Sponsorship & Marketing

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) has agreed a new five-year sponsorship deal with Ansett Australia, the country's second-largest airline.

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.

Formula One team Williams F1 has formed a partnership with marketing company World Sports Solutions to help develop a long-term strategy for its merchandising and licensing programme.

The International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) will be only marginally affected by the financial collapse of the sports agency ISL, spokesman Giorgio Reineri said on Friday.

The financial collapse of sports agency ISL Worldwide has hit the sports industry like an earthquake, one of the most experienced marketing chiefs in international sport has said. For the full story, see the FEATURES section of sportbusiness.com.

British Grand Prix organisers plan a $60m (#42m) revamp of Silverstone to make it one of the world's best Formula One venues.

FIFA has postponed the World Club Championship, set for the end of July, until 2003.

FIFA will decide on Monday whether the World Club Championship, due to be held in Spain at the end of July, will go ahead as planned, the Spanish Football Federation said on Friday.

The ATP says it can now implement plans for its future following the demise of the ISMM Group.

English soccer club Leeds United has joined forces with two of Scandinavia?s largest retail distributors in a bid to increase brand awareness and maximise marketing opportunities worldwide.

French media giants Vivendi Universal withdrew its bid for the ISMM/ISL sports rights and marketing company, forcing the Swiss company into bankruptcy, because it would require too much investment, a spokesman said.

Following Swiss marketing firm ISMM's bankruptcy, soccer's world governing body released the following press release:

Swiss marketing firm ISMM has been declared officially bankrupt after French media giants Vivendi Universal pulled out of a possible takeover, soccer's world governing body FIFA has confirmed to sportbusiness.com

Swiss marketing company ISMM, which went officially bankrupt on Thursday, lacked a deep enough understanding of its sporting contracts which ultimately led to its downfall, according to broadcast and media analysts.

ZOO Digital, the UK-based company that helps brands optimise financial returns for their sponsoring rights, has bought digital marketing firm Startle Digital for an undisclosed sum.

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.