Media

US satellite TV platform DirecTV will be allowed to air the WWF ‘Unforgiven’ pay-per-view event this Sunday despite contract renewal talks between the two parties for regular delivery of the content remaining unresolved.

German media giant and sports rights owner, the KirchGruppe has begun to initiate a corporate reshuffle within its pay-TV arm, axing Manfred Puffer the chief executive officer of its struggling domestic digital television platform Premiere World.

YankeeNets LLC, the soon to be launched regional TV network for the New York Yankees, has hired the experienced John Fillippelli as head of production.

The European Commission is seeking further assurances on the proposed merger of RTL Group, Vivendi Universal and Group Jean-Claude Darmon (Darmon, pictured) after concerns the move will stifle competition.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) will try to secure a record TV rights deal with its incumbent broadcast partners, NBC and Turner, when it opens renewal talks at a league meeting on Saturday.

Sports media group TEAMtalk has signed a deal with UK cellphone network One 2 One to provide an SMS football service for selected customers.

Octagon UK and ocean racing company Clipper Ventures have signed a commercial agreement for Clipper Ventures’ around-the-world yacht race for elite, solo sailors known as “Around Alone”.

Insurance brand Norwich Union has renewed its title sponsorship of domestic athletics events in the UK in a new deal worth £20million ($29.29m/B

Multipole International has picked up the contract to market the television rights in the US and Latin America for this year’s Italian Cup.

UK satellite network Sky Sports has attracted 170,000 subscribers to its season ticket proposition within the first week of sales as well as securing a lucrative title sponsor.

Sports.com, the internet and mobile data reported a record 6.8 million visitors and 455 million audited page views in July making the most visited digital sports channel in Europe.

SportsLine.com has received a boost after its network of sites ranked number one in unique visitors in the Media Metrix sports rankings for August.

Public relations giant Edelman has launched a new sport sponsorship consultancy in Europe.

UK digital terrestrial channel ITV Sport has signed a two-year deal to cover the rugby union club competition the Heineken Cup for an undisclosed sum.

Australian broadcaster the Nine Network has unveiled the planned schedule for its newly acquired coverage of the Australian Football League (AFL) after winning the rights from main rival the Seven Network earlier this year.

Sportsworld Media Group has been appointed to handle pooled sponsorship for the UK’s 12 leading racecourses.