1 and pay-broadcaster Canal Plus look set to compete for the rights for rugby union’s World Cups in 2007 and 2011

Three of biggest clubs are threatening to undermine the tender process with demands for a bigger share of television rights fees.

Rugby union: Pay-television operator British Sky Broadcasting acquired the live rights for English international and domestic rugby in a five-year deal, 2005-06 to 2009-10, with the Rugby Football Union, the sport’s national governing body, and Premier Rugby, the umbrella body of the country’s top-tier clubs.

Football: A consortium of pan– Scandinavian free-to-air broadcasters acquired the live and delayed rights for all 64 matches for the 2006 World Cup in a deal with the Infront Sports & Media agency

The general wisdom is that the French football league will bring in a record fee at the end of this year

The Infront agency is in talks with several broadcasters in France about the 40 matches of the 2006 World Cup

Cricket:  The Board of Control for Cricket in India, after extensive legal wrangles, finally signed a deal for the Indian rights to the three tours taking place this year, a four-Test series against Australia, a two-Test series against South Africa and a one-off one-day international against Pakistan, with state broadcaster Doordarshan.

Double threat to Eurosport from Eurosport-sceptics within EBU, and EC investigation into EBU collective selling

French Ligue 1 football clubs are set to be given the power to sell the rights to their home matches on a delayed, as-live basis.

The Athens Olympics attracted impressive ratings for Europe’s public-service broadcasters

Sports agencies have had a busy fortnight negotiating deals for the opening round of 2006 World Cup

The America’s Cup, sailing’s premier event, is on course for a huge increase in television coverage

The International Skating Union could strip France of the right to host the 2006 European ice skating championships

The French football league is expected to decide in the next few weeks to take over the production of at least some of its matches

Viewing rises in four out of the top five European television markets