Volleyball

Olympics: The Asia-Pacific Broad-casting Union acquired the free-to-air terrestrial and radio rights for the 2010 and 2012 Olympics for $10m (£5.1m/€6.4m) in a deal with the International Olympic Committee. 

New channels face competition from satellite operators ADD, Showtime, Orbit, and free-to-air MBC

Cable operator pays €25m for Canal Plus Nederlands pay channels, Canal Satelliet Digitaal

Sportinveste and PT Multimedia likely to buy

Satellite pay-television operator BSkyB renewed four important golf deals: (1) exclusive live rights for two Ryder Cups (in 2006 and 2008) with European Tour Productions; (2) live rights for 34 events…

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

Rugby union: Pay-television operator British Sky Broadcasting acquired the live rights for English international and domestic rugby in a five-year deal, 2005-06 to 2009-10, with the Rugby Football Union, the sport’s national governing body, and Premier Rugby, the umbrella body of the country’s top-tier clubs.

Channel set for December launch, once European Commission is assured that it has no links with News International or Sky Italia

Athletics: UK pay-broadcaster Setanta extended a deal for the Golden League series in 2008 and 2009.  The deal was brokered by the IMG agency.

The European Commission has opened infringement proceedings against the Italian government over the use by the country’s broadcasters of mini-advertisements during the televising of football matches.

Five provincial channels pool resources and sports content in new joint-venture channel

Football: The England Football Association agreed deals for its international rights covering the fouryear period from 2008-09 to 2011-12, bringing in worldwide revenues of over $300m (£144m/€207m) - …

Football: Danish commercial broadcaster TV2 acquired the rights for the Danish national team home matches, paying DKr41.5m (£3.9m/ €5.6m

Cricket: Australian free-to-air broadcaster Nine Network acquired the rights to this month's Champions Trophy and the 2007 World Cup in a deal with News Corporation subsidiary Global Cricket Corporation.

American Football:  UK pay-operator British Sky Broadcasting acquired the UK and Ireland rights for the National Football League in a four-year deal from 2007-08 to 2010-11.

Football: Spanish agency Mediapro made a seven-year offer worth €1.19bn (£815m), or €170m a season, for the television rights to Spanish Primera Liga club Real Madrid covering the seasons from 2008-09 to 2014-15.