Rugby gets broadcasting boost

Fox Sports, Supersport and Sky Network Television have agreed to pay $437 million for Tri-Nations and Super 15 broadcast rights through to 2015, writes BusinessWeek.

The sport sees a 35% increase in broadcasting revenue, replacing the five-year agreement between News Corporation and Supersport.

“We believe rugby is in good health and that its appeal remains strong,” says Steve Tew, CEO of the New Zealand Rugby Union and Sanzar. “This agreement underlines that and helps secure the new competitions and deliver them.”

Virginia governor Bob McDonnell's proposal to phase out state funding for public broadcasting is being opposed in the state House of Delegates, reports Stateline.

The opposition comes in as legislators call public programming an important educational tool. The Republican-led House of Delegates voted 52 to 43 to keep $1.6 million in state funding over the next two years.

Advocates for public television say it is important for the state to provide funding as commercial broadcasters are cutting back their services with the recession.

CenturyTel says it will buy Qwest Communications International in a stock swap worth $10.6 billion, says Forbes.

The purchase gives CenturyTel access to about 18 million phone lines serving customers in 37 states.

US landlines are currently shrinking by 10% per year as customers rely on wireless phones or services from cable companies. Neither Qwest nor CenturyTel own wireless networks which can compensate for the loss of landlines.