UEFA renew rights deal with Ten Sports

Ten Sports and UEFA have renewed their contract for the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League from 2012 to 2015. This means that Ten Sports and its sister channel Ten Action+ will broadcast matches live, deferred and as capsules of Europe's premier club competitions.

European football governing body UEFA said in a statement, "The media rights sales process is successfully continuing in Asia, reflecting the growing interest for UEFA's club football competitions in the region. UEFA is happy to announce these deals as they will enable football fans throughout the respective territories to enjoy increased levels of match choice and coverage of both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League."

UEFA not only sold the rights for south Asia, but also in Malaysia, Brunei and Myanmar to ensure continued coverage of its flagship club competitions. Ten Sports channel competitors ESPN-Star Sports and Neo Sports had also bid for the rights, which have become very lucrative in India though match kick-off timings in Europe are often well past midnight.

Ten Sports channels (Ten Sports & Zee Sports in the past, now Ten Sports & Ten Action+) have been airing the top club football from UEFA for a couple of years and showcase more than 55 UEFA Champions League and 60 Europa League matches from September to May every year. Ten Sports offers the most comprehensive coverage of the UEFA Champions League & UEFA Europa League in India, with a choice of live matches and a full round up of all the match day action throughout the week.

The rights are not only for television but across all broadcast platforms and besides India Ten Sports channels will be showing the matches across south Asia in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.