SportBusiness.com

AUSTRALIA'S TEN WINS 2007 RUGBY WORLD CUP

Australian free-to-air broadcaster Ten Network Holdings Ltd. acquired the free-to-air rights for next year's Rugby World Cup in France.

Under the deal, Ten will broadcast 20 of the tournament's 40 group matches along with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place playoff and final.

Ten won the rights after last month posting a 94 per cent drop in second-half profit as it lost ground in the advertising battle with commercial rivals Seven Network and Nine Network. Ten said rugby's world championship attracted a ``strong demographic.''