Media
FRENCH FOOTBALL CHANGES COMMERCIAL STATUS
The French parliament have adopted a draft law governing professional sports clubs that allows clubs to take on a new status as limited companies and to sell shares.
EXCLUSIVE – WORLD’S FIRST 24-HOUR SOCCER CHANNEL SET FOR AUTUMN LAUNCH
The world's first 24-hour soccer TV channel is to be launched this autumn.
BBC RETAINS WIMBLEDON TV RIGHTS
Britain's BBC has beaten off stiff competition to retain the complete television and radio rights to the Wimbledon tennis Championships for the next five years, it said today.
PHILIPPINES RELAUNCHES JAI-ALAI AFTER 13 YEARS
A popular Philippine spectator sport was relaunched recently, 13 years after it was banned following a game-fixing scandal, and hundreds of punters joined the action.
BBC APPOINT SPORTS-MINDED D-G
Greg Dyke, the former Head of Sport with commercial network ITV and a current director of Manchester United has been appointed director-general of the BBC, the most powerful job in British broadcasting.
COCA-COLA SUPPORTS SPECIAL OLYMPICS
The Special Olympics World Games, to be held form June 26-July 4 in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and Cary, North Carolina, will host a diverse sponsorship programme from the event's platinum sponsors Coca-Cola.
POLISH SOCCER FACES ELECTION AS STEP TO CLEAN-UP
At the demand of FIFA, Poland's scandal-ridden soccer federation holds presidential elections on Monday which will determine if the country's football industry is rebuilt or sinks deeper into isolation.
NEW DEADLINE IN FRENCH SOCCER RIGHTS BATTLE
The future of French soccer TV rights will be decided on July 9.
CGU INSURANCE INVESTS IN THE FUTURE OF BRITISH ATHLETICS
Insurance giants CGU has signed a major #10 million ($16 million) sponsorship deal with UK Athletics.
BSKYB TO LOSE RUGBY RIGHTS IN 2002.
The Rugby Football Union is unlikely to renew its UK television contract with BSkyB according to UK press reports.
CHESS MAKES MATE WITH IOC
The world governing body of chess is celebrating after it was officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee.
F1 BROADCAST ROW BARS QUALIFYING COVERAGE
British commercial network ITV found itself barred from broadcasting live coverage of qualifying for the French Grand Prix after a contract row.
PEACE DEAL IN SOCCER TV RIGHTS BIDDING WAR
A broadcaster battle for French soccer TV rights has been called off after the two bidders reached a compromise deal.
FILA DEAL WITH ATP TOUR
Italian sportswear company FILA has signed a $12 million three year deal as technical sponsor/official supplier for the ATP Tour Super Nine series and world championship.
PLANELL NAMED NEW VP AT GLOBECAST
Terry Planell has been appointed senior vice-president, sales of GlobeCast America, a unit of France Telecom.
SPORTSLINE ACQUIRE INFOSIS
Internet sports media firm SportsLine Europe Ltd has acquired Infosis Group Ltd's sports division in a deal worth #1.5million ($2.6m).
ECCLESTONE BLOW AS EU STARTS PROCEEDINGS AGAINST FIA
The European Commission says it has started formal proceedings against FIA, the governing body of world motor sport, and Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One on suspicion that they breached EU competition rules.
HBO TO END 25 YEAR WIMBLEDON ASSOCIATION
HBO, the Time Warner owned cable network, will not renew its contract with Wimbledon - thereby ending a 25 year association.