New Zealand

The beleaguered organisers of the Rugby World Cup have criticised ITV's coverage of the event as a "disgrace" according to a report in the UK?s Guardian newspaper.

England's cricket sponsor, Cornhill Insurance, is considering ending its involvement because of the team's poor performances.

Pressure is building for Air New Zealand to spend millions of dollars to fly the All Blacks to the rugby union World Cup in their own black jet, the company said on Sunday.

The Bank of New Zealand has withdrawn as sponsor for New Zealand's international men's cricket series, effective from the 1999/2000 southern hemisphere summer, the bank said recently.

ESPN International and the National Football League (NFL) have agreed to extend their existing worldwide distribution agreement through the 2002 season.

Soccer Australia has appointed the current chairman of Melbourne Water, Graeme Bowker, as an independent director to its board.

Promoters of next year's New Zealand Open confirmed yesterday that entry prices would be the highest ever for a golf tournament in the country.

New Zealand sport fans are set for interactive action after Sky TV signed a deal with Holotype New Media to introduce the first such service in the country.
Sport and Interactive TV: A new report from SportBusiness Group: Click here

A pre-game promotion designed to entertain a capacity crowd of more than 92,000 at a rugby union international in Sydney on Saturday has been scrapped because of complaints it insulted New Zealand and Maori culture.

Sportsworld Media Group, the London-based sports marketing group, has finalised its $3m (?3.4m) acquisition of Uplink Sport, New Zealand?s largest independent producer of sports programmes.

Australia?s second largest pay-TV provider Austar United Communications has seen its operating losses widen in its latest set of financial results.
Pay Per View Sport in Europe: A new report from SportBusiness Group: Click here

New Zealand-based venture capital firm IT Capital (ITC) has updated investors on the fortunes of its investment portfolio, which includes the sports broadcast enhancement company, Virtual Spectator.

Attheraces, the new name for the Go Racing consortium backed by Arena Leisure, BSkyB and Carlton Communications, has appointed three additional members of the senior management team to supplement last month?s recruitment of marketing director Gavin Bisdee.

The England and Wales Cricket Board is monitoring unrest in Zimbabwe which could threaten England's tour of the country.

The sacked president of Sri Lanka's cricket board was granted bail on Monday as police sought his arrest over fraud allegations that have plagued the game in the country.

Average New Zealanders are willing to pay up to 500 New Zealand dollars (US$205) to see Tiger Woods, a survey has shown, but millionaire pro golfers insist it's too much money.