CANAL+ extends live coverage.

Benfield Sports International (BSI) has agreed a contract with CANAL+ Cyfrowy, the owner of Pay TV CANAL+ Polska, to extend their exclusive live television rights contract for both the Speedway Grand Prix Series and the Speedway World Cup, until 2007.

The agreement replaces the existing contract that was due to expire in 2004 and guarantees world championship Speedway on Polish television for the next five years.

As part of the contract, CANAL+ Polska will also be the host broadcaster at three SGP events - two Polish Grands Prix and one in the Czech Republic - for the duration of the agreement and will act as Host Broadcaster for two Speedway World Cup competitions.

"This deal is testimony to how far we have developed the SGP product in just three years," said John Postlethwaite, Chief Executive, of BSI. "To have a new deal and live coverage of our SWC competition for the first time in Poland is extremely exciting. The television sports market is going through a very difficult time but it is great that we have renewed this contract.

"CANAL+ Polska is one of our most supportive broadcasters of the SGP Series and their proven track record in quality sports programming ensures the SGP Series will continue to go from strength to strength in Poland," continued Postlewaite. "It's a very important market to both World Championship events and this deal will allow continued investment into the SGP Series and SWC team event."

"The FIM Speedway Grand Prix Series is one of the most popular sporting events in Poland and is a fantastic spectacle for our viewers," added Jacek Okienczyc, Head of Sports Department, CANAL+. "This new deal underlines our commitment to world championship speedway and we're looking forward to the continuing development of the SGP Series and the SWC as a television event."