North America

The strategic adviser for Rio’s successful bid to host the 2016 Olympics has dismissed claims from US network NBC that the US media rights to the Games will be worth significantly less than they would have been had Chicago been chosen.

NRK has been forced to offload its 2010 football World Cup rights to pay-broadcaster Viasat in the face of mounting costs for next year.

American Football: US television network NBC extended its deal for National Football League (NFL) matches until 2013 in a two-year deal, paying an estimated two-per-cent annual increase on its existing…

Baseball: Pan-regional broadcaster Eurosport acquired the rights for next month’s 2009 Baseball World Cup in a deal with the International Baseball Federation.

The return of Lance Armstrong to this year’s Tour de France looks to have played a key role in driving strong television audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.

Setanta is seeking new investment in its US business as it fights to secure the future of its international operations, still reeling from the bankruptcy of its UK arm last month.

Basketball: PCTV-owned Mexican pay-broadcaster TVC Deportes extended it deal for the live rights to the ACB Spanish Basketball League in a three-year deal from 2009-10 to 2011-12

Football: UK pay-broadcasters BSkyB and ESPN acquired the rights for the Scottish Premier League in a three-year deal, from 2009-10 to 2011-12, with the league having an option to extend the deal for a…

American Football: The IMG agency agreed a deal to distribute the television rights of the National Football League in certain international territories in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America…

The USA team’s unexpected run to the final of Fifa’s Confederations Cup earned cable broadcaster ESPN its highest non-World Cup audience for a national team match.

Football: Sports broadcaster ESPN acquired the UK rights previously held by Setanta for 46 Premier League matches from the 2009-10 season and 23 matches a season for the three years from 2010-11 to 2012-13,…

Basketball: Italian pay-broadcaster Sky Italia acquired the exclusive live rights for the top-tier domestic Serie A league in a two-year deal with Lega Basket, paying €5.4m ($7.6m).

Athletics: US free-to-air broadcaster NBC extended its deal with the New York City Road Runners for the television rights for the New York City marathon for three years from 2009 to 2011

American Football: The National Football League extended its television rights deals with US networks Fox and CBS for a further two years, up until the end of the 2012-13 season

The European basketball league managed a 24-per-cent increase in television revenues this season and is optimistic of further growth next season.

The IAAF will consider selling its rights to pay-television broadcasters in some key European markets, after a period of exclusive negotiations with its incumbent partner, the EBU, failed to produce a new deal.

Football: German sports channel DSF acquired the rights for the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup in June. DSF will show 14 games live including the final and the third-place playoff match

Athletics: US broadcaster NBC and its cable and broadband subsidiary Universal Sports acquired the rights for the World Athletics Series, covering Indoor and outdoor World Championships and other events,…