GBsport.tv has partnered with the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) and British Handball to stream the GB matches at the London Handball Cup this week, and live from the new Handball Arena in the Olympic Park.

GB Women’s Team take on Angola this Wednesday at 1300 and then face Austria on Friday at 1030, and with a place in the Semi-Final against Slovakia, Poland or China to play for.

This six-team International event is being staged at the Olympic Handball Arena as part of the London Prepares Series and is intended to provide officials the opportunity to test procedures ahead of Games Time in 2012, with a limited crowd of officials, local schools and media invited to attend.

Paul Goodwin, CEO at British Handball commented “We are really excited to be working with GBsport TV at the largest handball event ever to be held in Britain. The tickets for this event were not publicly available so this broadcast will provide the British public with a preview of what is in store during the Olympic Games and will surprise many at just how fast and physical the sport is”.

The exclusive GBsport production and live stream continues a successful partnership with LOCOG, which started with the London Prepares Basketball events during the summer.

Dan Fletcher, General Manager GBsport TV, said: “GBsport TV has been developed to be as accessible as possible for real sports fans” said , “Our live and on-demand coverage can be enjoyed for free on your laptop or if you’re on the move using a smartphone or tablet.”

India’s largest sports network Ten Sports has entered into long term partnership with International Hockey Federation to acquire the broadcasting rights for the major FIH Championships till 2014.

As part of the agreement TEN Sports will be broadcasting over 50 India playing matches the next four years from major men’s hockey tournament from around the world.

Atul Pande, CEO-Ten Sports said: “ Our long term agreement with FIH reaffirms our commitment to bring  the best sports action to our viewers, and this new agreement for telecast best of men hockey Champions Challenge and Champions Trophy, reaffirms our commitment to grow the sports business and consolidate our position as the leading sports broadcaster.”

Leandro Negre, FIH President, added: “We’re delighted to extend our long-term partnership with Ten Sports for a further 4 years.  This deal is of unprecedented value to FIH, not only in terms of the record license fee, but also for us to guarantee hockey fans and FIH sponsors unparalleled exposure for the world’s best hockey events on the subcontinent’s most-watched sports channel.

The Scottish Premier League (SPL) have extended their broadcasting deal with Sky and ESPN until 2017.

Both broadcasters announced they had agreed a new five-year deal offering more money than their existing contract.

The SPL secured a £13 million ($20.3m) annual commitment from the broadcasters when they signed the initial contract in 2009, with the new deal taking effect from the start of next season.

Both television companies, who stepped in when Setanta went out of business in the middle of their more lucrative rights deal, will each continue to show 30 live games a season.

The SPL had employed consultants IMG Media to instigate a feasibility study into the launch of their own television channel but they have been encouraged by recent viewing figures.

The news comes less than two weeks after Clydesdale Bank announced they would end their sponsorship of the competition at the end of next season.

In a statement, SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “Sky Sports and ESPN are two of the biggest names in sports broadcasting and the SPL has enjoyed an excellent relationship with both broadcasters over the course of the current contract, a period which has seen a 28 per cent increase in viewing figures.

“In the current economic climate, announcing an increase in value is excellent news for our clubs.”

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, added: “We’re delighted to agree this deal with the SPL and continue our partnership with Scottish football that began 20 years ago.

“This long-term agreement means Sky Sports viewers can continue to enjoy coverage of 30 live matches a season, including each Old Firm head-to-head, across TV, mobile, online and tablet devices.”

Ross Hair, managing director of ESPN in Europe, added: “The Clydesdale Bank Premier League has been an important part of our schedule in these first two-and-a-half seasons of our local ESPN channel in the UK and Ireland.

“Scottish football has performed well on ESPN as we work to build our brand locally and develop our long-term business.”

Doncaster is also confident the longer term security and continued high profile afforded to the SPL by the new live TV rights deal will help attract several new suitors to replace Clydesdale Bank.

“The timing of this announcement could undoubtedly not be better from my point of view,” said Doncaster.

“Because to go out to the market place to try to find a title sponsor when you haven’t got a robust, credible live broadcast product, frankly that’s a difficult task.

“But to go to the market place now with the certainty of this five year deal, with the exposure that any sponsor gets through that live deal, is a big part of why they choose to sponsor a league. So it’s fundamental.

“I certainly do expect there will be a lot of interest. The SPL remains Scotland’s foremost sporting competition and in terms of the coverage it’s had over the past few years, the coverage it’s going to have over the next five years with Sky and ESPN and the drama and excitement for which it’s renowned, not just in the UK but overseas, that’s set to continue.

“That’s what any sponsor who ties themselves to the SPL is buying into.

“There has already been interest from potential new sponsors. We will conduct a thorough investigation in the market place, we’ll be open-minded about who we talk to, who shows interest, and then my job is to create options we can bring back to the table and the clubs can vote on.”

Qatari broadcaster Aljazeera has reached an agreement with the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) for the broadcasting rights to the Egyptian Premier League for a tidy sum of LE16 million ($2.6 million).

EFA Chairman Samir Zaher told Egyptian entertainment website FilFan.com: “We have reached an agreement with Aljazeera that will enable it to broadcast the Egyptian League this season.” 

“They will begin airing the competition’s matches in the next (seventh) round until the end.”

Aljazeera, viagra pills which is the only foreign channel to acquire the League’s broadcasting rights, decease joins a handful of Egyptian-owned satellite channels who televise Egypt’s premier domestic football competition.

Similar deals may arise in the near future, according to Zaher. “There are ongoing negotiations with three other Arab channels to buy broadcasting rights,” he said.

European Soccer’s governing body UEFA has awarded the media rights for UEFA Women’s Euro 2013, to be staged in Sweden, to leading Swedish commercial broadcaster TV4.

Extensive free-to-air exposure of the tournament will be guaranteed through the live broadcast of all matches on TV4 and TV4 Sport, complemented by highlights programmes on each match day. In addition, all matches will be shown live on the internet via www.tv4.se and www.fotbollskanalen.se, ensuring wide access to the competition in the territory.

Guy-Laurent Epstein, marketing director of UEFA Events SA, said: “TV4 is a strong supporter of women’s football and we are delighted to have reached this agreement in the host country of the competition. The past years have witnessed a rise in the popularity of women’s football and we are convinced that TV4’s commitment to the game will further promote the tournament and offer fans in Sweden extensive coverage of the competition.”

As previously announced, Eurosport has acquired the media rights for the competition on a pan-European basis and all matches will be shown on the Eurosport channel network.

UEFA Events SA is a wholly owned subsidiary of UEFA, created to manage and handle the European football governing body’s commercial and event operations. It is, among other things, responsible for generating media rights, sponsorship, licensing and hospitality revenue from all professional national team and club competitions, and for managing relationships with all associated commercial partners.

UEFA also have announced the 2012-15 UEFA Champions League media rights in Finland going to YLE and MTV.

Public broadcaster YLE will show the best match on Tuesdays, as well as Tuesday highlights each matchweek, on its TV2 channel. MTV will broadcast two live matches per matchnight, including the best Wednesday match, and a Tuesday highlights programme each matchweek via its Canal+ Sport branded channels. The Wednesday highlights programme will be shown on MTV’s free-to-air channel MTV3.

In addition, YLE and MTV will broadcast the UEFA Champions League final and the UEFA Super Cup on a co-exclusive basis. All rights have been granted on a platform-neutral basis, with the rights being exploited via television, mobile and on internet – on yle.fi and mtv3.fi.

UEFA said: “YLE and MTV have shown a strong and continuous commitment to the competition and UEFA is delighted to maintain and further extend its current successful partnerships until 2015.”

The Australian Football League (AFL) has secured a new five-year, ed $23.2 million radio broadcast deal that will equate to more matches being broadcast around Australia than ever before.

Under the new agreement, thumb the League will receive more than $4.3 million from its radio rights holders in 2012, a 29 per cent increase on 2011.

In Melbourne, Triple M and 3AW will broadcast a minimum of four matches per regular round in the primetime Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon slots.

The two stations will have first choice of matches on Saturday afternoon and Saturday night, and will also have the right to broadcast two additional matches (Saturday twilight and the conclusion of Sunday twilight).

ABC Radio and SEN will cover at least six matches per regular round, on Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Saturday twilight, Saturday night, Sunday early and Sunday twilight.

Elsewhere, FIVEaa will retain its broadcast rights in Adelaide, as will 6PR in Perth.

The ABC will broadcast a minimum of three matches per round into Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sydney, while 2UE will also cover some matches in Sydney, and 4BC some matches in Brisbane.

The arrangement means every match featuring a club from Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales will be broadcast into their respective states.

Regional radio partners are K-Rock (Geelong), Gold FM (Gold Coast), Crocmedia, Southern Cross Austereoand the National Indigenous Radio Service (NIRS).

Other key features of the new deal, which covers seasons 2012 to 2016, include, nine matches per round during the regular season, and all matches during the finals, will be broadcast into Victoria. Also all broadcasters will be able to broadcast matches on Monday nights, Thursday nights, Friday nights and public holidays. This will result in all finals, including the Grand Final, will be broadcast nationally

AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan said the League was pleased to have secured a strong financial outcome in the deal, which comes seven months after the announcement of the new $1.25 billion TV and online broadcast agreement.

“Despite a challenging economic climate, our radio partners are eager to be part of football and it speaks volumes about our clubs, players, supporters and the overall strength of the game that they have committed for another five years,” he said.

“Fans are the biggest winners from these agreements with access to more matches on radio than ever before, wherever they may be listening across Australia.”

The chairman of Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, Steve Morgan, will be speaking at the Leaders in Football conference, it has been announced.

The football business event, taking place on 6 and 7 October, will be held at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge, and Morgan will be part of an ‘owner’s panel’ on the second day, discussing the future of football ownership, varying ownership models, the impact of UEFA’s financial fair play ruling, and how to ensure a sustainable future for football clubs.

Morgan bought the club from Sir Jack Hayward back in 2007 for a nominal fee of £10, on the condition that he would subsequently invest £30 million into the club.

Other confirmed high-profile speakers at the Leaders in Football event include: Dave Checketts (owner of NHL’s St Louis Blues and MLS’s Real Salt Lake); Mohammed bin Hammam (president of the Asian Football Confederation); Michel D’Hooge (FIFA executive committee member) and Sunil Gulati (president of the US Soccer Federation and chairman of the US 2018/2022 World Cup bid committee).

Canadian Football League franchise Winnipeg Blue Bombers have extended their radio broadcast partnership with CJOB for the next seven years.

Blue Bomber president, clinic said: “The Winnipeg Football Club is very thrilled to have extended our agreement with Corus Entertainment. CJOB has been the voice of sport in this province for decades, cure and we’re excited to inform our fans that Blue Bomber football on your radio can only be found on CJOB 680 for years to come. The seven-year commitment demonstrates CJOB’s long-term desire to be a part of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.”

Besides game day coverage, CJOB also carries the “Buck Pierce Show” every Tuesday at 7 p.m., the “Coach Paul LaPolice Show” every Monday at 7 p.m., and the “Doug Brown Spin Zone” every Monday at 8 p.m.

Thomas Cook has become the official travel partner of Premier League side Manchester United on a four-year deal, taking over from Co-Operative Travel.

Thomas Cook’s sports division will now provide worldwide travel for the first team and officials, and will also provide fans’ packages for away games in European competition and home fixtures.

The tour company will also now be offering discounted travel deals to supporters through the club’s holiday club.

Group chief executive of Thomas Cook, Manny Fontela-Novoa, said: “Thomas Cook is the market leader in sports tourism and this partnership adds to our role in taking fans to the World Cup and London 2012, as we drive forward this dynamic and successful business.”

David Gill, Manchester United’s chief executive, added: “The benefits of this deal will result in a more complete travel service for the team, club officials and more importantly our millions of supporters across the globe.”

Thomas Cook already offers packages for a number of other Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City.