Media

Continental Europe is waking up to the commercial benefits to be gained from new stadia builds said a panel of industry experts on the second day of industry conference SportBusiness 2001.

Top German soccer club Bayern Munich are seeking an equity partner in order to finance an #80m ($124m) transfer spending spree, vice president Karl Heinz Rummenigge revealed at SportBusiness 2001 in London.

ISL has lost its exclusive contract to market the commercial rights to Euro 2004 because it still owes UEFA #10m ($16m) from Euro 2000, UEFA spokesman Mike Lee revealed at SportBusiness 2001.

Leading car makers are serious in their threats to set up their own breakaway Formula One series, according to Jaguar team boss Bobby Rahal.

UK commercial network ITV has slammed International Rugby Board chairman Vernon Pugh over his claims it is still interested in securing the rights for the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup.

The future for Quokka Sports and its flagship joint-venture with NBC, NBCOlympics.com, now looks doomed as the company prepares to file for bankruptcy protection, according to online media reports.

The subscription-for-services model could be the surprise leader in growing internet revenues across digital media over the next five years, according to Alexander Brown, president/COO of Virtual Spectator.

Quokka Sports , which set out to revolutionise sports media by carrying events across the internet, shut off its last featured coverage on Wednesday, a series of mountain climbing dispatches from Tibet.

The Champions League faces a major overhaul because of concern over falling viewing figures.

Brand management will become increasingly important against the twin threats of recession and media clutter according to a panel of leading industry figures speaking during the first day?s final session at SportBusiness 2001.

UK commercial television company ITV is still interested in securing television rights for the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup despite claims that the broadcaster has pulled out of the bidding according to the International Rugby Board.

The BBC has warned sporting bodies that they threaten the future of their respective sports by increasingly favouring pay-TV companies over free-to-air broadcasters when securing television rights deals.

In a bid to counter the match-fixing scandals that have besmirched international cricket over the past year, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has drawn up strict new contracts for all players and personnel linked to county cricket clubs in the UK.

Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) has forecast total revenues of approximately $75 - $78 million for the year 2001 and a pre-tax profit for the year expected to be approximately 32 per cent of total revenues.

Broadcast technology innovator InMotion Technologies decided to change its name to Dartfish.

F2 Broadcast Network has signed an endorsement deal with PGA Tour member Brian Gay.