United Kingdom

Rugby Union

France Télévisions' Heineken Cup audiences still show promise
American Football

Snooker: UK public-service broad-caster the BBC renewed its deal with the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association for a further five years, from 2007 to 2011, paying about £20m (€29m).  The deal is thought to be a significant cut on the existing deal, worth about £28m over a five-and-a-half year period.

Basketball

Basketball: Polish pay-broadcaster Canal Plus acquired the live rights for the Euroleague in a three-year deal, from 2005-06 to 2007-08, with the Bonivest agency, which brokered the deal on behalf of Euroleague Basketball.

The long-awaited merger of the UK’s two cable operators will, according to the companies, create a major challenge to British Sky Broadcasting
American Football

Baseball: US cable broadcaster ESPN renewed its long-term deal for Major League Baseball, paying $2.368bn (£1.3bn/€1.9bn) over eight years, from 2006 to 2013.

Cricket

British Sky Broadcasting is close to a deal for the live rights for cricket’s 2007 World Cup in the West Indies
Football

Television audiences for the live matches shown in the opening six weeks of English football’s Premier League season increased

Football

Football: German pay-broadcaster Premiere acquired exclusive rights for the Champions League in a three-year deal from 2006-07 to 2008-09

Cricket

Pay-television operator British Sky Broadcasting is set to sign a deal for the England cricket team’s tour to Pakistan
Football

UK broadcasters ITV and British Sky Broadcasting will pay only a small increase in fees in renewing their contract for football’s Champions League
Cricket

Football: Italian commercial broadcaster Mediaset acquired Serie A highlights rights in a three-year deal

Cricket

No one anticipated the huge excitement and success of the Ashes cricket series between England and Australia
Cricket

Ice hockey: Nordic pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus acquired the live pay-television and pay-per-view rights for the Swedish Elitserien, the country’s top-tier league, from the Svenska Hockeyligan in a four-year deal, 2006-07 to 2009-10

Cricket

Cricket’s much-anticipated first Ashes Test between England and Australia drew one of the biggest sports audiences in recent years for UK commercial broadcaster Channel Four

Boxing

Formula 1: Spanish sports agency Mediapro acquired the rights for Formula 1 in a five-year deal, 2009 to 2013, in a deal thought to be worth about €35m (£24m) a year.
Football

Average live English Premier League audience lowest since 2001-02

Football

Football: Spanish pay-television broadcaster Sogecable acquired the pay-rights for the Champions League in a three-year deal from the 2006-07 to 2008-09 with the Team agency

Top UK sports rights executive Trevor East will take on a number of roles – as well as becoming director of sports at Irish-based pay-broadcaster Setanta.