Thursday, 12th July 2007

RESULTS

Source: Goal.com, 12th Jul 2007
Juan Roman Riquelme put on another outstanding display, and helped Argentina to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Mexico, that set them up with a grand final showdown with archrivals Brazil on Sunday. Argentina fully deserved their victory and will meet Brazil in the final of the Copa America while Mexico will look to recover from the defeat in time for the match for third place against Uruguay on Saturday.


THIS WEEK

Sat, 14th Jul 2007
Masters Football: Scottish Masters
Copa America 2007: 3rd & 4th Place - Uruguay v Mexico, Caracas

Sun, 15th Jul 2007
DTM 2007: Race Day, Mugello, Italy
BTCC 2007: Race Day, Donington Park, UK
Copa America 2007: Final - Brazil v Argentina, Maracaibo


DID YOU KNOW…?

Google Earth has shown pictures of what military experts say is China's new nuclear ballistic missile submarine. Defense experts say that the new class, known as the Jin-class or Type 094, is expected replace the unsuccessful Xia-class (Type 092) which was built in the early 1980s. The sub is still classified but was snapped by the commercial Quickbird satellite in late 2006. It can be seen on the Google Earth web site. Defense experts are fascinated by the details which they can make out from the satellite picture. We wonder if China might want to stick Google on its list of banned sites, or use one of its anti-satellite weapons to knock out every commercial satellite which flies over the country. Click here to see the image from Google Earth (JL: This is like stuff out of a Tom Clancy novel!) Source: Ken Radio, 11th Jul 2007


SPORTS SHORTS

* The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) has stressed that regulations need to be put in place in Vietnam to combat signal piracy and illegitimate pay-TV platforms. CASBAA highlighted this at a seminar, Growing Pay-TV in Vietnam: Enhancing Revenues and Protecting Contents, which was co-organized with the Copyright Office of Vietnam. There are about 1 million legitimate subscribers to pay-TV across the country, and over 2.5 million pirated subscribers to cable, satellite and digital terrestrial systems in Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Danang and other cities. Source: Worldscreen, 11th Jul 2007

* Oriental Cable Network has announced the addition of another 9 on-pay TV channels from July 1, covering subjects including sports. OCN broadcasts 51 pay channels via interactive TV to over 4 million viewers in Shanghai, China. By the end of 2008, 2.4 million existing cable TV users in Shanghai will be fully covered by digital television services. SiTV, China DTV Media, Huacheng TV and Top DTV also operate on-pay television channels at a combined total of 130 channels. Subscribers can access up to 61 free channels at a monthly charge for the cable TV maintenance fee. Monthly subscription will allow viewers access to 51 on-pay channels, in addition to the 61 free channels. Source: Entertainment Asia, 12th Jul 2007

* China Mobile (CHL) is planning to further increase its share in Phoenix TV to obtain a controlling stake so as to expand its Mobile TV service across the country. By doing so, China Mobile is also preparing for next year's Olympic Games. China Mobile intends to broadcast Olympic Games to mobile phone users through 3G technology. Source: Advanced Television, 11th Jul 2007

* China Television Media, Ltd. announced signing a High-definition TV Channel Cooperation Contract with CCTV’s subsidiary, China DTV Media Inc. Ltd. to further develop HD television services. The contract runs for 4 years through 2011. Shanghai-based CTV Media will provide contents and services to CCTV’s high-definition television channels, while China DTV will offer technical support & services and marketing & sales of the channels. CTV Media will be entitled to 70% of revenue generated by the channels and the remaining 30% will go to China DTV. Source: Entertainment Asia, 12th Jul 2007

* Vietnam is tipped to be a more popular outsourcing destination than China and India within the next five years. Vietnam has the second highest GDP growth after China and the third largest offshore services destination in South East Asia. The Vietnamese labor pool also has around 80,000 IT graduates, a figure that is increasing by 9,000 per year. Over half of Vietnam's 84 million population is under 25 years old and 83% of all graduates are science-based. Vietnam is a natural offshore location and has all the ingredients to become the leading market choice in the next few years. Source: Ken Radio, 11th Jul 2007

* The NBA said team salary caps for the 2007-08 will total $55.63 million, an increase of about 4.7% from last season. The new cap level took with the opening of a new NBA trading period. NBA teams also face a minimum salary of $41.7 million. The mid-level exception - allowing for signing a player to the NBA salary average even if the team has reached the salary cap total - was raised to $5.36 million for next season. Teams that reach the luxury tax level, which will be $67.87 million in 2007-08, will have to pay a $1 to the league for each dollar over the cap. Source: Earth Times, 11th Jul 2007

* IMG Media has extended its contract with the Rugby Football League (RFL), pledging to "increase international distribution and exposure of British rugby league events." IMG acts as exclusive worldwide media consultant for the RFL. The deal covers all media rights including TV, radio, DVD, in-flight, ship-at-sea and new media for distribution of all Super League, Challenge Cup and International matches. The announcement follows the appointment of IMG by The Rugby League International Federation as exclusive sales agents for international TV rights to the Rugby League World Cup 2008. Source: C21 Media, 11th Jul 2007


MORE NEWS

China/Broadcaster: Tom Online Partners Hunan Satellite TV for Olympics

Tom Online and Hunan Satellite TV’s have formed a strategic partnership for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Internet and television media will team up to build an integrated entertainment platform to broadcast content and host activities themed on the Olympic Games, starting with Tom Online’s “2008 Beijing Olympics Online Anchor National Contest” and Hunan TV’s sports talent show “Soccer Boy.”

With 394 days left until the 2008 Olympic Games, competition among various formats of media is heating up for broadcasting shares of the event’s contents. Realizing the differences and competition between new and traditional media, Tom Online and Hunan TV chose to form an alliance combining the strengths of China’s popular internet portal with one of the country’s most powerful television properties to seek a win-win solution.

Tom Online’s higher-ups revealed that, in the following week, the company will form an “Olympics Reporting Alliance” with 28 print media in Changsha. In addition, Tom Online will kick start a live television program “Olympics Winners across China” with Hunan TV. Source: Entertainment Asia, 12th Jul 2007