Media

Australian broadcaster the Seven Network Ltd has said its pay-TV unit C7 is to take a stake in digital broadband services provider Access1 Ltd as part of a content alliance.

UK all-sport radio station talkSPORT says it is being `robbed? of ratings after a survey revealed many listeners mistook its broadcasts for that of its rival the BBC.

Bookmakers have opposed the British government's decision to sell the state-owned Tote betting business to the racing industry on grounds it would be a virtual monopoly.

The first dedicated worldwide football betting Internet service has been launched.

The Internet could provide $1 billion in new revenue for Europe's top football clubs within the next 10 years, according to a UEFA newsletter.

European soccer's showcase club competition, the Champions League, should be shorter, according to Bayern Munich commercial manager Uli Hoeness.

Artificial turf can be used for official international matches outside the finals of FIFA competitions, world soccer's governing body has said.

While European soccer continues to enjoy massive popularity racism remains a cloud over the sport in some territories. The issue may, primarily, be a social concern but there may be long-term commercial implications for the corporations who pour millions into the sport in sponsorship.

The judge investigating allegations of match-fixing and betting against Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram and two other leading players has said he expected to submit his report next week.

The beleaguered organisers of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games have suffered a second blow in two days when the official broadcaster suspended its advertising contract.

Five media companies are thought to be interested in buying a stake in leading Scottish Premier League Celtic, according to a report in The Guardian newspaper.

The New York State Athletic Commission adopted this week reforms bringing boxing promoters, judges and sanctioning bodies under greater scrutiny in response to the controversial Holyfield-Lewis draw decision last March.

Broadcom Corporation, an enabler of broadband communications to homes and businesses, and Gotcha International, the surfwear and media company, have launched Broadband Interactive Group Inc. (BIG) to create interactive content aimed at the 10-24 year-old age group.

S-Comm and French media research company API have signed a license agreement to sell the Spindex TV and press monitoring service in the French market.

A UK betting shop chain, Firststake, is planning a stock market flotation in order to raise funds for a UK-based internet betting venture, according to the UK's Sunday Business newspaper.

Lloyds TSB will support an appeal by the British Olympic Association's (BOA) to raise 4m to support the Great Britain team at the Sydney 2000 Games and Paralympics, according to a Financial Times registered source.