Media
BERTELSMANN/VIVENDI SPORT RIGHTS DEAL CLOSE – PAPER
German media group Bertelsmann expects to conclude an accord with Vivendi Universal on sports broadcasting rights "very soon", Bertelsmann chief Thomas Middelhoff has told Le Monde newspaper.
UK REPORT CALLS FOR UNVIERSAL SPORT ROLE
The Culture, Media and Sport select committee report into the staging of international sporting events has called for the Sports Minister to be given increased powers in the new Government.
IOC CANDIDATE VOWS TO REINSTATE BID CITY VISITS
South Korean Kim Un-yong has pledged to allow International Olympic Committee (IOC) members to visit cities bidding for the Games if he wins the race for world sport's most powerful job.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES ORGANISERS CRITICISED
The organisers of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester have come under fire for failing to promote the event enough.
INTER MILAN ALLEGE UNFAIR TREATMENT IN PASSPORTS PROBE
Inter Milan have claimed they have been victimised over their alleged role in a false passports scandal after learning they will be the first club to be hauled before the Italian league.
SEVEN NETWORK UNVEILS ARCHIVE WEAPON IN AFL WARS
Australian broadcaster Seven Network aims to undermine its rival Nine Network?s coverage of Australian Football League in 2002 by making use of its extensive archive of AFL matches.
F1 TO STAY FREE-TO-AIR, SAYS MOSLEY
Motorsport boss Max Mosley has vowed that Formula One will remain available on free-to-air television.
ESSEX BUSINESSMAN PLANS ?NEW AGE? HORSERACING DEVELOPMENT
A new state-of-the-art racecourse has been planed for a 165-acre site at Great Leighs, north of Chelmsford in the UK.
OCTAGON DENIES ISL REPORT ? VIVENDI KEEP TIGHT-LIPPED
Octagon has denied making a bid for troubled Swiss marketing firm ISL.
WWF SIGNS ASIAN BROADCAST DEALS
The World Wrestling Federation has signed three new distribution agreements in Asia as part of its strategy to expand programming within the region.
DEAL GOES SUPERSONIC AFTER $200m SALE AGREED
The Ackerley Group has completed the divestiture of the Seattle SuperSonics NBA franchise for $200 million.
LARA BANNED FROM USING CRICKET BAT
The ICC has banned star cricket player Brian Lara from using a new bat carrying the logo of an internet betting company.
BRITISH EUROSPORT EXTENDS MOTO GP COVERAGE
British Eurosport will cover all 16 legs of the 2001 MOTO GP season live on the cable channel, including 500cc, 250cc and 125cc races.
ABC SUFFERS NHL RATINGS DROP
With the NHL play-offs little more than a week away, ABC has reported lower than hoped for ratings for the three of five broadcasts scheduled for the 2000-2001 season to date.
IT?S ALL HONEY AT SPORTVISION
Sports media technology company Sportvision is to appoint co-founder Stan Honey as president, in addition to his existing position as chief technology officer.
LADBROKES SIGN DEAL WITH RECRUITMENT FIRM
Online betting and gaming company Ladbrokes eGaming Ltd has stepped up its Far East recruitment campaign by signing an exclusive representative deal with Asia's leading independent sports marketing agency, Total Sports Asia Ltd.
RUGBY PARTNERS MBNA AND CPLG FOR VISA LAUNCH
The Rugby Football Union (RFU), MBNA Europe Bank Limited (MBNA) and global licensing agency Copyright Promotions Licensing Group (CPLG) have launched the official England Rugby Visa Card.
BILL GATES AND MICROSOFT SPONSOR MANCHESTER GAMES
Bill Gates and Microsoft are throwing their financial support behind next year's Commonwealth Games in Manchester, signing up as an official sponsor and technology supplier.