Russia

World football’s governing body Fifa has opened invitation to tender proceedings in Russia and sub-Saharan Africa for the 2017 Confederations Cup and 2018 World Cup.

The national federations of 10 countries have signed up to the International Basketball Federation’s (Fiba) new multi-cast initiative, with the sport’s global governing body keen on securing further partners before the end of the year.

Independent pay-television broadcaster Football TV has ridden out the country’s tough media market since the rouble crashed in late 2014, and believes it could be in a position to thrive over the next three years.

International sports broadcaster Eurosport has acquired rights in Russia for Italy’s Coppa Italia club knockout football competition, according to the Sports.ru news website.

The second-tier of English football will be shown in Russia once more after the Pitch International agency struck a one-season deal covering 2016-17 with pay-television broadcaster Eurosport worth about $100,000 (€91,000).

The English Premier League this week finalised a deal with Russian broadcaster Match TV which will see its value in the country fall by about 57 per cent.

VTB United League honorary president Sergey Ivanov has said the pan-European club basketball competition has agreed its first-ever deal for overseas and betting broadcast rights.

Russian sports media platform Match TV has acquired rights to the Premier League, the top division of English club football.

International sports broadcaster Eurosport has acquired rights in Russia to the English Championship and League Cup club football competitions, according to Television-Sport.com.

Russian sports media platform Match TV will provide coverage of the Rio 2016 summer Olympic Games on six channels, according to the sport.ru website.

Russia’s National Media Group has signed a deal with Viasat World – the new brand for the international pay-television channels arm of Modern Times Group – to form a joint venture to distribute Viasat’s channels in the country.

Russian sports media platform Match TV has acquired rights to the 2016 edition of UCI WorldTour cycling event the Tour de Suisse.

International sports broadcaster Eurosport has agreed a global rights partnership with the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and has acquired rights in Russia to North American ice hockey league the NHL.

The International Champions Cup increased rights fees for its 2016 edition in new deals in the UK and Russia last week.

UK pay-television broadcaster Sky and Russian sports media platform Match TV have acquired rights to the 2016 edition of pre-season club football competition the International Champions Cup.

Eurosport continued its gradual rise from a basic-tier to a premium pay-television broadcaster this month in Russia, following deals for National Hockey League and Wimbledon tennis rights.