BBC presenter Gary Lineker "signed a new five-year deal to continue heading the British broadcaster's football coverage" until '20. The former England striker "will continue to host" the BBC's flagship Match of the Day program, live coverage of the FA Cup and other major football events as well as the Sports Personality of the Year (London DAILY MAIL, 6/4). ... Gazzetta TV in Italy "picked up the rights to show the upcoming Copa America tournament." The RCS Media Group-owned broadcaster "will provide coverage of all 26 games from the tournament live and on an exclusive basis." It "will also air a regular show featuring highlights and happenings on and off the field" (SOCCEREX, 6/8). ... Sport1 GmbH acquired from sports-rights & marketing agency SportA the platform-neutral audiovisual transmission rights to the 2015 UEFA European U21 Championship, to be held in the Czech Republic, June 17-30. As part of the deal, Sport1 will show four selected games live and exclusive on free TV, plus the final, June 30, if the German juniors do not reach it. Sport1 will also report on all games of the German U21 national team in an extensive highlights show (Sport1).
