News
Microsoft aims at couch potatoes with TV software launch
US software powerhouse Microsoft Corp takes aim at the couch potato market this week with the high-stakes launch of its top interactive TV product on a Portuguese cable network.
African soccer champions in $5m sponsorship deal
African soccer champions Hearts Of Oak have signed a $5m, four-year sponsorship deal with sporting goods manufacturer L-Sporto, according to the club’s official web site.
Jaguar threatens McLaren with legal action
Ford’s Jaguar Racing subsidiary has threatened legal action against Formula One designer Adrian Newey and his current employer, rival F1 team McLaren International.
JJB sports reports increased profits
UK sports retailer JJB Sports has reported a seven per cent rise in like-for-like sales in the first 18 weeks of the current year.
Advertisers flock to Nascar TV coverage
US broadcasters, Turner Network Television (TNT) and NBC have sold 11 of the title sponsorship entitlements for their joint coverage of the 20 NASCAR Winston Cup races.
Losses widen but turnover rises at Telewest
The cost of servicing a debt of £4.5 billion ($6.3 billion) helped Telewest Communications, the UK’s second largest cable company after NTL, report a widening of losses to £209m ($294.4m) from £137m ($193m) for the three months to March 31.
World Cup will ‘bring stability to Asia’
Chung Mong Joon, vice-president of soccer’s world governing body FIFA and co-chairman of Korea’s 2002 World Cup organising committee, said he thinks that the tournament, which it will co-host with Japan, will help bring political stability and prosperity to Asia.
FIFA VP urges Blatter to come clean on ISL
Chung Mong Joon, South Korean vice-president of soccer’s world governing body FIFA has urged its president Sepp Blatter to reveal all he knows about the financial collapse of its marketing agent ISL-ISMM.
Restructuring leads to AHL expansion
The feeding ground for US ice hockey’s National Hockey League (NHL) has been revamped after it was announced that the American Hockey League (AHL) is expanding its structure to include eight new teams in time for next season.
Ravens discuss PSInet naming rights deal
The NFL’s Baltimore Ravens have begun discussions with PSINet Inc in relation to the US internet access provider’s 20-year, $104 million naming rights deal.
Colombian president fights for Copa America
The Colombian president Andres Pastrana is today meeting with the South American soccer confederation Conmebol to try to ensure his country remains host of Latin America’s premier international soccer competition the Copa America.
Fox sports world to carry Lions tour
The British and Irish Lions Tour of Australia will make its U.S. television network debut on Fox Sports World beginning with the June 8 match against Western Australia.
Web media launches Megasoccer search engine
FAST Web Media, the creators of the EPLSoccer.com search engine, have launched a new site – Megasoccer.com - a soccer search engine with video news, features and data containing information on 45 countries, from over 80 leagues and over 1000 teams.
Copa to go ahead in Colombia despite bombings
Colombia will host next month's Copa America as planned despite a recent spate of bombings there, according to South American Football Confederation (CSF) officials.
FIFA signs up tech sponsor
Soccer’s world governing body FIFA has signed a six-year sponsorship deal with information technology company Avaya, believed to be worth £14 million ($19.61 million), reports the Wall Street Journal.
Special report: Nigerian minister invites marketing bids for 2003 All-Africa games
A Nigerian government delegation, led by Minister for Sport and President of Africa’s Supreme Council in Sports, Ishaya Mark Aku, is meeting this week with international agencies to invite bids for the commercial exploitation of the 2003 All-Africa Games.
Heitzler named CART chairman
Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) president and chief executive officer Joseph F. Heitzler has been named chairman of the board of directors for the open-wheel racing sanctioning organisation.
$342m project for Hornets rejected
A $342 million sports and cultural project, which would have bought a new downtown arena for US basketball team Charlotte Hornets, has been rejected by voters in Charlotte, North Carolina’s largest city.
Soccer sponsors ‘not making the most of the internet’
A string of companies who are either suppliers of soccer equipment or soccer sponsors, are failing to refer to their link with the game on their web sites, according to research carried out by FAST Web Media, the company behind fapremier.com.
Australia on foot and mouth alert
Australian quarantine officials said on Wednesday they were on full alert for the arrival of thousands of British and Irish rugby union fans who could carry foot-and-mouth disease into Australia.