Events

The European Commission is today expected to approve the DM2.9bn tie-up between UK and German pay-TV groups, BSkyB and Premiere World, reports The Financial Times.

Rotational signage company ANC Sports Enterprises has launched a new division to broaden its business.

ESPN Star Sports has secured an exclusive cable and satellite deal with the ATP Tour for the new Tennis Masters Series, previously known as the Mercedes Super 9 Series and the Tennis Masters Cup for the 2000 though 2002 seasons.

Christopher Stokes, formerly of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has joined Sportcal.com as Marketing Director.

CSS Stellar, the largest British owned event marketing group, have acquired the rights of the first ATP Tour Seniors event to be staged in Ireland.

Organisers of the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics have slashed another $14million from its budget.

Thousands of people who bought tickets for next year's Sydney Olympics will be offered refunds following the International Olympic Committee's decision to change the athletics timetable.

An on-going dispute between the English soccer Premier League and two former executives of broadcasters BSkyB has taken a new twist after a writ was issued against the 20 Premiership clubs which cost the League millions of dollars.

Fox Sports Net and Southwest Sports Group, the Dallas-based sports and entertainment company controlled by Tom Hicks, have entered into a comprehensive long-term broadcast partnership agreement that will keep the Stanley Cup champion Dallas Stars and American League West Division Champion Texas Rangers on Fox Sports Net Southwest and add the Mesquite Championship Rodeo to the network's programming line-up.

Sydney Olympic organisers have conjured up an extra half-million tickets to the 2000 Games to defuse a public outcry over a ticketing policy that has left the Australian public scrambling for seats.

NBC Quokka Ventures, has announced that Randy Falco, the president of NBC Television Network and chief operating officer of NBC's Olympic broadcast group, has joined its board of directors.

The World Cup of Golf will become the fourth World Golf Championship next year with a change in format, it has been announced.

Soccer's international governing body FIFA has unveiled a trio of computer-animated fantasy mascots for the next World Cup in what it said was a move to reflect the high-tech reputation of co-hosts Korea and Japan.

EMC Corporation, a global provider of enterprise storage systems, software and services, has signed with the International Federation of PGA Tours to become the title sponsor of golf's World Cup and an umbrella sponsor of the World Golf Championships.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will visit Ghana and Nigeria early next month for a final look at stadium and television facilities for the African Nations Cup finals. The CAF inspection team's visit comes after concern was raised by several television broadcasters last month over the state of preparations for filming the 16-team finals, which start on January 22.

The owner of the New Jersey Devils has tentatively agreed to sell the NHL team to the joint venture holding company of the New York Yankees and New Jersey Nets, The Star-Ledger of Newark has reported.