Media

The British government has dismissed a report that England might team up with Germany in a bid to host soccer's 2006 World Cup rather than press its own case.

KVP Venture, a $250 million venture capital fund founded by Australian media tycoon Kerry Packer and two Indian partners, has decided to invest in four Indian startup companies focused on the internet and software, the fund has announced ? and a sporting venture is set to be among the first to benefit.

D.C United has attracted an offer from US cable company Discovery Communications to become a major sponsor of the MLS club in a one-year $150,000 (#95,000) deal, reports the soccer industry newsletter, the Soccer Investor Weekly Bulletin.

Internet bookmakers William Hill can expect a $10m pay-out if Tiger Woods wins this year's golfing Grand Slam and have slashed the odds about that happening from an opening quote of 250/1 to 33/1.

The chairman of soccer?s richest club ? English and European champions Manchester United ? has delayed his retirement so that he can be involved in the next round of bidding for the Premier League broadcasting rights.

The UK?s Channel 4 is set to join forces with cable giant NTL in a bid to win the rights to broadcast live England soccer internationals.

Media magnate, Rupert Murdoch, has been named the most powerful person in the world of sport, according to a ranking published in The Guardian newspaper.

Fox Sports Net (FSN) has bought the over-the-air television rights to MLB?s Texas Rangers and NHL?s Dallas Stars in a 10-year, $250 million deal, which could be extended for another five years, according to The Dallas Morning News newspaper.

Southern Company, the international energy company, is to launch a year-long national TV ad campaign, composed of four new 15-second commercials centering around the company's role as the Official Energy Company of the PGA TOUR.

Liberty Media Corporation has successfully completed its cash tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Ascent Entertainment Group, Inc.

A US company is mounting a challenge to a consortium made up of Channel 4, the BBC and cable firm NTL, for the Internet rights to British horseracing.

Last year?s rugby union World Cup made a #47m surplus ? an increases of nearly #30million on the tournament in South Africa in 1995, The Observer newspaper reported ahead of this week?s publication of the tournament accounts.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has slammed suggestions he was preparing to relax his grip on Grand Prix racing, saying he would have to be carried out in a coffin before he left the sport.

Orad?s IMadGINE virtual advertising system and CyberSport will be used during the Canadian Football League broadcasts over The Sports Network (TSN), Canada?s most watched sports network.

German media firm, Kinowelt, is seeking to broadcast football league games live in cinemas from August.

When tenders for the new Premier League broadcast deals are tabled on April 3rd, UK clubs will be in an even stronger position to secure funds from finance houses against the value of those rights.