NFL strikes IMG deal to sell international TV rights

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The National Football League said on Monday it has signed up IMG Worldwide, the sports and media company, as the agent to license select television rights in certain international markets.

The three-year deal is effective immediately through to the 201l/12 season in certain countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean. IMG will also license the international distribution of NFL Network and NFL Sunday Ticket in each of those regions except for Europe.

The NFL will continue to manage TV rights in the rest of Europe.

Like other U.S. sports leagues, the NFL has made a push to make the league more popular outside the U.S. In May NFL commissioner said the league may add a second game in Europe to future regular-season schedules.

According to the NFL, its games and programs were shown by 134 broadcasters in 231 countries in 34 different languages in 2008.

(Reporting by Yinka Adegoke)