Media

Lennox Lewis's long-awaited meeting with Mike Tyson looked less likely than ever on Friday after the Lewis camp ruled out the possibility for the foreseeable future.

XFL founder Vince McMahon says the new football league will not be axed despite tumbling television ratings and the withdrawal of its first advertiser.

Kirch managing director Dieter Hahn has blamed German public broadcaster ARD for the failure to agree terms on World Cup 2002 and 2006 broadcast rights.

An alternative Formula One series backed by major carmakers is unlikely to happen, world motor sport chief Max Mosley was quoted as saying on Friday.

Shares in Britain's bookmakers have fallen after an outbreak of foot and mouth disease threatened the Cheltenham Festival, one of the racing calendar's biggest events.

Sports retailer and event sponsor Vans Inc. has signed a three-year sponsorship programming deal with NBC Sports under which NBC will broadcast skateboarding championships and other events.

Dynamo Tbilisi have been cleared by world soccer's governing body FIFA to resume their business activities after paying more than $240,000 in outstanding debts.

Asian sports broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) has acquired the exclusive terrestrial, cable and satellite television broadcast rights of the English Premier League for the next three seasons beginning August 2001.

Carmaker Honda has become the first sponsor to pull its ads from the XFL, citing concerns over extreme content, cheerleaders and falling TV ratings.

Germany's main state television channels ARD and ZDF said they had pulled out of talks with media group Kirch over the broadcasting rights for the next two soccer World Cups.

The deal signed between Spanish soccer club Real Madrid and pay-TV group Sogecable has the potential to reduce the club?s huge financial debts, according to analysts.

The head of Renault Sport says it is out of the question for Formula One racing to be broadcast on pay-television channels.

Shares in German media company EM.TV & Merchandising fell over 12 percent on Wednesday after news its rescue deal by rival Kirch might not be approved by the International Automobile Federation (FIA).

Cable company NTL is to become title sponsor of Ref!Link, the device that allows international rugby fans in the stadium to hear a live link of what the referee is saying during a match.

ESPN.com remains the leader of sports internet producers, according to January Media Metrix figures.

Spanish pay-TV firm Sogecable has signed a 3.25 billion-peseta ($17.80 m) deal to market soccer club Real Madrid's image, gaining access to its internet, merchandising and franchising business.