Media

UK commercial television network ITV has commissioned Red Pepper Film Company to produce a new package of sport "stings" to run before all of ITV Sport?s presentations.

The woman running a race against the clock to stage the 2004 Olympics in Athens has dismissed talk that the city could lose the Games and said the Greek capital would lay on a sporting show to rival Sydney's success.

Australian Olympic broadcaster Seven Network has dramatically reduced advertising levels by an average of 25% following viewer complaints and defections to the network?s pay-TV service.

Cable giant Viacom wants to sell off its racing-themed Nascar Thunder retail chain -and if a buyer isn?t found Viacom will close the 12 retail outlets.

Fox Sports has struck a $2.5 billion, six-year deal with Major League Baseball that extends its contract to air regular-season games on the Fox network and its cable channels through 2006 and grants it rights to all playoff and World Series games starting next season.

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), recently snapped up by a trio of high-tech moguls, announced on Tuesday that it has tapped two former top Nike marketing executives to run the 42-year old league.

NASCAR?s new television partners Fox Sports, FX, NBC Sports and TBS Superstation have announced their coverage plans for the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series.

Minardi chairman Gabriele Rumi says he has sold his 70 percent stake in the Italian Formula One team to the Pan American Sports Network International (PSN) cable and satellite company.

The European Union's competition chief Mario Monti has said he was optimistic of reaching agreement with the soccer authorities on a new transfer system which would keep all sides satisfied.

Media Partners, the Italian firm previously behind proposals for a breakaway European soccer superleague, has signed a web development deal for Italy?s mens? and womens? volleyball web sites.

London rugby club NEC Harlequins has launched a new advertising medium based on rugby?s traditional association with beer.

The Extreme Group and UPCtv have signed a distribution agreement with CanalDigitaal for the Extreme Sports Channel.

ESPN Internet Group (EIG) generated record traffic in August.

Alleged infringements of European Union competition rules by Formula One?s commercial body could still take months to resolve according to an EU source.

The official Olympic Games internet site has already attracted 7.2 billion hits, surpassing the original estimate of 6.5 billion with six days of competition still remaining.

BSkyB has added to its line-up of tennis by securing the rights to this year?s Davis Cup final.