MUMBAI: Uefa has invited tenders for the TV rights for the European Football Championship (Euro) 2008.

In India ESPN Star Sports had aired Euro 2004 a few months ago. The tender for Euro 2008 was published today 18 October. Broadcasters, agencies and representative bodies experienced in the distribution of such rights can request the invitation to tender documents directly from Uefa through e-mail on [email protected] or fax.

Euro 2004 dominated European prime time in June and early July with 50 to 90 per cent market shares across major television markets for live match coverage. The UK, Germany and Italy all produced audiences in excess of 20 million for live matches.

There was also significant interest from the Far East. Live audiences in Japan reached over seven million for the early kick-offs, despite the fact they were screened at 1am in the land of the rising sun.

Euro 2008 will be held jointly in Austria and Switzerland.