Hong Kong

Asian broadcaster ESPN Star Sports and HK pay-TV operator Cable TV have reached an agreement for non-exclusive distribution of ESPN and Star Sports channels in Hong Kong.

Tom.com, the media and advertising company controlled by Hong Kong businessman Li Ka-Shing, has won the broadcast and advertising rights to China?s national basketball league, adding to its portfolio of Chinese volleyball, table tennis, rowing and college soccer rights.

English soccer club Manchester United is on the brink of taking legal action against a Hong Kong restaurant that is using the club?s name without a licence.

Police have arrested 40 people for illegal soccer bookmaking after extensive raids across Hong Kong in the run up to the Champions League final this week.

The World Wrestling Federation has secured new television agreements in Europe, Asia and Australia, increasing the number of countries broadcasting WWF programming to 150.

The world of squash is set to be revolutionised by the launch of a strategic partnership between the Professional Squash Association, and the international marketing and sports rights company, Eye Group in tandem with its investment arm Fablon Investments Ltd.

A new form of cricket aimed at making the sport more accessible to sports fans has been launched by the Professional Cricketers? Association (PCA) in London.

TVB, the free-to-air Hong Kong-based broadcaster, has gained the rights to the UEFA Cup and the European Super Cup for the next three years.

The World Wrestling Federation has signed three new distribution agreements in Asia as part of its strategy to expand programming within the region.

Hong Kong, weary of trying to crack down on illegal football betting, is instead thinking of legalising soccer wagers to head off crime and reap millions of dollars in tax revenue. For the full story see the FEATURES section of sportbusiness.com.

The Badminton Association of Indonesia has denied that it is bidding to host the 2002 Thomas and Uber Cups, pointing to its own financial straits and the current uncertainty in Indonesia.

Asian Internet firm chinadotcom is to cut more than 400 staff by June and sell non-core operations.

The London-based Quintus Group has concluded the acquisition of Bailey Carr Ltd, adding to the company?s recent acquisition of RHB Ventures USA .

Australia's horse racing industry was in mourning on Wednesday after leading trainer Peter Hayes was killed in a light plane crash.

i-Cable, Hong Kong?s dominant cable operator, expect its subscribers to grow from 520,000 to 548,000 by the end of 2001 on the back of its acquisition of World Cup 2002 and the recently secured English FA Cup soccer.

Hutchison 3G Italia , holder of an Italian third-generation mobile phone service licence, says it has acquired exclusive rights to transmit highlights of five Italian soccer clubs' games.