Media
DIRECTV LOSS AIDS MURDOCH MERGER BID
Michael Smith, chief executive of DirecTV parent company Hughes Electronics, has announced his immediate retirement after 16 years at the company. Smith?s decision removes a significant obstacle from Rupert Murdoch?s path in his quest to merge DirecTV with his own News Corporation, creating the first global satellite broadcasting network. The departing Hughes chief executive had publicly voiced his opposition to the proposed merger stating that Murdoch?s bid had been ?unimpressive?.
FOX CHOOSE TELEGLOBE TO SCREEEN NFL EUROPE
Teleglobe Broadcast Services have been selected by News Corps units Fox Digital and Fox Sports to provide digital video transmission of National Football League Europe games to North American viewers on Fox Sports, Fox Sports Net and DirectTV.
CHANNEL 4 SIGNS FRENCH HORSERACING DEAL
Channel 4 Television has signed a one-year deal for UK terrestrial rights to French horseracing.
LACK OF MAJOR SPORT BLAMED FOR SLUMP IN AD REVENUES
A lack of major sporting events in 2001 compared with last year could be contributing to a fall in advertising revenues for commercial radio and television companies, according to a report.
BREAKING NEWS: NEW DEAL TO REVOLUTIONISE WORLD SQUASH
The world of squash is set to be revolutionised by the launch of a strategic partnership between the Professional Squash Association, and the international marketing and sports rights company, Eye Group in tandem with its investment arm Fablon Investments Ltd.
JUVE SIGN NEW SHIRT SPONSORSHIP
Italian Serie A soccer club Juventus has signed a new shirt sponsorship deal with the country?s broadband ISP FastNet for next season, replacing broadcaster Telepiu, whose deal was worth #5.5m ($7.79m) a year.
CHANNEL 4 IN LE MANS TV AND INTERNET DEAL
UK terrestrial broadcaster Channel 4 has continued its move towards mainstream sports by signing a TV and internet video rights deal for the Le Mans 24-hour motor race.
ARENA LEISURE TO RAISE #85m
Racecourse and media group Arena Leisure Plc is raising #85m ($121m) in equity to help pay for its share of the multimedia rights to British horse racing won with the Go Racing consortium.
BRITISH HORSERACING BOARD ATTACKS RACECOURSE ASSOCIATION
The British Horseracing Board (BHB) yesterday said it was dissatisfied with negotiations currently going on between the Go-Racing consortium and the country?s 59 racecourses about gaining media rights to broadcast horseracing matches for the next 10 years.
RAMADAN EXPLAINS AS QUOKKA FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY
Nasdaq-listed Quokka Sports, the company at the forefront of developments in online sports content, has filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States in preparation for an asset fire-sale.
SKY-HIGH DEAL AS ESPN EXPANDS SATELLITE NETWORK
PanAmSat has expanded its deal with ESPN to include nine PanAmSat satellites for worldwide programme distribution services.
ITV TO CREATE SUBSCRIPTION-ONLY SPORTS CHANNEL
Granada and Carlton Communications, the media companies which run the UK?s ITV network and the digital television company ONdigital, are on the brink of unveiling one of the biggest changes in commercial television history, according to a report in The Independent newspaper.
SPORTBUSINESS 2001:SPORTS BRAND VALUES TO RIDE OUT ECONOMIC SLOW DOWN
Brand management will become increasingly important against the twin threats of recession and media clutter according to a panel of leading industry figures speaking during the first day?s final session at SportBusiness 2001.
AMERISUITES SIGNS NEW THREE-YEAR RACING DEAL
AmeriSuites has signed a new three-year sponsorship of American Spirit Racing's (ASR) team in the BF Goodrich Trans-Am Series.
SYMAH SIGNS TECHNOLOGY DEAL WITH THE BBC
The BBC has signed a deal with virtual technology firm Symah Vision to use its Epsis Graphics system, following a successful trial period.
?FEEL GOOD FACTOR? DRIVES ENGLISH CRICKET, SAYS ECB
The current ?feel good factor? in English cricket had created several lucrative commercial deals for the England and Wales Cricket Board, its chief executive, Tim Lamb said today.
OCTAGON DENIES ISL REPORT ? VIVENDI KEEP TIGHT-LIPPED
Octagon has denied making a bid for troubled Swiss marketing firm ISL.
MEMPHIS NBA BID ALREADY IN TROUBLE
The delay in holding a public referendum in Memphis on whether to finance an NBA-worthy arena could kill the city's chances of getting a team, officials have warned.