Media

Demands by leading European soccer clubs that their games should take priority over international friendlies are completely unacceptable, UEFA General Secretary Gerhard Aigner has said.

SOCOG staff were not incompetent, despite making ticketing errors that cost the Games $76 million in revenue, organisers said yesterday.

Prima Television International has been appointed exclusive international media rights representative for the Lincoln Financial Group Rugby League World Cup 2000.

The 2000 NBA All-Star Game, taking place in the San Francisco Bay Area, February 11- 13, will be shown in 205 countries, with a potential audience of 750million households.

USA Networks Inc. and the NBA have announced a broad multi-year alliance under which USA Networks will deliver media and electronic-commerce services for the sports league.

A consortium of the BBC, Channel 4 and NTL-subsidiary Premium TV have confirmed they have struck a provisional agreement on a $320m rights deal with Britain?s 12 leading racecourses to take televised horse racing in the UK into the digital age.

John Ridgeon has been promoted to Director of Athletics at Fast Track, the UK sports agency set up by Alan Pascoe following the sale of his API operation to the Interpublic advertising group.

Greg Dyke, the new director-general of the BBC, is set to bring the BBC's sports operation under a single leader.

Trakus, Inc., a leader in Digital Sports Information (DSI) technology , has named Gary Jacobus, senior vice president of IMG, as company President and Mike Golub, the former director of Nike Sports Entertainment, as vice-president of marketing and sports development.

While European soccer continues to enjoy massive popularity racism remains a cloud over the sport in some territories. The issue may, primarily, be a social concern but there may be long-term commercial implications for the corporations who pour millions into the sport in sponsorship.

365 Corporation, the UK-based internet content and telephone service provider, has acquired Datanet Holdings in a cash-and-paper deal worth #31m, reports the Financial Times.

Channel 4 is set to announce a deal of approximatley #122m with the UK?s top 12 racecourses for broadcasting rights over the next seven years.

SportsLine.com has appointed Joe Ferreira to the position of Vice President, Programming.

AirTV, the company which plans to launch a live in-flight TV and Internet service by 2002, has appointed Media Content Sports Media Advisors to advise on its sports programming strategy and to manage the acquisition of live sports content.

Orad?s virtual advertising systems will be used during the 2000 Winter Goodwill Games. to be held February 17-20 in Lake Placid, NY.

Yahoo! Sports has launched an enhanced site, emphasising more integrated audio and video broadcast streaming, expanded international and local event coverage, as well as sports shopping and auctions e-commerce capabilities.