Tuesday, 16th July 2007

THIS WEEK

Sat, 14th Jul 2007
Masters Football: London Masters

Sun, 15th Jul 2007
WWE Special: The Great American Bash, San Jose
AVP Crocs Tour: Long Beach Open, California
World Superbikes Championship 2007: Brno, Czech Republic


DID YOU KNOW…?

A Swedish grandmother has become the fastest surfer on the web with a 40Gbps broadband connection delivered straight to her home. Sigbritt Löthberg, 75, had never owned a computer until recently, despite being the mother of Swedish internet guru Peter Löthberg. Her son set up the line with the local council's Karlstad Stadsnät network infrastructure arm. The new line will enable Sigbritt to watch 1,500 high definition television channels simultaneously or download a high-definition DVD in two seconds flat.

The connection was made possible using a modulation technique that allows signals to be sent 2,000 kilometres without transponders over fibre. "I wanted to show that there are other methods than the old fashioned ways such as copper wires and radio, which lack the possibilities of fibre," said Peter Löthberg, who now works at Cisco Systems. Source: Ken Radio, 16th Jul 2007


SPORTS SHORTS

* Former Liverpool keeper Jerzy Dudek is set to sign for Spanish champions Real Madrid on a free transfer. Dudek, the penalty shoot-out hero of Liverpool's 2005 Champions League win, has been unable to dislodge Pepe Reina from the first-choice spot at Anfield. The 34-year-old Pole was released by Liverpool at the end of last season. Source: BBC Sport, 15th Jul 2007

* Electronics company, PT Agis, is teaming with IPTV and broadband technology provider BNS and Toshiba to build a nationwide mobile TV network in Indonesia. Operated by Agis, the service will be the first Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-based (DMB) mobile TV service outside Japan and Korea. It is slated to launch early next year. “With a youthful population and low but fast growing mobile penetration, Indonesia is the perfect market for a broadcast-based mobile TV service,” said Anna Maria, the senior officer at Agis. Source: Worldscreen, 16th Jul 2007

* The 2007 WNBA All-Star Game, which will showcase the most talented female basketball players from around the world, will be televised in 198 countries with commentary in 30 languages. The 2007 WNBA’s All-Star Game, the eighth in league history, will be held in Washington, DC on Sunday, July 15. WNBA team rosters for 2007 feature 22 international players from 14 countries. Seattle’s Lauren Jackson and Phoenix’s Penny Taylor, both from Australia, have both been named to the Western Conference team, and will represent the league’s international contingent at the event. Eleven first-time WNBA All-Star Game telecasters will air the game including in China (Guangzhou TV, Shanghai TV) and Japan (J sports 1, J sports 2, J sports Plus). Source: Sport Business, 16th Jul 2007

* Asian satellite operator Measat has officially launched its high-definition distribution platform on the Measat-3 satellite. The service targets broadcasters in Singapore and across the region. The Platform design addresses content acquisition, MPEG-4 compression, encryption, uplink and content distribution via the MEASAT-3 satellite. Measat claims the platform is providing a gap in the market, with HD distribution in Asia lagging behind available technologies. Measat-3 launched in December 2006. It has 24 Ku-band transponders and high-powered spot beams focused on Malaysia, Indonesia and South Asia. Source: Rapid TV News, 16th Jul 2007

* China International Television Corporation (CITVC) and the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia have rescheduled the International Sports Television Forum 2007. Event will now run on Friday Aug 24, instead of Thurs 23 Aug, in Beijing. Topics for discussion include analysis of how companies can expand their sports brand in China, in particular soccer clubs from the English Premier League; how companies can build market share by partnering with major sports events; an examination of sports in the broadcast value chain; gains and losses from previous Olympic Games; and the relations between sports leagues and pay-TV. Source: Variety Asia, 16th Jul 2007

* EHF Marketing, the marketing company of the European Handball Federation, has taken over the sale of international television rights for all EHF European Cup men’s and women’s matches from the clubs. The new central selling system, which starts in 2007-08, will mean that the clubs now only hold the domestic television rights. The deal covers the EHF Cup, EHF Cup Winners’ Cup, the EHF Challenge Cup, and also qualification matches and tournaments (from round 2) for all competitions (including the Champions League). Sportfive, the international sports agency, holds the rights to centrally market sponsorship for the ‘last 16' of the men’s Champions League. Source: Sportcal, 16th Jul 2007

* The Women’s National Basketball Association has signed a multi-million dollar broadcasting deal with ESPN. The eight-year contract begins in the 2009 season and runs until 2016. It is believed that in an unprecedented move, ESPN has agreed to pay for the rights and the deal is “worth millions”, according to WNBA president Donna Orender. The deal includes new media rights, enabling ESPN to carry games on its broadband and mobile television platforms. Source: Sportcal, Mediaweek, Sports Illustrated, 16th Jul 2007

* Chelsea FC is teaming up The Walt Disney Company in a long-term agreement. The move is part of Chelsea’s business strategy to become the world’s biggest club brand. In the four-year agreement, Chelsea becomes the Official Professional Soccer Club of Disney’s Wide World of Sports and presenting sponsor of Disney Soccer Showcase Series. Chelsea will have significant presence at Disney soccer events through coaching and clinics held in association with the events. These will be run under the guidance of Chelsea's Football in the Community scheme. The agreement is Disney Sports’ most significant alliance with an international sports organisation, further cementing Disney’s Wide World of Sports as the pre-eminent venue for amateur and professional sports in the world. Source: Sport Business, Sportcal, 16th Jul 2007

* As expected, Louis Vuitton confirmed it will no longer sponsor the America's Cup, citing concerns the sailing event has become too commercial. Louis Vuitton has sponsored sailing’s premier competition since 1983, when the challengers' series became known as the Louis Vuitton Cup. "The new America's Cup rules define a more commercial approach, and the signed protocol has already been questioned by some of those concerned. Indeed, there is a risk of significant reduction in the number of participating teams," Vuitton said in a statement. Louis Vuitton’s deal for the 2007 event was believed to be worth in the region of £30 million ($60 million). Source: Sport Business, Sportcal, 16th Jul 2007

* Glasgow’s bid team for the 2014 Commonwealth Games has increased its contingency budget by £9.5 million ($19.3 million) to cover any possible shortfall in the sale of broadcasting rights for the event. The increase represents a 3% rise on the initial £288-million budget, and will be split 80-20 between the Scottish Executive and Glasgow City Council. Derek Casey, the leader of Glasgow’s bid said: ‘It is impossible to predict how new technology might impact the market seven years from now. Though it could be worth more than we projected, the commission has suggested it might be worth less. Source: Sportcal, 16th Jul 2007

* Irish new media video delivery service, Servecast, has been acquired by Level 3 Communications in a deal worth €33 million ($45 million). Servecast provides live and on-demand video management and streaming services to various firms and generated revenues of $5 million in 2006. It enables organisations and rights holders to exploit their new media assets to reach broadband and mobile phone audiences. Level 3 is based in Broomfield, Colorado and Servecast is its third major purchase of the year. Source: Sportcal, 16th Jul 2007


MORE NEWS

Macau/General: Sportsfest Macau Confirms Speaker List

Sportsfest Macao organisers have confirmed the participation of the first in a long line of international high-level industry speakers at its three-day sports media market from 5 to 7 September in Macao. The speakers represent key players from around the region and the world including Australia, Brunei, China, Europe, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore - and promise to give valuable insights into a wide cross-section of hot industry topics.

Confirmed speakers to date are: Mr. Bob Kemp, Sports Production Consultant (Australia), Mr. Lee Choong Khay (CK), Head of Sports, Astro (Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia), Mr. Ma Guo Li, Founder of CCTV5 Sports (China), Mr. Jiang He Ping, Head of CCTV5 Sports (China), Mr. John Barton, Head of Sports, ABU, Mr. Karl Bistany, CEO, Future Media Services, Ms. Sandie Lee, Senior VP Content, StarHub (Singapore).

With the support of local government bodies in Macao, Sportsfest Macao will host the three-day media market at the Macao Tower Convention and Entertainment Center. Source: Sport Business, 16th Jul 2007

Global/New Media: Mobile TV ‘Complicated’

Worldwide mobile TV markets are very “complicated” and will take some years to sort themselves out, according to new research from In-Stat. And the research outfit believes there won't be too many opportunities for operators to launch services outside of their home markets, at least initially.

Gerry Kaufhold, In-Stat analyst, said: "We've identified six competing vectors of growth that need to be understood by service operators before they make large infrastructure investments. Each geographic region is developing differently, and all technology approaches are in play. The opportunities appear to be huge, but the current level of fragmentation in the industry, and in the markets, may make it difficult for anybody to reach the economies of scale required to make Mobile Video Services a truly worldwide phenomenon. We're more likely to see geographic regions developing their own local approaches, and we will even find some country-specific versions."

In-Stat found that the competing methods of mobile TV reception (handsets, PCs, portable media players, navigation systems and others) will all need to provide a mix of broadcast TV, premium TV, PPV on-demand and interactivity in the long term. Worldwide, the value of transmission sites will have a value of US$216 million by 2011. However, that could be boosted dramatically should China turn one of its systems on earlier than expected. Source: Rapid TV News, 16th Jul 2007


ARTICLES, COMMENTS & OPINIONS

Asian Tycoons Chase Premiership dreams
AFP Article appearing in The Electric Paper SG, 17th Jul 2007

WEALTHY Asian businessmen are competing to buy top-flight English football clubs, attracted by the irresistible combination of profit and sporting glory. Thaksin Shinawatra, a billionaire football fanatic who was Thai Prime Minister until ousted by the military last year, now owns 74 per cent of Manchester City after his takeover. And directors at promoted Premiership side Birmingham City have recently agreed to sell 30 per cent of their shares to Hong Kong tycoon Carson Yeung, despite reported interest in the club from Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal.

Industry experts say the trend is likely to continue as English football becomes ever more popular among Asia's vast and increasingly wealthy population - bringing with it the promise of booming income from TV rights and merchandise. 'Asian businessmen want to own English football teams because they see Asia, particularly India and China, as the biggest developing market for the Premiership,' said Philip Long, football specialist at London accountancy firm PKF.

'The worldwide love of football is focused at the moment on the English game, and the Asian fan base is well-established and growing fast.' But Long warns that Asian investors are not just signing another business deal when they buy into the Premiership. 'Anyone investing in football is making a partly rational, partly romantic decision. That can be a dangerous mix,' he said.

Long has a word of warning both for Asian businessmen craving a Premiership team and for fans who imagine a wealthy Asian buyer turning their club into world-beaters. 'There is growth in the game now but perhaps it will plateau out soon, like Formula One,' he said. 'And we will see which of these deals actually goes through. Talking about buying a club is one way to attract headlines, but it is a different matter to completing the sale.'

One British academic who is advising an overseas consortium on Premiership takeover targets agrees that it is an investment area characterised by high drama and risk. 'English soccer is the biggest league in the world with a global audience and, hence, is attracting international interest,' he said, on condition of anonymity. 'The prestige and status are unique, and new television deals are perceived as offering new value. But the downside is that the current owners are extracting the surplus value when they exit.'

Several English clubs are on tour in Asia this month to boost their support in the region, with Manchester United, Liverpool, Portsmouth and Fulham all playing games. The visitors exemplify the changing face of Premiership boardrooms, with Manchester United and Liverpool owned by American tycoons, and Portsmouth and Fulham bought up by magnates from Russia and Egypt respectively.

Meanwhile, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which is running the 16-nation Asian Cup in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, said it would 'obviously' prefer Asian businessmen to invest in the region's own clubs. But, despite such hopes, the pull of the Premiership seems likely to remain strong for Asia's wealthiest.