Media

Global spending on sponsorship of sports websites has reached $453 million according to a new report published jointly by SportBusiness Information Resources and Sponsorship Research International (SRi)

A mystery bombing campaign means Colombia could lose South America's biggest soccer tournament and deal a blow to President Andres Pastrana's attempts to show progress in his quest for peace.

Advertising for some major sporting events such as Formula One could go up in smoke after the European Union (EU) unveiled new draft legislation for a Europe-wide ban on tobacco advertising.

The future of European basketball?s premier club competition is in disarray following the chaos caused by the recent rejection of reunification proposals between rival organisers ULEB and FIBA.

Viewing figures for the NBA play-offs are continuing to slide with the four games broadcast over the Memorial Day weekend averaging only a 6.3 television rating, down 16 per cent on the previous year.

Sir Rodney Walker, chairman of the UK Rugby Football League confirmed to sportbusiness.com that last year?s World Cup did not make anywhere near the #4m ($5.7m) profit he had anticipated. But he denied reports that the tournament made a loss of #500,000 ($712,000).

Thai soccer fans are concerned about the possible failure of talks over rights to broadcast the English Premier League's 2001-2002 season after free-to-air TV broadcasters and cable TV operator United Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) all rejected an expensive license fee.

Watch manufacturer Rolex has agreed to be a sponsor at golf?s next two Ryder Cups within Europe and of the 2003 European team when the matches are played in the United States.

US broadcaster ABC?s TV audience for last Sunday?s instalment of the Indianapolis 500 was up 18 per cent on the previous year?s rain-delayed race, scoring a 5.3 rating with a 14 per cent market share.

Sports network ESPN is to sell advertising packages covering a variety of media platforms for eight of its major sports events broadcast next season.

Leading IOC member Jacques Rogge is poised to take over the most powerful job in world sport as IOC president in July, according to the results of a new survey.

Cablevision and Multicanal have been ordered to transmit Sunday?s soccer international between Argentina and Columbia live on open television or lose their licenses.

FIFA says it will confirm within the coming weeks if it will recruit a new marketing agency to help sell sponsorship for the 2002 World Cup, following the collapse of the ISMM Group.

Television scheduling for coverage of Brazil?s domestic soccer leagues has been thrown into chaos following the national government?s announcement that no matches in certain regions of the country could be played after 6pm due to an electricity shortage crisis.

Sportsworld Media, the London-based sports marketing group, has said it would like to recruit some Asian clients from bankrupt marketing group ISL Worldwide.

Michael Smith, chief executive of DirecTV parent company Hughes Electronics, has announced his immediate retirement after 16 years at the company. Smith?s decision removes a significant obstacle from Rupert Murdoch?s path in his quest to merge DirecTV with his own News Corporation, creating the first global satellite broadcasting network. The departing Hughes chief executive had publicly voiced his opposition to the proposed merger stating that Murdoch?s bid had been ?unimpressive?.