France
Opening ceremony draws China’s biggest-ever TV audience
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV’s coverage of the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games attracted the country’s largest-ever television audience.
EBU faces uphill task as IOC looks beyond united front
The early signs are not good for the European Broadcasting Union
FASTRACK
Africa keeps Canal on course for Ligue 1 profits
Eurosport still not for sale despite Murdoch advances
Pan-European sports broadcaster Eurosport said this week that it is not for sale, despite rumours to the contrary and strong interest in the company
TV RIGHTS CLIPS 2: Olympics, athletics, MotoGP, golf and more
Olympics: The Asian Broadcasting Union agreed deals in Indonesia for the 2008 Beijing Games with free-to-air broadcaster TVRI and pay-operator Astro.
TV RIGHTS CLIPS 1: World Cup, Champions League, Norwegian deal
Football: German commercial broadcaster RTL sublicensed a package of nine 2010 Fifa World Cup matches from pay-television operator Premiere, with an option to purchase a further nine matches.
TV RIGHTS CLIPS 2: Basketball, ice-hockey, motorsport and more.
Basketball: German commercial broadcaster DSF acquired the live, delayed and highlights rights for the 2009 and 2011 FIBA European Championship and the 2010 FIBA World Championship from the Fédération Internationale de Basketball.
Audiences tire of Nadal v Federer
Roger Federer is not the only one tiring of his French Open tennis finals with Spanish star Rafael Nadal
M6 won’t drop legal threat over Euro 2004 offer
Commercial broadcaster rejects offer of a share of live rights from France Télévisions and TF1, holds out for better offer
Brussels tells EBU: Your new rules aren’t good enough
Proposed changes would lead to non-members being able to acquire substantial Olympics coverage from EBU members on fair and reasonable terms
TV RIGHTS CLIPS 2: Rugby, ice sports and more
Rugby Union: French pay-television channel Sport Plus acquired the rights for European rugby union’s top club competition, the Heineken Cup, in a three-year deal with organisers European Rugby Cup, starting t…
Ice federation has to take cut in TV cash and coverage
France Télévisions will pay only a third of the present rights fee
Why 3G rights ownership will be a hot debate
Clubs argue that 3G rights are not covered by law giving federation control of media rights
Sogecable takes over funding of Euro-basketball
Out of court settlement ends Telefónica-Euroleague dispute
Has EBU done enough?
EBU facing crucial decision from European Commission on exemption from competition law
F1’s TV season is saved by last five races for title
Formula One television viewing rose in four out of the five top European television markets this year, according to a survey by TV Sports Markets. Germany was the exception.
French TV deal for Monday games angers clubs
Clubs fear falling attendances