Media

Britain's commercial television companies have said they are to launch the country's sixth terrestrial television channel, ITV2, on December 7 with the declared aim of capturing younger viewers.

The spirit of co-operation between Europe's leading soccer clubs and UEFA was tested on Tuesday when they began discussing the financial aspects of an expanded Champions' League.

FIFA concerns have 1999 Pan American Games organisers scrambling to save their soccer tournament in next summer's multi-sport extravaganza.

The West Indies' first official test tour of South Africa has been hit by a row over the players' payments.

Petersen Cos. and General Electric Co.'s NBC Sports have said they had formed a joint venture, Gravity Games, a series of new sports competitions, lifestyle and music events.

Former South African wicketkeeper Dave Richardson said on Saturday that he had found a sponsor for the West Indies cricket team, providing their stalled tour of South Africa went ahead.

The ATP Tour has said it was "unconcerned" by talk of rival tours after a Germany weekly magazine said Boris Becker was working on plans to launch a breakaway tennis circuit from 2000.

Fomula One racing promoter Bernie Ecclestone plans to push ahead with a $2.0 billion Eurobond issue sale this week.

British motor racing giant Formula One said it rejected allegations made by a BBC-TV documentary that it made misleading statements regarding the status of a European Commission competition investigation.

Europe's leading 14 clubs have accepted UEFA's proposals for a 32-team European Champions' League.

Manchester United chief executive Martin Edwards has said the club's board are still backing the BSkyB bid for the club despite being urged to re-consider by hundreds of fans.

Australian sports ministers have rejected a plan to ban children under 14 from competitive boxing, arguing such a ban would be impossible to enforce and was also unnecessary.

Broadcasters who use their new digital channels to sell subscription services, such as pay-per-view sports events, will have to hand over 5% of their gross revenues to the U.S. Treasury, the FCC ruled Thursday.

On the eve of a pivotal bargaining session, NBA commissioner David Stern, speaking on ESPN's "Up Close," said cancellation of the entire season is a very real possibility.

Ted Turner's TNT and TBS stations are suffering plunging ratings, and an acute shortage of young male viewers, thanks to the lockout that has removed an average of three NBA games each week from their schedules.

Britain's United News & Media Plc has denied a report that it was on the verge of striking a 100 million pound ($166 million) deal to buy a major stake in top English soccer club Arsenal.