Media

The Walt Disney Co.'s ABC and ESPN units have confirmed that Tiger Woods will appear in several special events for the two television networks over the next five years, in a widely expected deal.

Dallas cut the ribbon on Friday on a new $420 million (?480m) downtown arena for the NBA Mavericks and NHL Stars, packed with luxuries and high technology that made it the nation's most expensive hockey and basketball facility.
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The UK?s betting operators are joining forces to launch a #2m ($2.9m/?3.3m) press and PR campaign and `Axe the Tax? poster in time for the scrapping of the nine percent betting duty on October 6.
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NTL, the UK?s largest cable company which will broadcast Premiership pay-per-view soccer next season, is to axe 5,000 jobs over the next two years in a bid to meet its ambitious growth forecasts.
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In the wake of the recent test case ruling involving the Independent Television Commission (ITC), 2002 World Cup TV rights holders the Kirch Gruppe could decide not to part with the rights, meaning UK viewers would be unable to watch the tournament to be held in Japan and South Korea.

Satellite channel British Eurosport has secured the live television rights to the US Open tennis tournament held at Flushing Meadow in a new four-year deal.

The British Olympic Association (BOA) has denied that it is on the verge of making a bid for London to host the Olympic Games in 2012, sportbusiness.com has learned.

Pan-European broadcaster Eurosport has hired Dr Patrick Cotting from financial institution Credit Suisse to take up the post of director of strategic alliances.

UK terrestrial broadcaster Channel 4 has told sportbusiness.com that it will not renew its contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) when the current deal expires at the end of the year due to increasing difficulties with editing the violent content.

UK online gambling company Sportingbet.com has acquired SportsBook, a major US-focused internet sports bookmaker, for $51million (?58m).
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Sports network Sportev has launched the world?s first online interactive boxing video channel just a few weeks after signing an exclusive agreement with boxing promoter Frank Warren.

Boxing promoter Don King said British boxer Lennox Lewis has signed a contract with him to challenge WBC and IBF world heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman to a rematch.

The popularity of spread betting was verified today after UK-based soccer group Zetters launched IFX Financial, a financial spread betting service.

Turner Network Television (TNT) has recorded the second highest NASCAR television ratings in basic cable history with its coverage of the New England 300 race.

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.
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Chrysalis-based sports network Rivals.net is sponsoring British satellite channel Sky One?s soccer drama `Dream Team? from September until April 2002 in a deal worth #500,000 ($715,000/?813,000).