Events

The Italian government is to give police new powers to combat soccer hooliganism at and other sporting events, the Interior Ministry said.

Sportscard Group, the UK credit card company listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) has signed a partnership with hotel and health and fitness club company De Vere Group to market a rewards-based credit card to the De Vere Group?s health club brands.

ESPN-owners Walt Disney Co took a 26 percent hit in fiscal third-quarter pro forma profit as the entertainment company marked lower TV ad sales and theme-park attendance, and absorbed a $95million (?107m) charge for job-cutting costs.

Intrade, the betting exchange for trading on major sporting events modelled on financial exchanges, has told sportbusiness.com how the system will work when it opens for trading tomorrow.
Online Gambling: The Regulation of Global Sports Betting: A new report from SportBusiness Group: Click here

The delay of the WBA heavyweight title fight between John Ruiz and Evander Holyfield was a "blessing in disguise" for Chinese organisers facing heavy losses on the event, promoter Don King said.

NTL, the UK?s largest cable operator which will broadcast Premiership pay-per-view soccer next season, reported a 26 percent increase in digital television customers for the second quarter ending June 30.
Pay Per View Sport in Europe: A new report from SportBusiness Group: Click here

The European Commission has given further details of its concerns over UEFA?s marketing of television rights for the UEFA Cup and Champions League.

English Premier League football club, Everton has appointed its first direct marketing agency, Huet & Company, with the aim of boosting the club?s fan database by over 140,000 names.

Former Marquee Group chief Robert Gutkowski?s Nasdaq-listed marketing agency, Magnum Sports & Entertainment, Inc has formed a strategic joint venture with sports industry veteran Frank Vuono?s 16W Marketing LLC, to create marketing strategies focused on fashion and modelling opportunities to the world's top athletes.

A report out tomorrow from US broker SG Cowen is expected to say that a much anticipated merger between EchoStar Communications and DirecTV would not break antitrust laws.

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) has agreed a new five-year sponsorship deal with Ansett Australia, the country's second-largest airline.

French media giants Vivendi Universal withdrew its bid for the ISMM/ISL sports rights and marketing company, forcing the Swiss company into bankruptcy, because it would require too much investment, a spokesman said.

Goal celebration antics cost Malaysia's self-styled soccer 'Superman' 2,000 ringgit ($526) after a sponsor complained his display hid its company logo during a TV broadcast, local newspapers reported on Friday.

The Professional Bowlers Association has signed a three-year broadcasting agreement with ESPN, giving the bowling tour its first consistent television presence since its contract with ABC Sports ended in 1997.

Africa?s hopes of hosting the World Cup in 2010 were put on hold after the continent became the victim of a second soccer stadium tragedy in less than a month.

Virtual imaging company Orad has won a sports Emmy for its role in NBC?s coverage of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.