Norway

Cycling: Italian public-service broadcaster Rai agreed a four-year deal with the European Broadcasting Union, from 2005 to 2008, for coverage of the Tour de France. 

Pan-Scandinavian pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus Nordic is planning to bid for the exclusive television rights across the region for Formula 1

Norges Fotballforbund, the national football association, agreed a four-year deal for the live and highlights rights for all major football competitions in Norwegian football

Ownership row continues after the publication of an independent report by the country’s national competition authority.

Norwegian football’s new commercial rights tender goes a step further than most in splitting up its rights for the market

Infront, and other suitors, did not like the rights guarantees ISPR had committed to

The TV Sports Markets monthly survey of European sports viewing in December shows Champions League second-phase matches topping the tables in six of 19 countries surveyed.

Women's World Championships draw good audiences in Norway, Germany, Romania

Football: Greek public-service broadcaster ERT acquired the free-to-air rights for all 31 matches of Euro 2008 in a €9.5m (£6.5m) deal with the Sportfive agency.  It is the first deal done for the championship.  Italian public-service broadcaster Rai is also set to sign a deal for Euro 2008, paying €120m.

Cricket: The Nimbus Sport agency acquired the worldwide television rights to cricket in India in a four-year deal with the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Football: Polish public-service broadcaster TVP and commercial broadcaster Polsat agreed a joint-deal for the 2006 World Cup with the Infront agency worth €15m (£10.3m).

The climax of the football season in Europe attracted big audiences for free-to-air broadcasters across the continent.

A consortium of Scandinavian commercial broadcasters is set to acquire the rights for the men’s and women’s 2007 and 2009 world handball championships.

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.

The Turin Winter Olympics attracted impressive audiences to European public-service broadcasters.

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.