Japan
Events

The worldwide television audience for the World Rally Championship (WRC) has increased 44 per cent in the three years to 2005.
Media

Media Action Sports (MAS), the sports marketing & television agency and part of the SMT group, has secured international distribution rights for Bolton Wanderers programming.
Events

Daum Communications Corp. has signed an exclusive new media broadcast agreement for the FIFA World Cup covering the territory of South Korea.
Business

The president of Formula One champions Renault expects smaller sponsors to fill the void created by the withdrawal of cigarette brand title sponsor, Mild Seven, at the end of the year.
Sponsorship & Marketing

World Rally Championship (WRC) and BP-Ford World Rally have formed a joint partnership with cleaning technology company KC$rcherfor the 2006 season.

iSe-Hospitality AG, which has exclusive rights to sell all hospitality for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, says demand from the UK has prompted a surge in sales.
Events

Auditing and consulting firm Ernst & Young (Switzerland) will serve as independent external auditors to monitor ticketing for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Business

Japan Airlines will be the main sponsor of basketball's FIBA World Championship 2006.
Business

A new Pacific Five Nations rugby tournament involving teams from tier two unions Fiji, Japan, Samoa, and Tonga plus a NZ representative side will kick off in June 2006.
Events

Veteran motor sports specialist Mullin Production Group (MPG) has been appointed as the television production partner to The Champ Car World Series for the 2006 season.
Sponsorship & Marketing

Yokohama Tire Corporation will enter its 18th season with The Champ Car Atlantic Championship as the exclusive tyre supplier and presenting sponsor for the Atlantic series in 2006.
Business

The International Rugby Board (IRB) insists no revote for the host of the 2011 Rugby World Cup will take place.
Business

The De Beers diamond company is reportedly on the brink of a new sponsorship deal with the Ferrari Formula One team that would see it replace Vodafone in 2007.
Media

New media firm Entriq was hired by FIFA for its online coverage of the FIFA Club World Championship.
Business

SEIKO Corporation will continue its sponsorship agreement with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) for a further four years.

Many of the world's leading stars will compete in the inaugural World Baseball Classic, World Baseball Classic Inc. announced yesterday.
Business

iSe International Sports and Entertainment AG has agreed a deal with UK public broadcaster the BBC for coverage of the FIFA Club World Championship TOYOTA Cup Japan 2005 and 2006.
Business

Editorial director Kevin Roberts reviews issues from the past seven days.