Media

German media company Kirch has taken full and sole control of HBS, the host broadcasting company for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

French and German media giants Vivendi Universal and Bertelsmann are understood to have agreed a deal with Swiss marketing company ISL whereby they jointly acquire the financially crippled firm for the nominal sum of one Swiss franc.

Head of Sky Sports Vic Wakeling says Kirch overpaid for the European rights to the 2002 soccer World Cup and revealed that Sky will not bid for them.

French media firm Vivendi chief Jean-Marie Messier has spoken for the first time about acquiring Swiss sports marketing firm ISMM ? parent company of ISL.

Non-League Media, the creators of TeamTalk and On The Ball soccer magazines in the UK, said pre-tax losses for the six months to December 31, 2000 widened to #800,000 ($1.2 million) from #425,000 ($611,800) for the same period last year.

Troubled Swiss marketing firm ISL refuses to confirm or deny it has secured an eleventh hour rescue deal with media giants Vivendi Universal and Bertelsman.

Motor racing's governing body, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), has confirmed a 100-year agreement for the commercial rights to Formula One with the SLEC holding company.

Eurosport is embroiled in a rights-row with the United States Tennis Association and its exclusive marketing agency SFX.

Craigie Taylor International (CTI), the public relations, sponsorship and consultancy company, has appointed Fred Scarlett, one of the members of the gold medal- winning British rowing team at the Sydney Olympics. Scarlett?s job role will include identifying and matching potential new clients and sponsors.

World soccer's governing body will lose 30 million to 40m Swiss francs ($17.4m to $23m) if ISL, the company with marketing rights to the World Cup, goes bankrupt, a top official said Tuesday.

UK based bookmakers Ladbroke saw its profits rise by 30 per cent for the three months to March 31, compared with the equivalent period last year.

Granada and Carlton Communications, the media companies which run the UK?s ITV network and the digital television company ONdigital, are on the brink of unveiling one of the biggest changes in commercial television history, according to a report in The Independent newspaper.

European high tech firms WIGE MIC and Swiss Timing will be the official timers at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia.

A leading sports industry advisor has told SportBusiness 2001 delegates that the sports sector success story is set to continue - despite the drop-off in advertising spend and threat of recession.

Gobarkingmad, the greyhound racing service owned by UK-based online betting and leisure group Gaming Internet, has signed an agreement with Australia?s Sky Channel ahead of its UK interactive digital television launch in June.

The European Union's executive Commission has cleared new UEFA broadcasting rules allowing national soccer associations to block televised live soccer matches during key weekend fixture periods.