Media Notes: Former Beijing Mayor Calls For Sports Broadcasting Rights Reform

Former Beijing Mayor Liu Jingmin has called for reform of broadcasting rights of sports events to promote the development of industry. Liu said, "NBA's revenues mainly come from TV rights, but organizers of sports events in China need to pay for TV broadcasting." Lin also suggested breaking up the "monopoly de facto" of the Sports Channel of China Central Television, which is the only one to reach a national audience (CHINA DAILY, 3/12). ... IMG has secured additional global broadcast deals for the 2013 FIA European Rallycross Championship, including in the U.K. and Ireland with British Eurosport, AB Motors in France and Sport1+ in Germany. Among those to have signed up to broadcast live coverage and/or extended highlights programming in addition to British Eurosport are Sport 10 in Belgium, Sport TV in Portugal, Sport1+ in Germany, NTV Plus in Russia, RTL in Hungary, Balkan broadcaster SportKlub, Sport Italia in Italy and Fox Sports / Speed in Australia. In addition, coverage will be available to viewers in Asian territories via EDGEsport, the 24-hour premium action sport channel (IMG).