Media Notes: IBU Puts '14-15 Season Bid Up For Grabs

The Int'l Biathlon Union "has put the media rights starting with the '14-15 season up for bids." The media rights include TV, Internet and mobile. The IBU "wants to award the media rights for a four-year period but only to a worldwide acting partner." Current rights holder is the European Broadcast Union, which also includes German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF. The IBU will accept bids starting on Jan. 7 (DWDL, 12/10). ... Ecuavisa, the leading TV network in Ecuador, has acquired the exclusive, long-term U.S. broadcast rights for Ecuador's top-fight football league, Primera A. The league's matches will be aired live in the U.S. through its Ecuavisa Int'l feed. The teams included in the exclusive agreement are Barcelona (ranked No. 1 in Ecuador), Emelec (No. 2), Deportivo Quito (No. 8), Deportivo Cuenca (No. 10) and Universidad Católica (currently plays in Primera B). The announcement was made Monday by Ecuavisa CEO Xavier Alvarado (Ecuavisa).