Toronto-based Internet broadcaster JumpTV will pay US$4.95 million for U.K.-based Cycling.tv — which provides both subscription-based and free ad-supported content — under a deal announced Thursday, less than a month after JumpTV bought a Florida-based broadband sports property for US$60.25 million.

Cycling.tv‘s largest audience watches from North America and Western Europe. In June, the company reported viewers in 139 countries with about 18,000 paying subscribers. The average user views for 43 minutes.

Cycling.tv holds long-term Internet broadcast rights to international cycling races including Vuelta a España (one of the three European ‘Grand Tour’ races), Paris Roubaix, Tour de Suisse, Criterium Dauphine du Libere and the Amstel Gold Race.

In 2007, Cycling.tv will broadcast all of the major cycling races worldwide live other than the Tour de France — which it will cover in three-minute highlight segments and behind-the-scenes reports.

From Media in Canada