Snooker

The launch of British Sky Broadcasting’s broadband internet site showing same-day highlights of World Cup Cricket has provided a major boost for the UK broadband market.

Football:  German pay-television broadcaster Premiere acquired the rights for German football’s Bundesliga for the next two seasons paying €355m (£235 million) – €175m for 2004-05 and €180m for 2005-06…

After opening three rounds, viewing up 30 per cent on last year

Danmarks Radio accused of not fulfilling its role as a public-service broadcaster

Football: Irish pay-per-view broad-caster Setanta signed a four-year, £35m (€52m) deal with the Scottish Premier League.  The deal will run from 2004-05 to 2007-08.  Se

The UK division of Korean company LG Electronics is quitting the sponsor-ship of snooker.

Rugby league’s Challenge Cup final, in which St Helens beat Wigan 32-16, drew 1.66 million viewers and a 25-per-cent audience share to BBC1.

Cricket:  The Board of Control for Cricket in India, after extensive legal wrangles, finally signed a deal for the Indian rights to the three tours taking place this year, a four-Test series against Australia, a two-Test series against South Africa and a one-off one-day international against Pakistan, with state broadcaster Doordarshan.

World Snooker, commercial arm of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, has launched an open tender for its worldwide television rights

Motorsport: German pay-broadcaster Premiere extended its deal for live Formula One rights by one year, until the end of the 2007 season.

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

UK broadcasters experience a mixed 2005 for television-sport viewing.

Television audiences for the UK’s traditional sporting showpieces fall in 2006, according to TV Sports Markets survey.