Media

Commercial UK broadcast network ITV says it intends to dramatically increase viewing figures for Premier League soccer highlights.

George Graham's position as Tottenham Hotspur manager is secure "for the time being", according to the club's new owners, as reports link Glenn Hoddle with a return to White Hart Lane.

The Japanese motorsport venue the Suzuka Circuit has announced plans to modernise the current facilities, create better safety features on the track and improve the services offered to the spectators.

The North American Broadcasters Association (NABA) announced that veteran Canadian broadcaster Michael McEwen has been appointed as their new Secretary-General.

Sportal, the interactive sports media company, has secured new funding to sustain the business until it becomes profitable.

International sports agency Prisma will meet with UK free-to-air broadcasters ITV and the BBC next month in an effort to break the deadlock over negotiations for the UK rights to the 2002 World Cup.

Insurance group, The St. Paul Companies will sponsor the PGA Tour?s 2001 West Coast Swing events.

Pay-per-view television company U>direct, which earlier this year covered England?s World Cup qualifying match away against Finland, is understood to be bidding for the re-structured pay-per-view rights to England?s Premier League.

A new website that matches potential sponsors with rights holders has recorded more than 15,000 hits in its first two weeks of trading.

Athens 2004 Olympics organisers (ATHOC) formalised an agreement on Wednesday with International Sports Broadcasting (ISB).

Lachlan Murdoch has completed a coup by securing the Australian Football pay-TV rights for Foxtel, to sit alongside those for rugby league.

Sports media technology company, Sportvision Inc, has announced the closing of a financing round that totals $25.5million.

Greece will build four press villages to accommodate journalists covering the Athens 2004 Olympics, organisers said on Tuesday.

Digital satellite television service provider DirecTV Inc. said on Tuesday it bought the Latin American broadcast rights to the World Cup soccer competition in 2002 and 2006 in a deal valued at $400 million.

The Australian Football League (AFL) has confirmed that the proposal by a consortium consisting of News Limited, Channels 9 and 10 and Foxtel for the broadcast rights for AFL football from 2002 had been accepted.

Britain's biggest cable group NTL has re-entered the battle for Premier League pay-per-view soccer coverage rights only months after pulling out of a 328 million pound ($480 million) cash deal, the Times reported on Wednesday.