France
Viewers tune in as football season builds to a climax
The climax of the football season in Europe attracted big audiences for free-to-air broadcasters across the continent.
Innovative tender gives league shot at rights increase
Tender offers seven packages and 'brilliant' innovations which could attract free-to-air broadcasters
TV RIGHTS CLIPS 1: Football, cricket, rugby union and polo
Football: Dutch commercial broadcaster Talpa acquired the rights to domestic knockout competition the KNVB Cup in a four-year deal with the Dutch football Association, KNVB.
TV liked Turin but much prefers North America
The Turin Winter Olympics attracted impressive audiences to European public-service broadcasters.
Zidane factor will hold back French team’s TV fees
The Zidane factor is thought likely to hit the television-rights fees which the French Football Federation gets for the national team.
Analysts shrug off low signings by ADSL services
Year-end subscriber figures for football-driven pay-television over telephone networks in Europe will neither excite the enthusiasts nor worry traditional television.
TV RIGHTS CLIPS 2: Motorsport, baseball, cricket and new media
Motorsport: German pay-broad-caster Premiere acquired the exclusive live rights for US motor racing’s Nascar and Indycar series for the 2006 season.
TV RIGHTS CLIPS 1: Football, golf and Commonwealth Games
Football: The Dentsu and Infront agencies acquired the Rest of Asia rights to the 2010 and 2014 World Cups in a deal with Fifa, football’s world governing body.
TV RIGHTS 2: New Media round-up, baseball, rugby, tennis
Football: French mobile operator Orange acquired the mobile phone rights to France’s Ligue 1 in a two-year deal, covering the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons.
TV RIGHTS CLIP 1: Football, Olympics, motor racing and others
Football: Italian broadcaster Mediaset acquired the broadcast rights across any medium to top Serie A club Inter Milan in a two-year deal worth €200m (£137m), covering the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons.
France jumps to No.2 spot
The French football league’s €29 million a-year- deal with Orange for its mobile rights places it second among Europe’s top six leagues.
Boycott talks overshadow Cup viewing highs
A threat by French rugby union clubs to boycott the Heineken Cup comes at a time when French television audiences and public interest for the Cup are at their peak.
Roulette wheel spins good draw for agencies
Sportfive, Kentaro, IMG get plenty of ties against the big five teams; Infront do not fare so well
Ligue hopes law change will stop fees flagging
France’s Ligue de Football Professionnel is seeking to change the law governing the sale of its television rights.
Now Sportfive must heal rifts
French media and industrial group Lagardère faces several key challenges to make the most of its €865 million acquisition of the Sportfive agency.
Sportfive: We’ll prove our worth in competitive market
Perfect F1 script is not for all
The battle between F1 legend Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso boosted television audiences in three of Europe’s top five markets this season.