Under the agreements, Czech public-service broadcaster Ceska Televize acquired the exclusive rights for three years, France’s Sport+, a multi-sports channel which is part of the Canal Plus Group, signed a two-year deal, with the option for renewal, to broadcast exclusively throughout France as well as in Andorra, Luxembourg, Monaco and the Dom Toms (French Overseas Territories). The network will also broadcast throughout Africa on a non-exclusive basis.
In the Republic of Kazakhstan, the new Sport-1 and Sport-2, the nations’ first-ever sports channels, run by Quantum-Arnau, also signed a three-year deal. In the Ukraine, Megasport, the nation’s first and only specialised free-to-air sports channel, has agreed to become the CHL broadcast partner for two years. They will also broadcast the Victoria Cup in 2008 and 2009.
In addition, all four television networks will show a weekly highlights and a monthly magazine programme.
President of the IIHF, René Fasel, said: “We are very happy to have Ceska Televize, the national broadcaster from one of the most important hockey countries in the world, the Czech Republic, partner with us. In addition, one of the IIHF’s main objectives is to make our game popular, especially in developing hockey countries. The contract with France’s Sport+, Kazakhstan’s Sport-1 and Sport-2, and the Ukraine’s Megasport provides coverage in such countries and regions”.
The deals were brokered by sports marketing and media agency, Ovation Sports.
