UCI renews media rights deal with EBU

 The International Cycling Union (UCI) has signed a deal with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for the broadcast of its road, track, mountain bike and trials world championships for the years 2009 to 2012.

The deal represents a significant amount of the UCI's revenue from these championships and guarantees the UCI a committed broadcast partner which enables viewers in countries including France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK to watch them on free-to-air channels.

"I'm very pleased that we have once again reached an agreement with the EBU," said UCI president Pat McQuaid. "The media rights landscape is developing and changing but the EBU has always been a solid and loyal supporter of our sport and we have always worked well together. This deal, along with others we have agreed outside Europe and on new media, provides a reliable source of recurring revenue and enables us to further develop these championships and the sport as a whole."

The EBU is the largest association of national broadcasters in the world. It has 75 active members from 56 countries in and around Europe. Its membership principally comprises the major free-to-air broadcasters in Europe, with a weekly audience of some 650 million people.