Sponsorship & Marketing

Specialist internet group Play-Sport New Media has joined forces with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in a new on-line cricket venture to provide an extensive internet network for amateur cricketers and their cricketing communities.

Communicator, the brand marketing unit of Lighthouse Global Network, has promoted three sports marketing industry veterans in its Communicator|Sports & Entertainment Group. Michael Fetchko has been made president of the group, while Robert Croasdale has been named chief operating officer and Richard McCann becomes managing director of Communicator|Incentive Travel.

The NBA has launched a new marketing campaign in the UK - aimed to coincide with the finale of its season.

The Portland Trail Blazers have received criticism from basketball fans for showing Game 2 of the playoff series against Utah on pay-per-view at a cost $24.95. The game was broadcast nationally by the TNT cable channel, and blacked out within a 35-mile radius of downtown Portland. Responding to the criticism Harry Hut, the Blazers Senior vice-president for marketing said: ``People get the idea there's an obligation on the part of the team to televise a game, but there isn't.? The team, he said, wants ``to protect the home gate ... to provide a sold-out crowd atmosphere'' at the Rose Garden. However, Sunday's Game 1 of the series against the Jazz, shown on NBC, attracted a capacity crowd of 20,351.

MSNBCSports.com, the internet home of NBC Sports, has formed an alliance with eFANshop, an e-commerce OEM portal which provides licensed sports merchandise and apparel.

One-On-One Sports Network, the most-listened-to 24-hour US sports radio network broadcasting on over 425 affiliated stations, has named Alex Gomez to the position of Vice President of Marketing.

On the day that News Corps and Vivendi have proposed a joint shareholding of their digital businesses, European media big-hitters Bertelsmann, Groupe Bruxelles Lambert and Pearson (PTV) have agreed to merge CLT-UFA, Europe's leading commercial television and radio broadcaster, with Pearson Television, the independent television production company.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) says it has received several offers for the television rights to Africa's top soccer competitions.

UK terrestrial broadcaster Channel 4 has signed a one-year deal worth #4m with StepStone, the European online recruitment agency, giving StepStone broadcast sponsorship of all sport coverage on Channel 4.

One of ISL?s key figures in the marketing of its top soccer properties is to quit to join Quokka Sports, Sport Business can confirm.

T&T Sports Marketing has sold the exclusive global rights outside of South America for the South American qualifying matches for the World Cup 2002 to Dream Sports International.

Persistence Software has signed a sponsorship agreement with USA Water Polo (USWP).

The Orlando Arena, home to the Orlando Magic (NBA), Orlando Miracle (WNBA), and Orlando Solar Bears (IHL), and other sporting and entertainment events, will become TD Waterhouse Centre. Under the naming rights agreement, the City of Orlando and RDV Sports will share revenues totaling $7.9 million over the five-year term of the agreement.

Lager brand Michelob has signed a three-year Ryder Cup sponsorship deal with Ryder Cup Ltd.

France and Australia have signed an agreement to join forces against doping.

ISL, the marketing company which has rights to soccer?s World Cup, the ATP Tour, and a range of other international events, may seek a stockmarket flotation, according to a report in the publication TV Sports Markets.