Events
XFL ? CRITICS MOCK, VIEWERS TUNE IN
The XFL, pro-football presented the way World Wrestling Federation founder Vince McMahon thinks it should be, scored big in the ratings but drew sniggers from critics for its debut NBC broadcast. For the full story see the FEATURES section of sportbusiness.com.
OCTAGON MOVES INTO CHESS WORLD WITH RIGHTS DEAL
Octagon Marketing has won the exclusive rights to capitalise on the commercial potential of chess worldwide over the next three years.
CBS RAKES IN ?OLD MONEY? FOR SUPER BOWL
CBS will earn more than $360 million from its advertising spots during its television broadcast of the Super Bowl. The US National Football League finals match will be held on 28 January 2001, and the list of advertisers will be notable for the absence of most of the dotcom companies which advertised in 2000, many of which crashed in the April 2000 "tech-wreck" stock price crash.
RIVERSHARKS IN THE SOUP WITH NAMING RIGHTS DEAL
Campbell Soup Company has secured the naming rights for the new home of minor league baseball team the Camden Riversharks.
ATHENS GAMES SUBURB FINANCE BOOST
The Commercial Bank of Greece has said it has reached a preliminary agreement with the Athens suburb hosting much of the 2004 Olympic Games to finance up to 1.5 billion euros in real estate development.
CANAL PLUS SELLS EUROSPORT STAKE TO LAUNCH RIVAL CHANNEL
Canal Plus, the pay-TV subsidiary of newly formed French media giant Vivendi Universal (VU) is to sell its 49.5% stake in European sport channel Eurosport to launch a rival sports channel.
U>DIRECT JOINS FOOTBALL BIDDING WAR
Pay-per-view television company U>direct, which earlier this year covered England?s World Cup qualifying match away against Finland, is understood to be bidding for the re-structured pay-per-view rights to England?s Premier League.
REAL SOCIEDAD PRESIDENT AND BOARD TO QUIT
Real Sociedad president Luis Uranga and his board of directors have decided to resign because of the club's poor performance over the last two seasons.
EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EXPANDS TO RUSSIA
Extreme Sports Channel, the adventure and adrenaline sports service, is to broadcast in Russia.
IOC NEW MEDIA CONFERENCE: POST-EVENT PRESS CONFERENCE
The International Olympic Committee added another condition for the next round of broadcast bidders looking to deliver the Olympic Games after 2008, but the requirement to take account of the importance of the internet and new media in their bids will have many reaching for their crystal balls.
PACE REPORTS ON US DIGITAL TELEVISION SURVEY
Pace Micro Technology have reported findings from The Pace Report 2001, a survey of U.S. adults and their views toward digital television.
WWF WEB SITE BOOSTS XFL.COM
World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Inc is hoping the success of its WWF.com site will be replicated by XFL.com.
TENNIS FANS VIEW ONLINE KAMERA
Internet TV company Kamera is to broadcast the ATP Scania Stockholm Open online next week.
BLATTER CONFIDENT OF SOLUTION TO WORLD CUP TICKET ROW
FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said he was confident the Japanese government and organisers of the 2002 World Cup will find a solution to tax problems that may have delayed the start of ticket sales.
TIGER WOODS CRITICAL OF USPGA
The world?s best golfer has branded the golfing authorities a?monopoly? in their business dealings, and feels that the US Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem only contacts him when he wanted to use Tiger?s huge influence with broadcasters.
SQUASH SIGNS $10m SPONSORSHIP DEAL
The Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA) has entered into an eight-year deal with Fablon Investments which is worth more than $10m to the women's game.
NFL TO AWARD SUPERBOWLS NEXT WEEK
The National Football League will award the 2004 through 2006 Super Bowls at league meetings next week in Atlanta.
ONLINE AUCTION HOUSE SET FOR WEMBLEY SELL-OFF
European online auction house QXL.com has scheduled its sale of Wembley Stadium memorabilia for October 30.