Media

The English Rugby Football Union said it expected profits and cash reserves to double by 2007-2008, as it outlined an eight-year strategic plan to increase investment in the game.

The Nasdaq Stock Market has signed on as the North American presenting sponsor for the Sanex WTA Tour.

NASCAR plans to increase its international television distribution as part of its consolidated international and domestic television package.

Sales of tickets for the Malysian Grand Prix have, so far, disappointed race organisers with the price of a ticket likely to be reviewed by the country?s sports minister if sales do not pick up.

i-Cable, Hong Kong?s dominant cable operator, expect its subscribers to grow from 520,000 to 548,000 by the end of 2001 on the back of its acquisition of World Cup 2002 and the recently secured English FA Cup soccer.

ABC Sports has gone inhouse for Don Ohlmeyer's replacement as producer of ``Monday Night Football,'' tapping Fred Gaudelli, producer of ``Sunday Night Football'' on ABC's sister network ESPN.

Debt-ridden English third division side Hull City's football league future now looks more secure after Leeds United commercial director Adam Pearson resigned his position to take over as chairman and chief executive of the club.

Digital audio company, Radio First, has entered into a five-year agreement with British Sky Broadcasting to broadcast, regionally, Radio First?s network of football club-related digital radio stations on Sky digital.

Fanball.com, the fantasy sports media company, has signed agreements with several radio stations across the USA to provide its ?Million Dollar Bracket Madness? game to the stations' listeners.

Talks between Canal Plus and RTL over the merging of the two companies? sports rights units are ?ardently, to be concluded as soon as possible,? according to Canal Plus CEO Pierrre Lescure.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has guaranteed that key matches during World Cup 2002 will be available to free-to-air viewers, including the opening game, the semi-finals, the final and all matches involving national teams.

South Korea plans this week to discuss cultural and sports exchanges with North Korea - including sharing of some 2002 World Cup soccer matches.

Athoc 2004, the organising body for the Athens Olympics, is setting up an online management information system to cover more than 130 games-related projects being launched this year.

IOC delegates have heaped praise on Toronto's plans to stage the 2008 Olympics, saying they were impressed with the city's athlete-oriented focus and dismissed detractors who sought to cast a pall on Toronto's squeaky-clean reputation.

XFL owner Vince McMahon has insisted his league will survive long term even though uncertainty over its viability has caused WWF stock to plummet 35 percent since its February 3 debut.

Two of Europe?s broadcast giants are in talks to merge their sports operations, according to paytvtoday.com.