Media
Directv in talks for WWF pay-per-view renewal
US satellite television platform DirecTV has announced that it is currently in negotiations to renew its pay-per-view distribution agreement with the World Wrestling Federation Entertainment (WWFE).
Online Football pools site launched
A new online soccer gaming site, TotoPools.com, has launched in the UK to coincide with the new soccer season
ESPN to offer Asian version of sports news show
US sports broadcaster ESPN is launching an Asian version of its flagship news show SportsCenter on its network in the region, ESPN Star Sports (ESS).
Former MLB players create baseball legends site
Ever wanted information on former baseball players? A new web site aims to keeep fans informed.
UKbetting signs deal with Sportal
ukbetting, the online bookmaker that made its debut on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) last week, has signed a deal with troubled sports internet company Sportal for an undisclosed sum.
ECB internet broadcasting rights up for grabs
CricInfo.com, the digital cricket information company, has told sportbusiness.com that it has as big a chance of renewing its internet broadcasting rights to English cricket despite competing bids from the BBC and Channel 4.
Video networks in video-on-demand deal with FA
UK broadband TV company Video Networks has become the exclusive video-on-demand partner for England’s Premier League soccer league.
NTL and Telewest in debt talks
Britain's leading cable companies NTL and Telewest Communications Plc have held debt restructuring talks with international banking group JP Morgan Chase, according to the UK's Sunday Business newspaper.
Arsenal to charge for web highlights
London soccer club Arsenal has become the first club to charge visitors to its website to view highlights of its matches.
Polish satellite platforms confirm merger
Canal Plus, the pay-TV unit of media giant Vivendi Universal and Dutch cable network United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) have confirmed that a merger of their Polish satellite television platforms has taken place.
Betting operators must pay more to get match data
Betting operations will have to pay a percentage of their revenues to the UK’s Football Data Company, the commercial and licensing division of England’s Premier League and Football Leagues, for the privilege of offering soccer bets, sportbusiness.com has learned.
Global slowdown puts brakes on F1 sponsorship
In recent years, the meteoric rise of technology, telecom and media (TMT) shares on the world's stock markets has changed the face of Formula One sponsorship. The recent downfall in the sector is now hurting the sport as it struggles keep sponsors.
Brazilian Pay-TV subscribers rise by 3%
Figures released by national industry organisation Asociacion Brasilena de Telecomunicaciones por Suscripcion (ABTA) have shown that the number of pay-TV subscribers in Brazil rose by 3 percent in this year’s first quarter.
Discover card expands ESPN College Football backing
Financial services brand Discover Card has expanded its marketing tie-up with broadcaster ESPN for coverage of US college football.
Mitsubishi to supply HDTV coverage for US open
Digital electronics firm Mitsubishi is to provide host broadcaster CBS with high definition television (HDTV) coverage for the upcoming US Open tennis tournament for the third year running.
Fox sports world Espanol signs up Mexican baseball
US broadcaster Fox Sports World Espanol will broadcast coverage of the Mexican Baseball League for the remainder of 2001 and the whole of the 2002 season.
Columbian soccer goals up for sale
Columbia’s major soccer division – Division Mayor del Futbol Colombiano – has slapped a fee on media use of goal images scored during matches in local tournament Torneo Copa Mustang for which it owns the broadcasting rights.
Update: Betting operators must pay more to get match data
Ladbrokes, the UK’s largest bookmaker, has objected to moves from Football Data Company, the commercial and licensing division of England’s Premier League and Football Leagues, to introduce a fee of 2.5-4.75 percent of annual soccer-related turnover to all bookmakers.