Champions League rights sold for $900 million to ESPN

ESPN-STAR Sports has won the exclusive Global Commercial Rights to telecast the Twenty20 Champions League matches for 10 years starting from the event's inaugural edition scheduled to be held from December 3-10.
The channel bagged the rights for USD 900 million, making the League highest value cricket tournament on a per game basis. On their way to secure the commercial right, ESPN STAR Sports left behind Abu Dhabi Sports Club and DIC.

The status of Twenty20 cricket as the sport's most lucrative avatar has been confirmed with commercial rights to the Champions League being sold to broadcasters ESPN-Star Sports (ESS). This makes the Champions League, promoted by the national boards of India, Australia and South Africa, the highest valued cricket tournament on a per-game basis.

The deal marks ESS's entry into the specialized Twenty20 market; it had lost out on the bid for the Indian Premier League after what seemed like a miscalculation on its part. The IPL rights were eventually sold to a consortium, including Sony Entertainment Television and the Singapore-based World Sports Group, for more than $1 billion. It had seemed like an outrageous price to pay at the time; now, after the overwhelming success of the inaugural IPL, it seems a steal.

ESS are the ICC's television rights holder until 2015 - they acquired the rights in 2006 for $1.1 billion over nine years - but the postponement of the Champions Trophy, originally due to start in Pakistan tomorrow, left them facing a long spell without a major series.

Before the showdown at Moscow - Man U fires

From manchester:
Striker Wayne Rooney has urged Cristiano Ronaldo to stay and continue their prolific partnership at Manchester United.

Premier League player of the year Ronaldo has again been linked with a move to long-term suitors Real Madrid after telling Spanish television this week that he might consider his future at United.

Rooney wants the 23-year-old Portugal winger to remain with the Premier League champions. The two players have scored 59 goals between them this season.

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has turned up the heat ahead of the Champions League final by accusing Chelsea's Didier Drogba of play-acting.

And while Vidic expressed his respect for Drogba's abilities, the centre-back warned that Wednesday's referee will need to pay close attention to his antics.

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has also taken a swipe at Chelsea striker Didier Drogba's temperament ahead of the Champions League final

It was unusually candid comment from the softly spoken Rooney as he broke off from preparations for his first European final. He'll have to hope the dig doesn't backfire in Moscow on Wednesday.

Drogba reacted angrily when accused of being a continual diver by Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez before the semifinal match with Chelsea.

Drogba scored the winning goal in last season's FA Cup final against Man United, and Rooney is afraid Chelsea might be hard to break down if it scores early.

Champion's league last 16 prediction

AC Milan vs Arsenal - AC Milan
Inter Milan vs Liverpool - Liverpool
Real Madrid vs AS Roma - Real Madrid
Manchester United vs Lyon - Manchester United
Barcelona vs. Celtic - Celtic
Chelsea vs. Olympiakos - Chelsea
Schalke vs. FC Porto - sorry no idea
Fenerbahce vs. Sevilla - Sevilla