The agreement comes hot on the heels of CAfrica Sports’ decision to broadcast the Samsung Diamond League and sees public broadcaster France Televisions secure the rights to the 2011-2013 World Athletics Series (WAS).
The new agreement, brokered by IEC in Sports, IAAF’s exclusive media rights agency for Europe and Africa, covers all the WAS events through 2013 and will provide extensive coverage for the 2011 and 2013 World Championships, which will take place in Daegu, Korea and Moscow, Russia respectively.
The deal sees France Televisions further its relationship with the IAAF having been the federation’s long-time broadcast partner in France, through previous broadcasting agreements with the European Broadcasting Union.
With the conclusion of the French deal, the IAAF has secured the second of the top five European territories, having previously announced an agreement in the UK with Channel 4. The IAAF now boasts a stable of confirmed deals that provide coverage in 65 territories throughout IEC’s territory. Additional announcements are expected in the near future.
“All but one of the broadcasting deals which have so far been concluded in Europe are on terrestrial TV which is especially encouraging as it ensures the widest possible audience for the IAAF World Championships,” said IAAF president Lamine Diack. “(This) provides spectators and commercial partners with the best delivery of the sport of athletics.”
