Wednesday, 8th August 2007

HEADLINE NEWS

Beijing Counts Down to Olympics

Washington Post & ABC News AU, 8th Aug 2007
One year from today, Beijing will host the opening ceremonies for the 2008 Summer Olympics on 8:00pm on 8/8/2008. For two weeks we will be treated to athletic performances that animate dreams and inspire the world, set against the backdrop of one of the world's most ancient and celebrated civilizations. That, at least, is the way Beijing would like to sell the Games. For better or worse, they will mark a critical crossroads in China's development as a responsible global player. The Olympics will be seen as China's coming out party: an event that shows the country has become a modern and sophisticated society.

The Scotsman, 8th Aug 2007
Free Tibet activists on the Great Wall, a barrage of critical human rights reports, a shroud of smog over Beijing - China's government must surely have imagined a more auspicious start for the Olympics countdown. On top of that, the flood of food-safety scandals shows no sign of abating and a group of dissidents has written an open letter to the president, Hu Jintao, calling for the Games slogan to be changed to "One World, One Dream, Same Human Rights". The weather is also refusing to co-operate in the run-up to the eighth day of the eighth month today, which will start the one-year countdown to the opening ceremony.

Radio New Zealand News, 8th Aug 2007
The one-year countdown to the Olympic Games has begun in Beijing with organisers saying preparations are on track and shrugging off concerns about pollution, food safety and human rights. The International Olympic Committee's president Jacques Rogge has also placed security high on the agenda -- he says it's always the number one factor. Rogge says the games will be a significant force for good in China but can't be expected to resolve all the issues the country faces.


THIS WEEK

Sun, 12th Aug 2007
AVP Crocs Tour 2007: Final Day – Manhattan Beach Open


SPORTS SHORTS

* Online lottery site, 500wan.com, announced that it has received rights to broadcast English Premier League soccer games on the Internet from Tian Sheng TV. Starting from August 11, 500wan users will be able to access soccer games online for approximately $5 per month. Tian Sheng TV had acquired broadcast rights for the EPL in China for $50 million. However, since Tian Sheng needs to negotiate with regional cable TV operators to launch the paid soccer channel, fans in many major cities still do not have access to the EPL games. Redline China believes 500wan’s online broadcasting will capture audience from these cities and enhance its lottery ticket sales. Source: Redline China, 6th Aug 2007

* China Leisure Sports Administrative Center announced the launch of the first National Traktor Poker Tournament in China and has selected WPT Enterprises as the exclusive marketing partner for the Tour. The unprecedented five-year partnership is a landmark agreement in China Leisure Sports history and will focus on growing the sport of Traktor Poker, known as Tuo La Ji, China’s most popular poker game. The World Poker Tour televised tournaments began production in the United States, reinventing poker as a sport and igniting a global television phenomenon. Source: Business Wire, Newswire Canada, 6th Aug 2007

* China is cracking down on pay-TV operators that have been offering unauthorized foreign satellite broadcasts. The regulatory agency ordered local authorities to determine which operators are providing customers with foreign channels, officially restricted to hotels where tourists stay. The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television's order say the strategy is aimed at strengthening regulation, maintaining government information controls and "blocking the intellectual and cultural infiltration of enemy forces." The paper said penalties were not stipulated, but violating operators would have to re-apply for the right to receive all satellite broadcasts. One victim may be Hong Kong's News Corp.-backed Phoenix satellite news channel - a network highly popular among the country's urban middle class. Source: Advanced Television, 7th Aug 2007

* It is reported that the Indian government is looking to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to help work out ambiguities regarding IPTV in India. Although authorities in India have reached a decision on jurisdiction of IPTV, there are no set regulations in place for the developing sector. However, leading operators have already launched IPTV services based on the grounds of the universal access service license (UASL). Currently, telcos and the cable industry are at odds over who can provide the service, with the cable industry demanding that IPTV be included under the Cable TV Act. Source: Entertainment Asia, 7th Aug 2007

* High-definition TV will remain limited in China for the next few years, according to new research. In-Stat forecasts that HD subscriber growth will reach just two million by 2011, with revenues at $358 million. But HD set shipment will be higher, at 19.7 million units by 2011. Simon Sun, In-Stat analyst, said: “The most important element in the service market is content production. At present, the majority of HDTV content is produced by government-led initiatives, and the quantity of programming is small.” Source: Rapid TV News, Advanced Television, 7th Aug 2007

* New Internet TV channel, Watch India, dedicated to providing Indian programming to expatriates around the world, has acquired over 100,000 unique viewers within a month of its launch. For US$25 a month, subscribers of Watch India can access popular Indian programming from India’s top networks such as Zee Telefilms, Zee TV, Zee Sports, Times Now News, Aastha TV, and Zoom in TV-like quality by visiting http://www.watchindia.tv. The web portal allows users to watch any of its movies on-demand without additional charges. Source: Entertainment Asia, 7th Aug 2007

* Indian telco, Bharti Airtel, is a step closer to launching a DTH satellite platform, reportedly having been awarded a letter of intent from the government – a step away from a full licence. With plans to launch by March 2008, the telco would be the fifth DTH licence holder. Two licensees have already launched pay-TV services (TataSky and Dish TV) and two more (Reliance Comm. and Sun TV) are still in planning stages. Videocon, has a licence application outstanding, while Doordashan operates a free-to-air platform, DD Direct. Bharti is also planning an IPTV service, to be launched in December 2007. Source: Rapid TV News, The Hindu, 7th Aug 2007

* The 2007 Universiade in Bangkok, Thailand officially starts with the opening ceremony on Wednesday. The World University Games are among the biggest multi-sports events outside the Olympics and will involve 10,200 students competing in 17 sports. In all, there are 36 competition sites and 43 practice sites. FISU, the international university sport federation, admitted that preparations were disrupted by last year’s military coup in Thailand as it resulted in the replacement of many officials. Source: Sportcal, 7th Aug 2007

* Field hockey’s world governing body, FIH, said that it is considering moving this year’s Champions Trophy, due to be played in Pakistan, to another country due to safety concerns. The FIH said it would meet on Friday to discuss the issue after Olympic champions Australia pulled out of the event and other countries said that they were considering following suit. Key considerations for the FIH are team withdrawals and security advice from authorities in Pakistan. India has formally approached the FIH about taking over as host of the tournament, scheduled for December 1-9. Source: Sportcal, 7th Aug 2007

* Pakistan team manager Talat Ali has laughed off attempts by the Indian Cricket League to rope in Pakistani cricketers, saying ICL was nothing more than 'Micky Mouse' cricket and lacked potential to tempt quality players. "I use this word because even if it is held it is not official or serious cricket. It is a rebel series not involving countries and it would be more befitting if it was held in Disneyland instead of in a Test playing nation," Ali said. ICL's efforts to rope in Pakistani players would not see the light of day, he claimed. Reacting to ICL's claims that it has been launched to scout talent, Ali said that was the responsibility of the respective cricket boards and not of private entrepreneurs. Source: The Hindu, Cricket Express, 7th Aug 2007

* The Australian soccer team will play China in a friendly in Sydney on October 13. The match will follow a home friendly against Argentina in Melbourne on 11 September and the Football Federation Australia is hopeful that a full strength squad will be available on both occasions. There are also plans for a friendly in May and qualification matches for the 2010 World Cup are likely to be played in Australia in February and June of next year. Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Brazil will play Algeria in a friendly in the French town of Montpellier later this month, on August 22. Source: Sportcal, 7th Aug 2007

* Eurosport has signed a four-year deal with Fifa for secondary tournaments, including live coverage of next month's Women’s World Cup. The deal is for live coverage of 25 of the 32 games at the Women’s World Cup in China, including the semi-finals and the final, which will be available across Europe with the exception of Scandinavia. The contract also covers rights across Europe to Fifa under-17 and under-20 tournaments over the next four years, along with the annual Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup and the Fifa Futsal World Cup. Source: Sportcal, 7th Aug 2007

* More sports right holders have joined the Premier League’s class action lawsuit against YouTube and Google including the Rugby Football League; the Finnish Football League Association and boxing companies Knockout Entertainment Limited and Seminole Warriors Boxing. They were also joined by various other parties including the National Music Publishers’ Association. The Premier League has brought the suit against YouTube, alleging wide-scale copyright infringement. Source: Sport Business, Sportcal, 7th Aug 2007


MORE NEWS

Elsewhere/General: Courier Enjoys Growing Popularity of Legends Tennis

Life has slowed down only slightly for Jim Courier since his days of practically training around the clock to maintain his status as the top-ranked tennis player in the world. Courier did what he had to do to keep the upper hand for a few years on his chums from his junior tennis days; Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Michael Chang. If Courier had to hit those exaggerated topspin forehands all day long or if it took extended sessions in the gym to keep his muscles and body in condition to compete at the top, he did it.

He won four Grand Slam tournament titles in a span of 20 months in the early 1990s. He appeared to be on his way to record Grand Slam totals, but he never advanced past the quarterfinals of another Grand Slam after the 1996 French Open. Sampras and Agassi zoomed past him once their superior tennis skills overcame Courier's zest for training. He was the first of the four greats to quit the ATP Tour. He was only 18 when he played in his first Grand Slam event, but his last one came before he turned 30.

He'll be 37 in less than two weeks. On Thursday morning, he was at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, promoting Wolf Blass Wines on the U.S. Open Series. On Friday night, he was in Kalmazoo, Mich., taking on Todd Martin in an exhibition. Courier's main job is running his Inside Out Sports and Entertainment company. But he'll serve as an analyst for the USA Network's coverage of the U.S. Open. He also serves as an analyst during the Australian Open for an Australian network.

He started the Outback Champions Series for former ATP standouts in 2005 with one tournament. "We grew to five (tournaments) last year and it's up to seven this year," Courier said Thursday morning from Washington. Although the next Outback Series event will be held Aug. 22-26 on grass in Newport, R.I., Courier is already looking ahead to returning to Charlotte Sept. 26-30 to defend his title in the Championships at the Palisades.

How good is Sampras at age 35? "Today, Pete's not training at the level of those guys (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, etc.), but with his serve he could hang in there. I would like his chances more on grass than clay," Courier said. Don't be fooled. Courier still takes his tennis seriously enough to train regularly. "I train a lot . . . five or six days a week. Everybody has to train to be able to play at this level. You have to be ready to play four matches in five days at a high level of competition. I practice a lot, ride a bike and hit the weight room."

But the Outback Series is nothing like the old ATP Tour days for the likes of Courier, Sampras, Martin, John McEnroe, Mats Wilander, Pat Cash, Chang, Goran Ivanisevic and others. "This is a bit more manageable since we don't play week-in and week-out. It is a nice balance of high-level competition and a lifestyle that is manageable," said the affable Courier, who lists himself as "a free agent" when the question of marriage is mentioned.

Courier thinks the future of the Outback Series is "very bright. We have great sponsors, and a lot of cities have contacted us about having and Outback Series." The North Charleston event will not be part of the Outback Series, but it will be promoted by Inside Out Sports and Entertainment. "We're expecting somewhere in the neighborhood of 5,000 people," he said. Source: Charleston Post & Courier, 6th Aug 2007

Elsewhere/General: Bundesliga Excels While Other Leagues Falter

While the mood in England has been dulled with the corporate climate infiltrating the Premier League, Germany's Bundesliga has stepped up in popularity. Two weeks ahead of the start of the new season, the Bundesliga's 18 clubs already have sold a record 377,000-plus tickets. The Bundesliga also surpassed the previous transfer record of EUR 153 million, set in 2001-2002, spending EUR 165 million before the transfer period has even ended.

But transfers aren't everything. While Bremen and Bayern Munich have invested heavily in new players, Eintracht Frankfurt set a ticket sales record without investing in a transfer. Wolfgang Holzhäuser, the president of the German League (DFL), explained to the Deutsche Welle that "great stadiums" and "the World Cup aftermath" are reasons the Bundesliga is enjoying success.

"Above all, there is a sense that the game here [Germany] has not been hijacked - neither by big commercial interests nor by hooligans," commented BBC sports reporter Margot Dunne. "It still belongs to the, ordinary, decent fans and perhaps that is the secret." According to The Guardian the Bundesliga has on offer "a crazy race for the title, cheap tickets, sausage, great stadiums and many goals." Source: EUFootball.biz, 7th Aug 2007


ARTICLES, COMMENTS & OPINIONS

Can Football Save Mobile TV?
Owen Gibson comments on The Guardian UK, 6th Aug 2007

It was supposed to be the epitome of the converged media dream and was one of the reasons the mobile phone giants shelled out £22.5bn on 3G licences. Bored waiting for a bus? Stuck on a train? Idling away a few minutes during your lunch break? Then watch television on your mobile. For the past four years the brightest technical and marketing minds at the big mobile networks have been desperately trying to persuade you to use the handset in your pocket as a TV.

But despite their best efforts, progress has been glacially slow. Most of the broadcasters, including ITV, the BBC, Channel 4 and BSkyB, are on board, so content is no longer the problem. It would appear that, as many suspected all along, the prospect of paying extra to watch programmes that we can see for nothing at home on a much bigger screen is not that attractive for most people.

Last week, BT announced it was shutting down its Movio service less than one year after it was launched with a multimillion-pound advertising campaign. The first service to offer broadcast television, albeit only five channels' worth, it was seen as a litmus test for the public's appetite for real-time TV on their mobile. But it was available only on one network, Virgin Mobile, and one handset, the ungainly Lobster, and managed to sign up less than 10,000 subscribers.

Yet the final bell has not yet tolled. An unlikely combination of overpaid Premiership footballers, European regulators and advertisers desperate to find new ways to reach consumers could yet save mobile TV.

It could be top-flight football - the battering ram for pay-TV ever since the then Spurs chairman and satellite manufacturer Alan Sugar was overheard telling BSkyB to "blow them [ITV] out of the water" during negotiations over the very first Premier League contract in 1992 - that rides to the rescue. That story came full circle last week when Amstrad was bought by BSkyB and the next day the broadcaster announced plans to deliver more sport to mobile handsets.

Amid the coverage given to the loss of its virtual monopoly on live Premiership football, with Setanta grabbing 46 matches a season, it went largely unnoticed that BSkyB had won the mobile rights. Replicating the cross-promotion that has served both so well over the past 15 years, the broadcaster will join up with News Group, parent company of the Sun and the News of the World, to offer a new service dubbed 24-7 Football.

It will offer in-game goal clips for the first time along with highlights and other football programming - including all 92 live Premiership matches being shown in the 2007/08 season - for £5 a month.

It opens up an intriguing possibility for football fans on a budget. For £5 a month, and provided they have a sophisticated enough handset with a reasonable picture, they can subscribe to all Sky Sports channels and watch all 92 live Premiership matches plus Champions League football and other sports for the price of a couple of pints. For a SkyDigital package with access to all the sports channels, television subscribers pay a minimum of £35 per month.

But mobile television is likely to remain a niche pursuit. Watching a live football match on a mobile phone will always be a last resort. The fear of racking up big data bills, a problem that the networks are only now addressing with "all you can eat" monthly data packages, has also acted as a drag on take-up.

"Many operators have focused on TV, music and the internet. They are three things that people do a hell of a lot of anyway. There is a market for all of these things, but people's need for them and willingness to pay for them are limiting factors," says Philip Makinson of media and telecoms consultant Greenwich.

The excitement around made-for-mobile content, exemplified by 3's cautious steps into commissioning 18 months ago and Endemol's decision to launch a mobile spin-off, has dissipated as consumers have made plain their lack of interest. There have been some isolated successes. 3's SeeMeTV has claimed 1m downloads a month for its mobile version of YouTube, and the same network's adoption of Slingbox, which allows subscribers to access their home TV set-top box from their mobile, offers an intriguing alternative. Meanwhile, the trend towards operators tearing down their "walled garden" portals and allowing customers to access the open internet for a flat monthly fee is also likely to have ramifications for the consumption of video content; YouTube has already reconfigured its site for mobile use, for example.

Advertisers are likely to drive the next phase of mobile TV. Operators hold detailed information on their customers, so the possibility of targeting ads to particular demographics is tempting. Vodafone and 3 are in the early stages of selling advertising around free video content, and other networks are liable to follow suit. The idea of squinting at a tiny screen is not so unappealing if it does not cost anything. Look around on any long-distance train journey and you will see dozens of people watching movies on laptops or video content on their iPod or PSP.

Italy, South Korea and Japan have all shown that there is a market. Yet the fact remains that the 3G network is too patchy for the delivery of high-quality broadcast television on the move and is more suited to high-speed downloads. Broadcast television is unlikely to truly take off until there is a cheap, accessible alternative. Soon major cities will be covered by wi-fi networks that will allow mobile phone users to seamlessly tap into linear TV and on-demand services. And beyond 2012, more spectrum is likely to be available for mobile TV in the DVB-H format that has just been mandated as the European standard and gives a comparable quality to Freeview.

Prompted by telecoms commissioner Viviane Reding, the EU has mandated all 27 European governments to support DVB-H, which has been developed by Nokia. It claims this will promote the development of a common standard in the same way that its backing for GSM helped the nascent mobile phone market. But rivals claim it is anti-competitive and will stall innovation.

In the meantime mobile TV will remain a minority interest. The demise of BT Movio and the lack of available spectrum are liable to hamper take-up for some time to come, but the mobile networks have enough cash, and enough determination, to make it a mainstream pursuit as handsets and picture quality improve - even if it is not the must-have cash cow they once envisaged.