Media
ITV BEATS SKY IN CUP FINAL RATINGS WAR
UK terrestrial broadcaster ITV attracted a peak of 7.8 million viewers for Saturday?s English FA Cup soccer final, with an average of 6.8 million over the entire match.
BROADCASTERS TO BATTLE IT OUT FOR SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE SOCCER RIGHTS
Pay-TV and terrestrial broadcasters will soon be battling it out to win the rights show live matches and highlights of Scottish soccer Premier League matches after current contracts run out at the end of next season.
FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS RISE AT NTL
NTL, the UK?s largest cable telecoms company which boasts 8.5m subscribers and has a 10 percent stake in English Premiership soccer clubs Newcastle United, Leicester City and Aston Villa, said earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation rose by about 32 percent to $124m for the three months to March 31 compared with the previous quarter.
MURDOCH CLOSE TO DIRECTV DEAL
Rupert Murdoch?s News Corporation is on the verge of becoming the largest global satellite network after lengthy negotiations for control of US broadcaster DirecTV were said to have entered an `advanced? stage by DirecTV?s parent company Hughes Electronics.
GG MEDIA STEPS UP ITS COMPETITION WITH GO RACING
GG Media has stepped up its bid to broadcast horseracing in the UK in competition with the Go Racing consortium, by launching an advertising campaign.
DALLAS ONLINE BROADCAST AD DROPPED
An American radio station has dropped its online broadcasts of a local ice hockey team because of advertising concerns.
Carter to produce second stadium report
A spokesperson for the UK government's Department of Culture, Media and Sport has confirmed to sportbusiness.com that it has ordered Patrick Carter to produce a second report on the options for a national stadium.
ESCA Congress gears up for debate
The 11th European Sponsorship Consultants Association (ESCA) Congress will be held this year in Stockholm on November 15-16.
NHL unveil strategic deal with USA Network
The National Hockey League (NHL) has entered into a strategic partnership with media firm USA Network incorporating ticketing, e-commerce and marketing services.
KOTV’s knock-out start
The team behind KOTV - the first international 30-minute weekly boxing highlights TV programme – says pre-sales have exceeded expectations as it prepares for the bell later this month.
Govt help for Aussie sport crisis
The Australian Government has set up a special task force to assist the country's sporting organisations reeling in the wake of the financial collapse of three major sponsors.
Promotor and player end feud
Australian soccer star Harry Kewell has received a carefully worded apology from a promotor which has cleared the way for him to play for his country against France at the MCG on November 11.
Ufa Sports seeks Icelandic naming deal
Ufa Sports is seeking a naming rights sponsor for Iceland’s elite soccer league after negotiating an extended and expanded marketing deal with the Icelandic Football Association (KIS).
Sky’s the limit for interactivity
UK broadcaster Sky Sports is examining the suitability of other sports for its enhanced interactive technology, due to be used in its coverage of golf’s postponed Ryder Cup.
Orange in deal for European rugby union
Telecommunications giant Orange has agreed to invest millions of pounds into European Rugby Union by becoming the first official communications partner to ERC, the organisers of Europe’s leading rugby tournaments, the Heineken Cup and the European Shield.
Foxtel signs OB deal for AFL
Australian pay-TV broadcaster Foxtel is beefing up the production side of its AFL coverage through a new five-year deal with outdoor broadcast services firm Global Television.
BSkyB turns off analogue signal
As part of its aggressive push to convert its subscriber base to digital TV, UK satellite broadcaster BSkyB will switch off its analogue signal at midnight tonight.
Soccer transfers boost agency’s profits
Sport Entertainment & Media, the UK-based company which represents Premier League soccer players, had the likes of Emmanuel Petit and Lennox Lewis for helping it triple profits this year.