YankeeNets, which controls basketball?s New Jersey Nets and hockey?s New jersey Devils, plans to organise a US tour for United in 2003, open Manchester United soccer camps in the US and sell United merchandise in its team stores.
But according to sources quoted in The Wall Street Journal, the deal?s revenue potential lies in packaging worldwide sponsorship rights for the companies and joint television programming.
Last year, YankeeNets tried to set up their own local sports network but the effort has been held up in the courts. However, with Premier League soccer teams free to receive delayed highlight 48 hours after the live event, United could create additional programming should the network be launched..
?You?re creating inventory,? said YankeeNets chief executive Harvey Schiller.? There?s content here than can be used in a variety of ways.?
