Thursday, 16th August 2007

HEADLINE NEWS

Grey Goose is New Drinks Partner of US Open

GREY GOOSE(R), the "World's Best Tasting Vodka," today announced it will be a Proud Promotional Partner for the 2007 US Open Tennis Championships held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, NY. This marks the first year that GREY GOOSE will partner with the USTA at the highest annually attended sporting event in the world with more than 650,000 spectators in attendance.

GREY GOOSE Vodka will enhance tennis enthusiasts' enjoyment of the sport through a premium brand experience. GREY GOOSE Vodka's distinction as a US Open Promotional Partner, includes branded exposure in Arthur Ashe Stadium, branded cocktail bars on tournament grounds, GREY GOOSE signature cocktails available at all restaurant and bar venues, and "sip responsibly" brand messaging which will appear on the video boards in Arthur Ashe Stadium and throughout tournament rounds.

The official Grey Goose Vodka speciality cocktail, ‘Honey Deuce’, is to be sold in a souvenir cup featuring past US Open champions. Grey Goose moves in alongside Heineken, the Dutch beer brand, which is entering its 16th year as the official beer sponsor of the US Open and has a deal that runs until 2010. The 2007 US Open, the last of the four 'grand slam' tournaments, takes place at Flushing Meadows from August 27 to September 9. Source: Sportcal, PR News Wire, Earth Times, 15th Aug 2007


RESULTS

People’s Daily, Sin Chew MY, Gulf Daily, The Hindu, The Star MY, 16th Aug 2007
Indonesia’s Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat exited the world badminton championships in dramatic style yesterday, beaten 21-14 24-26 22-20 by India’s Anup Sridhar in an enthralling second round match. After dropping the first set, Taufik needed six game points before finally clinching the second and looked to be in control at 18-13 in the decider. However, the lanky, elegant Sridhar was not to be denied against the 2005 world champion. Two net cords in favour of the Indian levelled the score at 19-19 and when Taufik smashed long on the next point, the writing was on the wall. Bravely, the eighth-seeded Taufik managed to save one match point but succumbed at the next to become the tournament’s biggest casualty to date. Anup, world No. 41, told reporters: “It’s the biggest win in my career so far and I’m happy it came in a big event like the world championships.”

The New Straits Times MY, 16th Aug 2007
THE unpredictable side of Hafiz Hashim resurfaced again yesterday as he dished out a pathetic performance but managed to survive, while Lee Chong Wei was in cruise control as the duo advanced to the third round of the World Championships at Putra Stadium. A sluggish Hafiz was at times booed by the fans for his lack of efforts as he struggled to a 21-19, 14-21, 21-11 win over Scott Evans of Ireland in 41 minutes. In contrast, second seed Chong Wei took the shortest route to the third round when he trounced Netherlands’ Eric Pang 21-7, 21-11.

The New Straits Times MY, The Star MY, 16th Aug 2007
KOO Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong began their charge for the men’s doubles title with a polished display to join compatriots Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah in the third round of the World Championships at Putra Stadium yesterday. Second seeds Kien Keat-Boon Heong, who normally struggle in their opening matches, hardly showed nerves yesterday and destroyed Germany's Roman Spitko-Michael Fuchs 21-12, 21-13 in the second round. Tan Fook-Wan Wah were the first to reach the third round on Tuesday when their opponents Wouter Claes-Frederic Mawet of Belgium conceded a walkover. Fairuzizuan Tazari-Zakry Latif lost to China’s Guo Zhendong-Xie Zhongbo 21-14, 21-13.

The Star MY, 16th Aug 2007
ZHANG Ning is the “big sister” of the Chinese national badminton team who continues to excel despite her age. And the steely determination not to finish second best is driving the 32-year-old shuttler on to fulfil her goal to retain the Olympic women's singles title on home soil in Beijing next year. Many thought that she would retire after winning the Olympic gold in Athens in 2004 but Zhang Ning kept on producing outstanding results. And she is playing in yet another World Championships at the Putra Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. The top seeded Zhang Ning went on court yesterday to beat South Korean junior Jang Young-soo 21-9, 21-14 in a second-round match.

The Star MY, 16th Aug 2007
VIETNAMESE Nguyen Tien Minh’s campaign in the World Championships has ended in the opening round but he will certainly leave with a growing reputation as a top challenger on the world stage. On Tuesday, the 23-year-old player from Ho Chi Minh City was on the brink of victory against Indonesian Simon Santoso but a sloppy finish after being tied at 17-17 in the decider saw him walking out of court in sheer dejection.

Canada East, 16th Aug 2007
It was a tough day for Canada at the world badminton championships Wednesday. Andrew Dabeka of Ottawa lost 21-16, 21-5 to 14th-seeded Sung Hwan Park in the second round of men's doubles while Charmaine Reid of Fort Erie, Ont., was defeated 21-13, 21-12 by No. 4 Hongyan Pi of France on the women's side. In the second round of men's doubles, William Milroy of Calgary and Mike Beres of Ottawa were defeated 21-15, 21-8 by 13th-seeded Jae Sung Jung and Yong Dae Lee of South Korea.

Radio New Zealand, 16th Aug 2007
New Zealand players have ended their run over night in the second round at the world badminton champs in Kuala Lumpur. The women's No1 Rachel Hindley was forced to retire with injury at the completion of the first game against the 11th seed Pui Yin Yip from Hong Kong with Yip leading 21-10. Renee Flavell and Donna Cranston fell to the Korean pair of Jung Zun Ha and Yu Mi Hwang 21-10 21-7 while Flavell and Craig Cooper lost to the highly rated 10th seeds from Poland Robert Mateusiak and Nadiezda Kostiuczyk.


COURTSIDE: THE BADMINTON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007

The New Straits Times MY, 16th Aug 2007
INDONESIA'S singles coach Hendrawan is grooming rising shuttler Simon Santoso (pic) towards winning the 2012 London Olympics but the player wants to make an impact at next year’s Beijing Olympics. Hendrawan said although Simon is very talented, he is still short on experience and lacked the confidence to face the challenges at an event like the Olympics. But the coach sees him as a potential champion. However, Simon is more desperate and not only wants to qualify for the Olympics but also finish among the medallists. Simon said that qualifying for the Olympics will not be easy as Taufik Hidayat is almost assured of a place in the world's biggest sporting event while Simon must beat 2004 Athens Olympics bronze medallist Sony Dwi Kuncoro for the second slot.

The New Straits Times MY, 16th Aug 2007
NOVA Widianto-Lilyana Natsir have hit a rocky patch since winning Indonesia's only second mixed doubles title in the 2005 World Championships but they are bent on making a return in the same event at Putra Stadium. Nova, who opted to focus full time on the mixed doubles due to limited opportunities in the men's doubles, said he has never regretted his decision as it gave him instant success in the World Championships. However, a lack of consistency and the emergence of strong pairs from China and England, meant that Nova-Lilyana found it tough to stay at the top of their game. Nova, 29, said the pressure was also tremendous as Lilyana and himself are the only world class mixed doubles from Indonesia but of late the burden is equally shared with Flandy Limpele-Vita Marissa, who have also established themselves as one of the top pairs on the international scene in less than a year.


THIS WEEK

Mon to Thu, 13th to 16 Aug 2007
Badminton World Championships 2007: Preliminary Rounds

Fri, 17th Aug 2007
Badminton World Championships 2007: Quarter-finals

Sat, 18th Aug 2007
Badminton World Championships 2007: Semi-finals

Sun, 19th Aug 2007
Badminton World Championships 2007: Finals
AVP Crocs Tour 2007: Final Day – Boston Open
BTCC 2007: Race Day – Brands Hatch, UK


DID YOU KNOW…?

A Barcelona-based space tourism company, formed by various professionals in the aerospace industry, gave away the first details of its planned Galactic Suite space hotel. The whole journey is likely to last 18 weeks, and the first tickets should go on sale in 2008 for around €3m, the company said. The price includes 18 weeks preparation and training on a Caribbean island, the journey into space and three nights' accommodation in the orbital hotel.

During their stay, the space tourists will also "participate in international space experiments". The Galactic Suite Project has already contacted various scientific organisations interested in making use of the space tourists in zero gravity to obtain samples. Visitors to the hotel will orbit the earth 15 times every day and see 15 sunrises, with the hotel located at a certain angle from the equator. The company aims to develop an orbital hotel chain with modular space accommodation based on the model of a grapevine. The hotels will orbit the earth at an altitude of 450km and will welcome its first guests in 2012. In addition to the space hotel, Galactic Suite Project is planning a hotel complex on a Caribbean island to accommodate the tourists, as well as on the space shuttles that will transport the space hotels.

According to the futuristically named, Xavier Claramunt and Marsal Gifra, directors of Galactic Suite Project, "This is the first package deal, as it includes transport from the tourist's home to the Caribbean island, the training required for journeys into orbit, the flight to the hotel and three nights' accommodation in the Galactic Suite." The project was set up in Barcelona in January 2007 by various architects, aerospace engineers and industrial engineers from Spain and the US. The founders have already made initial contact with Japanese and UAE private investors interested in investing in the project. Source: Ken Radio, 15th Aug 2007


INFO BOX

"Honey Deuce" Recipe
Source: PR News Wire, 15th Aug 2007

The official GREY GOOSE Vodka specialty cocktail, "Honey Deuce," a refreshing tasting beverage created by GREY GOOSE Vodka Mixologist, Nick Mautone, will be available for purchase in a souvenir cup that features previous U.S. Open champions at select bars on premise during the tournament.

"Honey Deuce"
1 1/4 part GREY GOOSE(R) Original Vodka
2 parts fresh lemonade
1/4 part Chambord(R)
Frozen honeydew melon balls
Fill a highball or double old-fashioned glass with crushed ice. Add

GREY GOOSE Vodka and fill the rest of the cup with lemonade to a half inch below the rim. Drizzle Chambord over the top. Garnish with frozen honeydew melon balls.


SPORTS SHORTS

* The USTA announced that the 2007 US Open will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Althea Gibson’s historic title victory at the U.S. National Championships with an Opening Night celebration themed, “Breaking Barriers.” As part of the ceremony, Gibson will be inducted in the US Open Court of Champions, based on the result of an international media vote. The Opening Night tribute on August 27 will include a celebration of African American females who also broke barriers in the world of sports, entertainment, politics and the arts. Aretha Franklin will perform a special tribute during the ceremony. Source: Tennis News, 15th Aug 2007

* Hong Kong’s Cable Television Limited has extended a content distribution deal with Phoenix Satellite Television for a further two years. Under the renewed contract, Cable TV will continue to carry Phoenix Chinese Channel and Phoenix InfoNews in Hong Kong until 2009. Phoenix InfoNews was first carried by Cable TV in February 2002 with Chinese Channel launching on Cable TV two years later. Source: Marketing Hong Kong, 15th Aug 2007

* Internet video company, VODone, has teamed with Goal TV to launch an online channel in China delivering coverage of a host of European football leagues. The online service is promises coverage of French, Scottish and Dutch leagues, as well as 200 hours of original programming, including behind-the-scenes access to Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Barcelona. There will also be soccer entertainment programs, including news, interviews, pre- and post-match analysis, delayed and archived matches. VODone has set an initial target of 2 million subscribers. Source: Worldscreen, 15th Aug 2007

* With the broadband penetration gaining momentum, IPTV is set for a boom in India and is expected to be available in around 30 cities in the next 18-20 months, industry officials said. IPTV is currently commercially available in Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata; and is now showing signs of gaining traction in the Indian market. Mumbai-based IPTV content provider IOL Broadband Ltd plans to deploy the triple-play service—telephone, high speed internet and cable television in as many as 28 cities by March 2009. Source: Financial Express, Kolkatta Newsline, DNA India, 15th Aug 2007

* The Arab Nations Cup, a new soccer tournament for national teams in North Africa, will have a total prize of $16 million. No dates or venue have been set, but 10 countries are considering invitations to take part. They are: Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Algeria, Sudan, Mauritania, Djibouti, Somalia and Comoros. The event will be sponsored by Saudi businessman Sheikh Saleh Kamel, owner of Pan-Middle Eastern broadcaster ART, who was involved in establishment of the Arab Champions League. If it goes ahead, the winners of the inaugural Arab Nations Cup will earn $3 million. Source: Sportcal, 15th Aug 2007

* Three bars in Hong Kong have settled out of court over unauthorised screening of the 2006 World Cup for their patrons. The bars were sued by FIFA and local pay-TV operator Hong Kong Cable Television Limited, operator of i-Cable, after showing matches during the tournament without subscriptions to i-Cable. The defendants paid “substantial compensation” for infringing copyright and will also cover costs. CASBAA and those companies it represents says that they are committed to tracking down and prosecuting the suppliers of illegal pay-TV equipment in Hong Kong. Source: Rapid TV News, Worldscreen, 15th Aug 2007

* Seven cricketers from Hyderabad joined the Indian Cricket League (ICL), the rival set-up of BCCI, in a late night development in Chennai on Wednesday. A. T. Rayudu, D. Vinay Kumar, Ibrahim Khaleel, Sashank Nag, Kaushik Reddy, Anirudh Singh and I. S. Reddy who were reportedly offered Rs. 90 lakh pulled out of the team playing in the Buchi Babu tournament in Chennai. Source: The Hindu, 16th Aug 2007

* Boonsak Ponsana made it two upset wins in a row over world No. 2 Chen Hong of China, giving Thailand the men’s singles badminton gold medal yesterday at the World University Games. Boonsak, a 25-year-old law student ranked ninth in the world, led Thailand to the team title last weekend with a win over Chen, avenging a loss to the Chinese player in the recent Thailand Open final. The Thai player did it again yesterday, beating Chen 17-21, 21-15, 21-17. Source: Khaleej Times, People’s Daily, 16th Aug 2007

* The German soccer federation has suggested its broadcast contract with public-service broadcasters, ARD and ZDF, will be renewed beyond 2009. Wolfgang Niersbach, director at the DFB, told the Sport Bild, ‘the prediction that we will remain with ARD and ZDF beyond 2009 for the international matches is not risky.’ ARD and ZDF’s €390-million ($525.6-million) six-year contract with the DFB runs until 2009 and includes Germany’s home international matches, the DFB Pokal, German club soccer’s leading knockout tournament, and the third-tier Regionalliga division. Source: Sportcal, 15th Aug 2007

* Internet broadcaster, JumpTV Inc., agreed to acquire Cycling TV Ltd for £2.44 million. The agreement also includes performance shares equal to £3.35 million (approx US$6.79 million) that may be earned based on pre-determined revenue targets. JumpTV over 300 internet TV channels from 75 plus countries and delivers full-screen sports, news and entertainment content on a real-time basis from all corners of the globe to computers, Internet-enabled TV sets, IP set-top-boxes and cell phones with browser access. Source: Sport Business, 15th Aug 2007

* The International Rowing Federation (FISA) has received record entries from 68 nations for this year’s World Rowing Championships which will take place near Munich, Germany from 26 August to 2 September. A total of 1285 athletes racing in 474 crews will take part. Semifinals and A-Finals will be broadcast world-wide including on Eurosport and CCTV China. The semifinals and finals will be video streamed live on Thu 30 and Fri 31 August as well as on Sat 1 and Sun 2 September through http://www.worldrowing.com/ website. Source: Sports e-Media, 15th Aug 2007

* Richard Worth, former chief executive of the Team Marketing, is among three individuals understood to have been shortlisted for chief executive of the Sportfive international sports agency. The position has been vacant since February this year, when Philip Cordes left Sportfive amid a major reorganisation of the agency’s management. The reshuffle was aimed at simplifying the agency’s complicated management structure, following French media group Lagardère’s acquisition of the agency late last year. Source: Sportcal, 15th Aug 2007

* Manchester City yesterday formally passed into the private control of Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister of Thailand, as a warrant was issued for his arrest back home. The Supreme Court of Thailand took action after Thaksin, a telecoms billionaire, and his wife failed to appear to answer charges relating to a Bt772-million ($24-million) land deal. Extradition proceedings could be launched if the pair fail to attend a new hearing on September 25. Source: Sportcal, EUFootball.biz, 15th Aug 2007

* Yahoo! has surpassed Google for the first time as the highest-rated search and portal site, in an annual US-based customer satisfaction survey. The University of Michigan has been tracking Google and Yahoo! in its American Customer Satisfaction Index, since 2002. Each year, Google has led the pack for e-business sites, which the ACSE defines as portals, search engines, and news and information sites. However, the latest poll put Yahoo's satisfaction score of 79, edging out Google's performance at 78. Source: Ken Radio, Indian Express, 15th Aug 2007

* Spyker is considering selling its Formula 1 team as part of a refinancing plan. Spyker, which bought the struggling Midland team last September, said that negative publicity about its credit worthiness had forced it to seek additional funds to secure its short term liquidity. Spyker added that it was reviewing various offers for the team. Michiel Mol, interim chief executive of Spyker and director of the F1 team, is ready to step down from his roles to prevent further conflict of interest. Hans Hugenholtz will become temporary chief until a successor is appointed. Source: Sportcal, 15th Aug 2007

* Spanish league, The LFP, will ignore a requests by Fifa and Uefa to remove new second division side Granada 74 from the competition before the start of the 2007-08 season. Granada 74 took advantage of new Spanish regulations to buy a place in a higher league by purchasing Ciudad de Murcia's berth in the second division. The move represented a ‘violation of one of the fundamental principles of football,' according to Fifa and Uefa, who called on the RFEF, Spanish soccer's governing body to exclude the team. The LFP said it fully supported Granada 74, pointing to Spanish sports law to justify the action taken. The RFEF has not yet moved against the club. Source: Sportcal, 15th Aug 2007


MORE NEWS

Global/New Media: Mobile UGC Revenues to Rise Tenfold by 2012

Social networking services will dominate a burgeoning market for mobile user-generated content, according to a new report from Juniper Research. Globally, end-user generated revenues from social networking, dating and personal content delivery services will increase from $572m in 2007 to more than $5.7bn in 2012, with social networking accounting for 50 per cent of the total by the end of the forecast period.

According to report author Dr Windsor Holden, even though social networking sites are in their infancy, the exponential growth experienced by a number of mobile service providers – in some cases achieved primarily through viral marketing seems to affirm that there is huge potential in this area. “The key challenge now is for those providers to monetise that interest,” he said.

Holden added that, in the medium term, the highest levels of growth could well be experienced in developing markets with limited fixed broadband access. "In these markets, the mobile phone is becoming the predominant means by which people access the Internet. Hence, the overwhelming majority of online social networking will be conducted via the handset rather than the PC."

Other findings from the report suggest that the volume of downloads from mobile personal content delivery sites such as SeeMeTV are expected to rise from less than 200m in 2007 to more than 9bn in 2012. Source: Advanced Television, 15th Aug 2007

Elsewhere/General: Extra Prize Money and Team at 2007 Club World Cup

Fifa has increased the prize money for this year’s Club World Cup by $1 million to $16 million, while confirming the revised format for the event in Japan. For the first time, the host nation will be represented, with the winner of Japan’s top-tier J-League, which ends on December 1, set to take on New Zealand’s Waikatere United, the winners of the Oceania Champions Cup, in a preliminary round, as the competition expands from six to seven teams.

The winner of that match on December 7 will take on Asia’s representative in the Club World Cup, which features the champions of Fifa’s six confederations. This will ensure that no confederation has more than one team in the last four. In addition to Waikatere United, the confirmed entrants are Pachuca of Mexico, Boca Juniors of Argentina and AC Milan of Italy. The winners of Asia’s AFC Champions League final and Africa’s CAF Champions League final, both of which take place in November, will make up the numbers.

If a Japanese club wins the AFC Champions League, the highest-placed non-Japanese team will qualify for the Club World Cup and play in the opening play-off against the New Zealand side. As the respective champions of South America and Europe, Boca Juniors and AC Milan will not join the competition until the semi-final stage. The match for fifth place has been scrapped. Matches will again take place in Tokyo, Toyota and Yokohama.

The winner of the final at the Yokohama International Stadium on December 16 will take home $5 million, with the runner-up receiving $4 million, the third-placed team earning $2.5 million and the fourth-placed team picking up $2 million. The two fifth-placed teams each get $1 million, while the defeated team in the opening play-off receives $500,000.

The organising committee of the Club World Cup, headed by Fifa’s Viacheslav Koloskov, has recommended that the 2008 tournament be held in Japan, while a bidding process for the 2009 edition will commence this November. The competition first took place in Brazil in 2000 and was revived and held in Japan in 2005 and 2006. Brazilian clubs Corinthians, Sao Paulo and Internacional are the three champions to date. Source: Sportcal, 15th Aug 2007


ARTICLES, COMMENTS & OPINIONS

DirecTV Tries New Offense for NFL Coverage
Paul J. Gough comments on the Hollywood Reporter, 16th Aug 2007

When DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket premium package kicks off Sept. 9, it will break new ground not just on TV but also online. For the first time, DirecTV will offer up to 11 game telecasts a week online to subscribers to its SuperFan package, which costs $99 on top of the $269 subscribers pay for Sunday Ticket. While the NFL Network has offered subscribers the ability to watch selected games online, the DirecTV SuperCast marks the first time a broadband service will offer wide access.

DirecTV received the rights to stream the Sunday afternoon games as part of its multimillion-dollar package that it signed with the NFL three years ago. But Eric Shanks, DirecTV's executive vp entertainment, said Wednesday that the company last year didn't feel the reach or the quality was going to be up to standards. But technology and the march of broadband has caught up, he said. "We think now is the right time," Shanks said. "We can keep the quality of the Sunday Ticket experience online."

The broadband play allows SuperFan subscribers to watch a game away from home or watch two games at the same time, using the same network feeds. The same rules apply as for the TV service. If a subscriber's local-market game didn't sell out and is blacked out on TV, it also is blacked out for that subscriber online.

DirecTV is moving cautiously into another arena: mobile phones. This year, SuperFan subscribers with compatible video-enabled phones will be able to watch on-demand highlights of games while they are being played. DirecTV plans to talk with the NFL about possibly getting the rights to stream live games on mobile phones, though Shanks said the technology hasn't caught up yet. But DirecTV also is offering other services to fans on the go.

SatGo brings DirecTV to people who buy the mobile system that fits into a suitcase, including people who want to watch on vacation or even tailgating before a game. And the satcaster said Wednesday that it has expanded its handheld DirecTV service with Kangaroo TV to include stadiums in Seattle and Houston. Last year, Dolphin Stadium in Miami and FedEx Field in Washington allowed the rental or purchase of hand-held devices that gave fans DirecTV service -- including Sunday Ticket games -- during gameday at those venues.

DirecTV is looking at offering the service in other sports, perhaps golf and tennis. "It makes a huge amount of sense. You can't see every hole, you can't see every court" when you're at a venue, he said. There are service enhancements on TV, too. DirecTV will have 180 high-definition NFL games this year, with CBS' increase from three to at least five per week. DirecTV's Red Zone Channel that cuts to scoring drives and other key plays as they happen is set to go to HD this year as well.

And for fantasy football players, DirecTV has ramped up its interactivity on the TV screen. Last year saw the introduction of a tracker that sends alerts to the screen when a player on the viewer's fantasy football team did something to earn points. This year it's possible to set it for your opponent's team too.