UEFA Champions League and F1 on cable TV

Just weeks after acquiring the rights for the Germany 2006 FIFA World Cup, Melita Cable announced it had secured exclusive rights to air the UEFA Champions League and the Formula One grand prix.

Melita sales and marketing head Franco Degabriele said yesterday the company would air the remainder of the 2005/06 Champions League season and the F1 championship for the next three years.

The first broadcasts of the Champions League will be aired on February 21 with high profile encounters between Real Madrid and Arsenal, Chelsea playing Barcelona and Beyern Munchen against Milan.

F1 starts on March 12 with the first Grand Prix in Bahrain.

Mr Degabriele said Melita will also be broadcasting the Rugby six nations' tournament - currently being broadcast on Melita Sports and the Sports Channel - Wimbledon, major golf tournaments, the Master Series of the ATP Tour and Wrestling.

Apart from the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Melita Cable also secured rights for the English Coca-Cola Championship and the Carling Cup for the next four football seasons, England football home games and the FA Cup for the next three football seasons, while continuing to broadcast the Barclays English Premier League.

Mr Degabriele said Melita is as of this year broadcasting the German Bundesliga and the Spanish Primera Liga, together with a selection of the Italian Serie A. In the run up to Germany 2006, Melita will be offering the Sports Ticket - a five-month sports subscription for Lm25, an offer which is valid throughout February. Otherwise, the sports channel may be purchased on a monthly basis for Lm7.50 per month, Mr Degabriele said, adding that the Sports Channel fee has been revised and will come into effect on March 1.

On the 2006 World Cup, Melita announced it was increasing the number of games broadcast free to its subscribers by airing more games on its Information Channel at no extra cost.

Apart from the opening game, the two semi-finals and the final which will be sub-licensed to one of three local broadcasters, Melita will be broadcasting to all its subscribers the first 15 games of the first round, one match of the final 16 teams knock-out and one quarter final match.