MUMBAI: The 1980s ushered in a new definition of innovation, drive and decadence that shook and shocked the world. To capture the spirit of this provocative decade, National Geographic Channels International has commissioned Twofour to produce ?The 80s Greatest?.

The four-part series will air in spring 2013 as part of a special global programming event dedicated to the decade that gave rise to the birth of now. Game-changing in the way it wove a common global narrative within a rapidly modernising world, the 1980s encapsulate some of the best, most iconic ? and sometimes grievous ? moments in history.

In four fascinating hours, ?The 80s Greatest? explores Sporting Icons, Gadgets, Football Moments and Tragedies ? from young athletes like Diego Maradona and Mike Tyson who skyrocketed to international superstardom to the Chernobyl nuclear explosion, which dominated international headlines.

NGCI executive VP, head of international content Hamish Mykura said, "Few decades hold the same wonder and nostalgia as the 1980s, and together with Twofour, National Geographic Channel is reacquainting viewers with riveting moments across sports, technology and current affairs. These aren?t memories locked away in time; they are the iconic figures, events and innovations that defined a generation, left nations cheering ? or the entire world holding its breath ? and still resonate today,"

Twofour head of factual entertainment and executive producer of the series Juliet Rice said, "We are delighted to be working with NGCI on The 80s Greatest. It is a chance to revel in an extraordinary decade that brought us everything from the first cell phone to the first ?Hand of God?. Expect glorious insight and nostalgia."

MUMBAI: IMG, the global sports, fashion and media company, has entered into an exclusive three-year media rights deal with the Russian Football Premier League (RFPL)until 2015.

IMG will market and distribute the league outside Russia and has already secured contracts with more than 20 broadcasters including NHK in Japan, ESPN in Brazil and Polsat in Poland.

The new agreement will see IMG selling the rights for live and highlights coverage of all 240 League games and also includes internet streaming, mobile phones, DVD and in-flight and in-ship.

IMG is currently in discussions with a number of other broadcasters around the world and anticipates further deals being concluded in the coming months.

IMG Media Senior Vice President Michael Mellor said, "We are delighted to be working alongside the Russian Football Premier League and are working closely with them to both develop the profile of the clubs and players and the reach of the league.

"The increasing investment of the Russian clubs in top world talent has seen the quality of football and competition rise and the league is now rated the seventh best by Uefa. We are sure this will continue and enable IMG to utilise our worldwide international sales team in sixty offices in thirty countries around the world to grow exposure of the RFPL over the next three years."

Founded in 2001, the RFPL, which is run by the 16 clubs in the league, succeeded the Russian Top League which had been run by the Professional Football League of Russia. The current champions are Zenit St Petersburg. The 2012/13 season will be the first run from autumn to spring like most of the other European leagues, the season having previously started in March.