Eurosport Preps Potential Bid For German Bundesliga

France-based TV group TF1's Eurosport net is "bidding for the foreign broadcast rights to German Bundesliga soccer -- setting up a potential rival" to German sports network DSF, according to Ed Meza of DAILY VARIETY. KirchGroup Founder Leo Kirch's Sirius SportMedia last year "pacted with the DFL to market local Bundesliga broadcast rights in Germany, subject to the approval of the antitrust watchdog."  However, Eurosport is "carried free on cable in Germany." Eurosport execs have "downplayed the significance of the bid," as the DFL's asking price "could prove too rich" for Eurosport. German-language newspaper Handelsblatt reported Eurosport is bidding US$25-31M "for the foreign rights, while the DFL is said to be asking some $46.5 million for the 2009-10 season" (DAILY VARIETY, 6/11).

EURO 2008: In London, Dan Sabbagh reports despite the absence of the England national team playing in Euro 2008, the "public's appetite for football is undimmed." ITV1's coverage of the Netherlands' 3-0 victory over Italy on Monday reached peak viewership of 7.3 million, representing a "third of all television viewers, and nearly half of all men." All Euro 2008 matches "have been well supported," as Switzerland-Czech Republic on Saturday drew 3.5 million viewers (LONDON TIMES, 6/11)....The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Scott Roxborough reported Germany's 2-0 win over Poland on Sunday drew 24 million viewers on Germany's ZDF, "easily topping the 20 milllion Germans that tuned in for the 2006 World Cup opening game between" Germany and Costa Rica. However, the figures "weren't as impressive elsewhere, thanks in large part to a lack of big nations in the weekend's matches" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 6/9).

COPA SANTANDER LIBERTADORES: Fox Sports en Espanol announced its highest ratings of the year for the Copa Santander Libertadores semifinals on June 3. The LDU Quito-America match earned a 3.1 national rating and drew 943,000 viewers in the U.S. (Fox Sports en Espanol).