Media

Asian satellite broadcaster ESPN Star Sports (ESS) has renewed its deal for the exclusive rights to Major League Baseball (MLB) in a new two-year agreement.

Despite the UK test case ruling in the House of Lords last week that set a precedent that the soccer World Cup in 2002 must be broadcast on terrestrial television if at all, rights holder Kirch has still not given up hope of interest from a pay-TV operator.
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The popularity of spread betting was verified today after UK-based soccer group Zetters launched IFX Financial, a financial spread betting service.

Internet giant SportsLine.com ? the US-based firm which also boasts European arm Sports.com - has put back the date it expects to break even after announcing its financial results for the second quarter ending June 30.

Ladbrokes, the world?s largest bookmaker, is reportedly planning to invest #40million ($57m) in high street betting shops in the UK to take advantage of tax-free gambling.
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ITV Digital, the commercial digital terrestrial TV service due to launch its ITV Sports Channel in August, says it is on target to break even in a couple of years.

Sports rights and marketing companies World Sport Group (WSG) and Parallel Media Group International (PMI) are to merge.

Advertising for some major sporting events such as Formula One could go up in smoke after the European Union (EU) unveiled new draft legislation for a Europe-wide ban on tobacco advertising.

A rival series to Formula One is unlikely to happen although leading car makers have the resources and cannot be underestimated, International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley said on Saturday.

A report out tomorrow from US broker SG Cowen is expected to say that a much anticipated merger between EchoStar Communications and DirecTV would not break antitrust laws.

The postponement of this year's FIFA World Club Championship in Spain could damage soccer?s credibility in Japan, according to the president of J. League club Jubilo Iwata.

The International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport's governing body, is to focus on the use of technology for decision making at this week's Playing Committee (CC-P) meeting, taking place from May 23-25.

ESPN Regional Television, a subsidiary of ESPN Inc, has bought the Las Vegas Bowl from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Athens 2004 Olympic Games organisers (ATHOC) said on Monday Greek state broadcaster ERT had signed a sponsorship deal for the Games worth 5.7bn drachmas ($14.6m).

Chrysalis, the media company which produces ITV?s Formula One coverage and is the financier behind UK-based sports website Rivals.net, reported a pre-tax loss of #5.6m ($8m)for the six months to February 28 compared with a profit of #100,000 ($142,000) for the equivalent period last year.

Arena Leisure, one of the three companies behind the Go Racing consortium, said today that pre-tax losses for the nine months to December 31 widened to #6.2m ($8.9m) from #2.96m ($4.24m). It also reported an increase in losses per share to 2.29p from 1.21p. But confirmation that it is to become a 33.33 percent shareholder in Go Racing saw its share price rise by nearly 10 percent to 104p.

Media Content and the Sportel Organisation, owner and organiser of the popular sports broadcasting events in Monaco and Miami are launching an online marketplace.

Arena Leisure, the racecourse and media group, is set to announce this week it has clinched a deal to control television rights to British horseracing, according to newspaper reports.