Media

Tom.com, the media and advertising company controlled by Hong Kong businessman Li Ka-Shing, has won the broadcast and advertising rights to China?s national basketball league, adding to its portfolio of Chinese volleyball, table tennis, rowing and college soccer rights.

Cash-strapped Future Network, the UK-based publisher of the official Manchester United magazine, said it was in talks `with a number of parties? about selling the company.

Podia Group plc, the UK AIM-listed sports marketing company formerly known as e-comsport, has launched an online interactive game with Italian soccer giants Juventus.

Cash-strapped German media group EM.TV is poised to sell its 37.5 percent stake in Formula One in a move that could help resolve a long running battle over the future of the sport.

UK broadcaster ITV will officially launch its new digital channel ITV Sport today following a substantial investment in coverage of the English Premiership and European soccer competitions.

European sports website Sports.com has expanded its relationship with Oddset, the online sports betting arm of Deutsche Lotto and Toto Block.
Online Gambling: The Regulation of Global Sports Betting: A new report from SportBusiness Group: Click here

UK media group Granada has strengthened its hand within the ITV network by completing the acquisition of Border Television from Capital Radio for #50.5million (?57.45) in cash.

Trans World International (TWI) has signed a deal with the Kenyan Cricket Association (KCA) to develop television, new media and sponsorship rights.

US television network, The Golf Channel expects to cross the 40 million subscriber mark during the fourth quarter of this year.

Media group Kirch has won its ongoing rights battle with German public broadcaster ARD after a Munich state court rejected the latter?s bid for the right to air footage of Bundesliga soccer games before they appeared on rights holder Kirch?s Sat.1.

Television distributor Venevision International has been chosen by satellite broadcaster DirecTV to sub-license the rights to the 2002 soccer World Cup in a number of Latin American nations.

MLB Advanced Media, Sun Microsystems and iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions, have formed a technology and marketing partnership they hope will grow MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball.

US television ratings for the exhibition matchplay golf tournament dubbed the `Battle of Bighorn? were disappointing for host broadcaster ABC.

Dedicated US horse and greyhound racing broadcaster The Racing Network (TRN) has shut down after two years due to a lack of sufficient subscribers to remain financially viable.

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

KirchMedia has reported a ?successful fiscal year 2000? with the integration of ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, annual sales of DM6,508million ($2,912m/?3,326m) and the expansion of its sports-rights trading activities.