Football
Lega re-tenders Serie B but Sky deal looks safe
Conto TV scored a victory this week when Serie B presidents agreed to re-tender the rights to the second division in a manner which would allow smaller broadcasters a greater chance to compete.
Hong Kong and HiTV sweep league towards $2 billion mark
The international rights sales of English football’s Premier League continues to throw up interesting outcomes.
PCCW finds its limit after I-Cable lifts bar again
The Premier League achieved an increase of some 15 per cent in Hong Kong after pay-operator I-Cable surprised observers by bidding strongly to retain the rights it lost three years ago.
High-flying HiTV blitzes rivals in quest for 1m subscribers
HiTV successfully expanded its hold on Premier League rights in Nigeria with an opening round offer.
League ponders channel plan but clubs are restless
The Belgian Pro League is considering plans to set up its own television channel after its long-standing rights partner, national telecoms provider Belgacom, said that it no longer needs the rights exclusively.
Beijing success opens door for Fifa’s record deal
The success of Fifa in attracting a record television rights fee in China in its recent deal for the 2010 and 2014 World Cups may owe something to the IOC and the success of the Beijing Olympics.
TV Rights Deals 2: Football – World Cup in China and latest Premier League deals
Football: Chinese state broadcaster CCTV acquired the rights for all Fifa events between now and 2014, including the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, in a deal worth about $125m (€83m).
FASTRACK
Indian broadcaster Zee is in the process of completing its takeover of Dubai-based sports broadcaster Ten Sports.
Middle East could provide Silva lining for Lega Calcio
The flourishing Middle East sports-rights market could hold the key to the MP & Silva agency getting a return on its investment in the international rights to Serie A.
Pay-TV fault-line cracks free-to-air Euro 2012 bid
The battle between rival Scandinavian platforms Canal Digital and Viasat has driven apart the free-to-air consortium that was aiming to land the rights for Euro 2012 in a pan-regional deal.
TV Rights Deals 1: Football – Serie A, Euro 2012 and English FA deals
Football: Lega Calcio, the body representing Italian football’s top clubs, agreed a number of deals for the domestic and international rights for the country’s top two divisions, Serie A and Serie B, …
ARD/ZDF cutting top sports costs
ARD and ZDF are looking to break the trend of escalating sports rights costs for major events, taking a hardline stance in talks for football’s Euro 2012 and the 2014 and 2016 Olympics.
The talk from Monaco
A takeover of Saudi-owned Middle East pay-broadcaster Arab Radio and Television by Qatar-based Al Jazeera Sports is likely to still go ahead, according to industry insiders.
No sweethearts for our global rights, says Lega Calcio
Lega Calcio moved this week to calm concerns about the transparency of its tender process for the international rights to Serie A.
Everyone’s a winner in cosy US deal
Fox Sports International acquired English Premier League rights in the US and Latin America in deals worth some 50 per cent more than the value of the present deals.
Federation pins rising hopes on usual suspects
The Swedish football federation has received a good response to its recent television tender for national team and domestic league rights, but there are signs that it will face as tough a sell as last time.
EXQI plans mired as cable dithers over channel choice
The launch of EXQI Plus has been delayed, affecting coverage of Uefa’s second-tier Europa League competition, rights for which the new channel acquired earlier this year.
TV Rights 1: Euro Champs, Premier League and Indian cricket deals
Football: Middle East pay-broadcaster Al Jazeera Sports acquired the rights for Euro 2012 and 2016 in a deal with Uefa, European football’s governing body, worth $100m (€67m) overall. Al