Sport On TV.(Sport) - The People (London, England)

Today

FOOTBALL: PREMIERSHIP: Live coverage of Leeds Utd v Liverpool, kick-off noon (Premiership Plus, 11.30am-2.30pm).

CARLING CUP: Bolton v Middlesboro, final live from the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, kick-off 2pm (Sky Sports 1, 1pm-5pm).

SERIE A: Coverage of Lazio v AC Milan, kick-off 7.30pm (British Eurosport, 6.45pm-9.15pm).

LA LIGA: Live coverage of Real Madrid v Celta Vigo, kick-off 6pm and La Coruna v Barcelona, kick-off 8pm (Sky Sports 1, 5.30pm-10pm).

RUGBY LEAGUE: CHALLENGE CUP: Fourth round matches, Wigan Warriors v Widnes Vikings, Kick-off 12.15pm, and Bradford Bulls v St Helens, kick-off 2.15pm (BBC1, 12pm - 4pm).

MOTORSPORT: WORLD SUPERBIKES: Coverage of round one from Valencia (BBC2, 11am-noon, and 4pm-4.45pm). (British Eurosport, 11am-3.45pm).

2004 INDY CAR SERIES: The Toyota Indy 300 in Florida (Sky Sports 3, 7pm-9.30pm).

BOXING: EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: Final bouts from Pula in Croatia (British Eurosport, 5.30-8pm).

GOLF: MATCHPLAY: Final day of the Accentre Championship in California (Sky Sports 2, 3pm-11pm).

CRICKET: UNDER-19 WORLD CUP: First semi-final from Bangladesh (Sky Sports Extra, 7am-3.30pm).

BASKETBALL: NBA: Houston Rockets v Seattle Supersonics, tip-off 9pm (Sky Sports Xtra, 9pm-11.30pm).

Monday

FOOTBALL: LA LIGA: Highlights from weekend's Primera Liga (Sky Sports 1, 11am-1pm and 9pm-10pm).

Tuesday

FOOTBALL: NATIONWIDE: Live coverage of Norwich v West Brom, kick-off 7.45pm (Sky Sports 2, 7.30pm-10pm).

CRICKET: UNDER-19 WORLD CUP: Second semi-final from Bangladesh (Sky Sports Extra, 7am-3.30pm).

GREYOUND RACING: UK PACKAGING ARC: From Walthamstow (Sky Sports 2, 7.30m-10pm).

HOCKEY: OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS: Poland v Great Britain, tournament match from Madrid (British Eurosport, 1pm-2.30pm).

Wednesday

FOOTBALL: UEFA CUP: Levski Sofia v Liverpool, kick-off 7.10pm (Channel Five 7pm-9.15pm).

TENNIS: DUBAI DUTY FREE OPEN: Live coverage of the men's tournament (British Eurosport, 10am-11.30am).

RUGBY LEAGUE: VARSITY MATCH: Oxford University v Cambridge University (Sky Sports 2, 7.30pm-10pm).

Thursday

GOLF: EURO TOUR: First day of Dubai Desert Classic (Sky Sports 1, 7am-9am and 11.30am-1.30pm).

US TOUR: Day one of the Ford Championship in Miami (Sky Sports 2, 8pm-11pm).

TENNIS: DUBAI DUTY FREE OPEN: Live coverage of the men's tournament (British Eurosport, 4pm-6pm).

ICE HOCKEY: NHL: Live coverage of Detroit v Calgary/Colorado v Vancouver (Channel Five, 1am-5.30am).

Friday

GOLF: EURO TOUR: Day two of Dubai Desert Classic (Sky Sports 1, 7am-9am and 11.30am-1.30pm).

US TOUR: Day two of the Ford Championship in Miami (Sky Sports 2, 8pm-11pm).

RUGBY LEAGUE: SUPER LEAGUE: Widnes Vikings v Huddersfield Giants, kick-off 8pm (Sky Sports 1, 7.30-10pm).

CRICKET: UNDER 19 WORLD CUP: Final from Bangladesh (Sky Sports Extra, 7.30am-4.30pm).

ATHLETICS: WORLD INDOOR CHAMPS: First day from Budapest in Hungary (British Eurosport, 8.30am-12.30pm and 3.45pm-7.30pm).

Saturday

FOOTBALL: FA CUP: Live coverage of Man Utd v Fulham, kick-off 12.30pm, and Portsmouth v Arsenal, kick-off 6pm (Sky Sports 2, noon-2.30pm). (BBC1, 6pm-8.20pm).

SERIE A: Coverage of Bresica v Juventus, kick-off 7.30pm (British Eurosport, 7.30pm-9.30pm).

LA LIGA: Live coverage of a top Primera Liga clash (Sky Sports Xtra, 8pm-10.30pm).

FORMULA ONE: AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX: Qualifying sessions from Melbourne (ITV1, 2.25am-4.50am).

RUGBY UNION: SUPER 12: ATC Brumbies v Natal Sharks, kick-off 8am and Queensland Crusaders v Canterbury Crusaders, kick-off 10am (Sky Sports 2, 8am-midday).

SIX NATIONS: Italy v Scotland, kick-off 1.30pm (BBC 1, 1.15pm-3.30pm).

RUGBY LEAGUE: SUPER LEAGUE: London Broncos v St Helens, kick-off 6.05pm (Sky Sports 1, 5.30-8pm).

ATHLETICS: WORLD INDOOR CHAMPS: Day two from Budapest in Hungary (British Eurosport, 9am-10.30am and 5pm-7pm). (BBC2, 6pm-7.10pm).

GOLF: EURO TOUR: Day three of Dubai Desert Classic (Sky Sports 3, 9am-1pm).

US TOUR: Day three of the Ford Championship in Miami (Sky Sports 2, 8pm-11pm).

BOXING: SATURDAY FIGHT NIGHT: Scott Harrison v William Abelyan, WBO Featherweight title fight (Sky Sports 1, 8pm-10pm).

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A NEW DEAL... AND A BIGGER DINING ROOM; Clydesdale Bank PREMIER LEAGUE COUNTDOWN TO MONDAY'S LIVE TV CRACKER AT FIR PARK Danny deluged with Aussie visitors but he's not pining for back home.(Sport) - Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland)

Byline: BY GARY RALSTON

DANNY INVINCIBILE is dreaming of a White Christmas - and finalising a new contract with Kilmarnock.

But first he's off to Homebase for a new dining-room table after being invaded by a squad of Aussies ahead of the festive period.

The Killie winger is set for a return at Motherwell on Monday night following a six-week injury lay-off and has revealed he's opened talks on a new deal to keep him at Rugby Park.

As if life isn't busy enough, brother Antonio, 21, has just pitched up with four mates from Down Under on the doorstep of the flat Danny shares with their other brother Gino, 25, in Glasgow's west end.

Invincibile has managed to keep his own bedroom - just - but his visitors' excitement at being in Scotland for the first time has reminded the 29-year-old why he loves this country, especially at this time of year.

He admits he'll head home one day, possibly to play in the A-League, but isn't quite ready to return to a land where conversations about sport are dominated by cricket and rugby.

Invincibile said: 'My contract's up at the end of the season and the club have already come forward and asked to talk. Nothing is agreed yet but I'd be quite happy to sign on again because I like the club. We have a good bunch of boys and I love life in Scotland.

'This is my fifth year here and at first I struggled because I come from Brisbane where it's always so sunny and hot. I've never minded the cold, so long as the sun shines, but the wind blowing pelting rain into your face takes some getting used to.

'They reckon if Scotland was warmer and saw more sunshine it would be the best country anywhere and I agree, but you don't do too badly as it is.

'There's no arrogance here, everyone talks to everyone else. Everyone's so friendly - you're just like Aussies, we'd talk to our sheep.

'I think about home and would like to play there again one day, but there's something in my mind telling me it's not time to return yet.

'I'll maybe go back in a year or two but in the meantime I want to continue to learn and experience as much as I can over here.

'Anyway, if I went home I'd only have to talk about rugby, cricket and hockey before we could get around to football. It definitely takes fourth place there and when you go to games in Australia there isn't the same atmosphere and passion.

'I reckon if you could wrap up the Scottish game and take it back home it would be absolutely great.'

Invincibile will return from a hamstring injury he picked up against Celtic in the Co-operative Insurance Cup.

He came back too quickly and suffered a setback after a fortnight but he's raring to go again - and a win bonus wouldn't go amiss now his house is a hostel.

He said: 'Gino's been here for a year and Antonio has just pitched up with his mates on their way round Europe.

He's already complaining to the family on his Facebook site that he can't feel his toes and reckons they'll have to come off 'If I don't have someone turn up from home every three months or so I begin to worry so even though there are six of us in a small apartment and the heating's on full blast I love it, especially at this time of year.

'The boys are off to Spain, Italy and Amsterdam but will back on the 22nd. I love this time of year here because everyone is so cheerful and it's much more traditionally festive than back home. Gino has promised to cook up a storm with Christmas dinner but I have to buy a bigger table.

'It's great to be surrounded by family and friends and to look forward to a meal aimed at warming you up rather than cooling you down.

'In Australia, 50 or 60 of our family meet up on the beach and it's usually a meal of cold cuts and chilled beer.

'Sometimes if it gets too warm we'll head up to my aunt and uncle's place in the mountains.

'The guys can't wait to experience a White Christmas and a good meal followed by a few drinks in the west end. They're also really looking forward to Hogmanay.'

Invincibile has made an early New Year resolution as Killie bid to get back to winning ways after only one victory in the six SPL games since he was sidelined.

He said: 'I'm a fidgety spectator. I don't like sitting on the sidelines, especially when the team's going through a hard time.

'We don't carry a big squad and although we started the season well we've hit a bad spell and probably dropped lower in the league than we would have hoped.

'But the fire's back in my belly now I'm free of injury and the boys all know what we can do as a team. Let's get back to winning ways against Motherwell.'

CAPTION(S):

Qatar : Euro 2012 Action on Al Jazeera Sport on MOZIAC TV. - Mena Report

Football fans in Qatar are looking forward to watching an incredible summer of sport, with the UEFA European Football Championship (Euro 2012) kicking off on 8 June.

Hosted by Poland and Ukraine, this year s competition will see Poland, Ukraine, Germany, Russia, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Greece, England, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, Croatia, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland and Portugal all competing for Europe s biggest football prize.

Live coverage of the tournament will not be available on Free-To-Air television.

However, enthusiasts in Qatar can enjoy every minute of every match on the Al Jazeera Sports Plus package, available on Qtel s MozaicTV service.

The popular Mozaic TV service package includes landline telephone, home broadband and the Mozaic TV service, and is available to new customers for QR 250 per month. Customers can enjoy the first two months of their subscription for free, together with free installation and a free Wi-fi router, if they subscribe to the service for one year.

Existing Qtel Broadband customers can add the Mozaic TV service on top of their monthly Broadband subscription for as little as an additional QR 17 per month. This also includes the first two months of their subscription for free, together with free installation and a free Wi-fi router, if they subscribe to the service for one year.

The Al Jazeera s Sports Plus Package is available for existing MozaicTV customers for only QR 35 per month. Customers can watch live TV coverage of all of the Euro 2012 games, plus get access to four additional sports channels, including all of the ESPN channels and a dedicated channel for NBA basketball.

Qtel continues to bring the best sporting events to customers making Mozaic TV the preferred destination for watching sport in Qatar. Upcoming live sports on Al Jazeera Sport include; the London Olympics, the Rugby Super 15, the new Southern Hemisphere Rugby Championship as well as Northern Hemisphere Six Nations, the Ryder Cup, the NBA and NFL season and all of the year s remaining Formula 1, tennis and golf Grand Slam events of the year.

In addition, Mozaic TV also offers customers over 200 channels of movie, kids and lifestyle entertainment with channel offerings for every age-group and nationality in Qatar.

With demand for the service set to increase dramatically prior to the start of the Euro 2012 tournament on 8 June 2012,Qtel is encouraging new customers to submit their Mozaic TV applications early, to allow sufficient time for the service to be installed at their homes.

2012 Al Bawaba (Albawaba.com)

Cricket: BITCHY BENAUD; Legend Richie in blast at cricket's bosses over Sky live TV takeover.(Sport) - The Mirror (London, England)

Byline: By MARTIN ROGERS

RICHIE BENAUD last night attacked England cricket chiefs for selling out to Sky and wasting the chance to capitalise on the side's Ashes achievements.

Benaud, recently voted the best cricket commentator ever, will make his final appearance behind the microphone in this country during next week's fifth Test at The Oval. His retirement from the airwaves here is because Test cricket will move from Channel 4 to Sky Sports next summer, depriving terrestrial audiences of seeing a 'new era' of Engish cricket.

Benaud believes the game's powerbrokers have dropped a major clanger by asking the Government to take home Tests off the 'restricted' list which prevents rights for certain major events from going to satellite channels.

Benaud will continue to do media work overseas and his absence from the UK airwaves can be seen as a clear indication of his displeasure at the switch to Sky.

The 74-year-old said: 'There are only two groups of people who have control over that. The first is the government of the day and the second is the English Cricket Board.

'It's the ECB who persuaded the Government to take cricket off the restricted list. There is no point asking anyone except the ECB and the Government, and then possibly it might come back to free-to-air at some stage.

'In 2004, the Australian Government produced legislation that ensured major sporting events will remain on free-to-air. That was quite a big thing at the time it came out, and it was welcomed by a lot of people in Australia.

'I am always happy to retire at the right time, as I did when I was playing, but I do have regrets that Channel 4 are not continuing with the cricket because I think that, from the production and direction point of view, they have been magnificent in the six years they have been doing it.'

Sports on TV/radio - The Charleston Gazette (Charleston, WV)

TELEVISION

(MSNBC) 6 a.m. - Olympics:Men's hockey: Finland vs. Italy, CzechRepublic vs. Switzerland, Sweden vs. Russia, Slovakia vs. Latvia, andCanada vs. Germany, at Turin, Italy

(USA) 6 a.m. - Olympics:biathlon (live): women's 7.5km sprint goldmedal final; snowboarding: men's cross competition (smae-day tape);men's curling: U.S. vs. Sweden, at Turin, Italy (live)

(TGC) 8 a.m. - golf: European PGA Tour, Malaysian Open, firstround, at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (same-day tape)

(SPEED) 9 a.m. - auto racing:NASCAR, Craftsman Truck Series,practice for GM Flex Fuel 250, at Daytona Beach, Fla.

(SPEED) 11 a.m. - NASCAR, Busch Series, practice for Hershey'sKissables 300, at Daytona Beach, Fla.

(TGC) 11 a.m. - golf: Nationwide Tour and PGA Tour Australasia,Jacob's Creek Open Championship, first round, at Findon, Australia(same-day tape)

(USA) noon - golf: PGA Tour, Nissan Open, first round, at PacificPalisades, Calif.

(TNT) 2 p.m. - NASCAR, Nextel Cup, qualifying races for Daytona500, at Daytona Beach, Fla.

USA) 3 p.m. - Olympics:men's hockey: U.S. vs. Kazakhstan, atTurin, Italy

(3) 4 p.m. - Olympics:cross country: women's 10km gold medalfinal; speed skating: women's team pursuit semifinals; speed skating:men's team pursuit semifinals, at Turin, Italy (same-day tape)

(CNBC) 5 p.m. - Olympics:women's curling: U.S. vs. Sweden, atTurin, Italy (same-day tape)

(SPEED) 6:30 p.m. - NASCAR, Craftsman Truck Series, polequalifying for GM Flex Fuel 250, at Daytona Beach, Fla.

(TGC) 6:30 p.m. - LPGA, SBS Open, first round, at Kahuku, Hawaii

(TNT) 7:30 p.m. - NBA:76ers at Bulls

(3) 8 p.m. - Olympics:figure skating: men's free skate gold medalfinal; snowboarding: men's cross gold medal final; speed skating:women's team pursuit gold medal final; speed skating: men's teampursuit gold medal final; skeleton: women's gold medal final, atTurin, Italy (same-day tape)

(ESPN) 9 p.m. - men's basketball: Georgetown at Marquette

(ESPN2) 10 p.m. - San Diego St. at UNLV

(TNT) 10 p.m. - NBA: Rockets at Suns

(3) 12:35 a.m. - Olympics:medals plaza: award ceremonies, atTurin, Italy (delayed tape)

(3) 2 a.m. - Olympics:prime-time replay, at Turin, Italy (delayedtape)

RADIO

1240-AM WBES 5 p.m. - Sports Talk

580-AM WCHS 6:06 p.m. - Statewide Sportsline

107.3-FM WKAZ 7:05 p.m. - Ron Jirsa Show

580-AM WCHS 7:06 p.m. - John Beilein Show

BROADCASTING: EUROPEAN COURT SLAMS EBU SPORTS TV RIGHT RULES.(Brief Article) - European Report

Four companies operating free-to-air television channels with national coverage (the French channel Metropole television SA, the Spanish companies Antena 3 de Televisi[cent]n, SA and Gestevisi[cent]n Telecinco, SA and the Portuguese company Sociedade Independente de Comunicaca) are challenging the EBU rules. They are particularly concerned about the EBU sub-licensing system for access for third parties (rivals to the EBU members) under the Eurovision system, which is at the centre of the four applications.

--The EBU is a non-profit-making trade association based in Switzerland. It represents radio and television organisations. It has 68 active members in 49 countries located in the European broadcasting area and 50 associate members based in 30 non-Euro-zone countries. At the EBU's inception, in 1950, radio broadcasting services were provided almost exclusively by non-commercial bodies, enjoying a monopoly. When commercial broadcasting companies started appearing in the second half of the 1980s, the EBU allowed the commercial channel Canal+ to become a member. TFI was able to retain its 'active member' status after it was privatised. The organisation makes a distinction between two member categories: active members and associate members. In order to become an active member, a broadcasting body has to have a remit of relevance to the general public. This involves, in particular, providing a broadcasting service on a nation-wide scale and with a national character and offering a broad range of programmes for all sections of the population.--

Eurovision is a television programme exchange system based on the understanding that member radio and television organisations will offer other members their coverage of major news items, reports and sporting and cultural events on their respective national territories when these are likely to be of interest of to each other. It is co-ordinated by a professional association, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), whose active members may participate in the joint acquisition and sharing of television rights to international sporting events, known as 'Eurovision rights'. A sub-licensing system has been established to govern access to the Eurovision system by associate members and non-members.

A 1993 Decision by the Commission granting an exemption from the EU's competition rules applying to companies for access to the rights held by the EBU was annulled by the Court of First Instance on July 11, 1996. Subsequently, on the Commission's request, the EBU adopted new provisions, which were the subject of a second Commission exemption Decision (covering the period to December 31, 2005) on May 12, 2000. These new provisions are designed to make the system less restrictive for third parties. It makes improvements in the area of sub-licences, considered to offer wide opportunities for live and deferred transmission for non-members on reasonable terms. The Commission Decision also paid heed to the fact that the EBU's market has shrunk quite considerably over the last 10 years owing to the arrival of new market operators.

The new Court ruling suggests the sub-licensing system does not guarantee competitors of members of the EBU sufficient access to the transmission rights for sporting events. The Court's assessment of the Eurovision competition system pinpoints two types of restrictions:

- first, the joint acquisition of television rights to sporting events, their sharing and the exchange of signal restricts or even eliminates competition among EBU members which are competitors on both the upstream and downstream markets;

- second, the system gives rise to restrictions on competition for third parties, since those rights are generally sold on an exclusive basis, an 'aggravating' circumstance for non-members which are refused access to them.

The Court stresses that both the rules of the system fail, with a few exceptions, to allow competitors to EBU members to obtain sub-licences for the live broadcast of unused Eurovision rights. In reality, the system allows the transmission of competition roundups only under very restrictive conditions. The Court concludes that the Commission has therefore made a manifest error of assessment in determining that the sub-licensing system could be granted an exemption.

Senator criticises RTE decision not to broadcast Games live on TV - The Irish Times

RTE'S DECISION not to show the Paralympics live has beendescribed as 'bitterly disappointing' by Labour's disabilityspokeswoman Senator Mary Moran.

Ms Moran, who has a child with an intellectual disability, saidshe was 'absolutely shocked' that Saturday's athletics, at whichIreland won two gold medals, was not shown live on RTE. She alsocriticised the scheduling of the highlights programmes which arebeing shown late at night.

'While RTE's live coverage of the Games in London in August, andin particular the attention surrounding Katie Taylor's outstandingboxing performances gave the country a very welcome boost, I amdisappointed that the same cannot be said of the coverage for theParalympic Games,' she said.

'Indeed, coverage of our national performances in the Games overthe weekend, which saw Ireland secure three gold medals in threehours on Saturday, was limited to half an hour's highlights and wastelevised late at night.'

The Senator has written to RTE director general Noel Currancomplaining about the coverage. She has also appealed to RTE torevise its schedule for the rest of the week and show liveParalympic action.

Others have complained too on social media blogs and particularlyRTE Sport's Facebook page.

Though RTE is a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)which secured the rights to show the Games and would have been ableto show them live, it has opted instead to show eight half-hourhighlights programmes.

Comprehensive coverage of the Paralympics live is being shown onSetanta, though it is does not have exclusive access to thecoverage.

Setanta marketing director Brian Quinn said the rights weresecured on a non-exclusive basis and they were showing the Gamesbecause they believed they should be shown live.

'We are showing them on a free-to-air basis because we want asmany fans as possible to see live Irish coverage. In Beijing therewas no live coverage for Irish fans so our 73 live hours plushighlights is a huge step forward.'

A statement from RTE defended its coverage. RTE said in additionto its television coverage it was screening 450 hours live onRTE.ie. The broadcaster pointed out that RTE has 15 people in Londonworking across television, radio and news.

It also said much of the action happens late into the evening andthe production team needs time to turn the programme around.

RTE also said it has been covering the Paralympics since 2000 andits coverage this year is 30 per cent up on Beijing.

Channel 4, which won the exclusive rights to the Paralympicsahead of the BBC, has announced that it is extending its coveragebecause of strong ratings. Some 4.5 million people watched the T44(for amputees) 200m men's final on Sunday night which featured SouthAfrica's Oscar Pistorius who was controversially beaten by Brazil'sAlan Oliveira.