Media

Michael Smith, chief executive of DirecTV parent company Hughes Electronics, has announced his immediate retirement after 16 years at the company. Smith?s decision removes a significant obstacle from Rupert Murdoch?s path in his quest to merge DirecTV with his own News Corporation, creating the first global satellite broadcasting network. The departing Hughes chief executive had publicly voiced his opposition to the proposed merger stating that Murdoch?s bid had been ?unimpressive?.

Teleglobe Broadcast Services have been selected by News Corps units Fox Digital and Fox Sports to provide digital video transmission of National Football League Europe games to North American viewers on Fox Sports, Fox Sports Net and DirectTV.

Channel 4 Television has signed a one-year deal for UK terrestrial rights to French horseracing.

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.

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.

Italian Serie A soccer club Juventus has signed a new shirt sponsorship deal with the country?s broadband ISP FastNet for next season, replacing broadcaster Telepiu, whose deal was worth #5.5m ($7.79m) a year.

UK terrestrial broadcaster Channel 4 has continued its move towards mainstream sports by signing a TV and internet video rights deal for the Le Mans 24-hour motor race.

Racecourse and media group Arena Leisure Plc is raising #85m ($121m) in equity to help pay for its share of the multimedia rights to British horse racing won with the Go Racing consortium.

The British Horseracing Board (BHB) yesterday said it was dissatisfied with negotiations currently going on between the Go-Racing consortium and the country?s 59 racecourses about gaining media rights to broadcast horseracing matches for the next 10 years.

Nasdaq-listed Quokka Sports, the company at the forefront of developments in online sports content, has filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States in preparation for an asset fire-sale.

PanAmSat has expanded its deal with ESPN to include nine PanAmSat satellites for worldwide programme distribution services.

Granada and Carlton Communications, the media companies which run the UK?s ITV network and the digital television company ONdigital, are on the brink of unveiling one of the biggest changes in commercial television history, according to a report in The Independent newspaper.

Brand management will become increasingly important against the twin threats of recession and media clutter according to a panel of leading industry figures speaking during the first day?s final session at SportBusiness 2001.

AmeriSuites has signed a new three-year sponsorship of American Spirit Racing's (ASR) team in the BF Goodrich Trans-Am Series.

The BBC has signed a deal with virtual technology firm Symah Vision to use its Epsis Graphics system, following a successful trial period.

The current ?feel good factor? in English cricket had created several lucrative commercial deals for the England and Wales Cricket Board, its chief executive, Tim Lamb said today.