Americas

US Networks NBC, ESPN and Fox reported that viewing for NFL games so far this season is among the highest in history, with broadcasts challenging for network top spots on a weekly basis.

The Cisneros Group agreed a deal for its Movida wireless communications service to sponsor Nascar's only minority-owned team.

The Media Partners & Silva and Sportfive agencies agreed a deal to unify the sale of international Italian Serie A rights in some key territories.

adidas and the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) agreed an eight-year sponsorship deal until 2014.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) said that a record number of countries have officially confirmed their intention to tender for the right to host the Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament in 2009.

Online gaming companies including Sportingbet, 888 and PartyGaming said they would likely pull out of the United States and warned on future profits after the US congress unexpectedly passed legislation that would ban online gaming.

US football’s Major League Soccer will become the first major team sports league in the US to permit shirt-sponsorships from next season.

ESPN International will be the exclusive international sales agent for all US motor racing series Nascar’s event programming.

US Spanish-language broadcaster Univision agreed a deal with Soccer United Marketing (SUM) for the broadcast rights to Major League Soccer and other top football properties until 2014.

The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour said it would extend and expand its innovations programme to include the introduction of on-court coaching trials at events during the autumn.

US cable and satellite channel OLN, which acquired NHL TV rights last year, changed its name to Versus.

Turner Sports and NBC Sports, the US Ryder Cup broadcaster, will produce and distribute online streaming video content for the 2006 Ryder Cup tournament.

The organisers of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games expect to sign up to 10 new sponsorship deals this year as they look to surpass more than C$700 million in total domestic sponsorship.

American football’s National Football League has awarded Pay-TV broadcaster Sky the UK and Irish rights to the NFL under a new four-year deal, up until the end of the 2010-2011 season.

Irish broadcaster Setanta Sports is said to be close to agreeing a fund-raising deal with a private-equity firm.

The 2006 US Open set several records in attendance and website traffic and generated significant television ratings.