Friday, 7th September 2007

RESULTS

U.S. Open 2007 – Day 11

Men’s Singles Results - Quarterfinals
Novak Djokovic SRB (3) def. Carlos Moya ESP (17) 6-4 7-6 (9-7) 6-1
David Ferrer ESP (15) def. Juan Ignacio Chela ARG (20) 6-2 6-3 7-5

Women’s Doubles Results - Semifinals
Yung-Jan Chan TPE (5) Chia-Jung Chuang TPE (5) def. Agnes Szavay HUN (14) Vladimira Uhlirova CZE (14) 6-2 7-6 (7-5)

Mixed Doubles Results - Finals
Victoria Azarenka BLR Max Mirnyi BLR def. Meghann Shaughnessy USA Leander Paes IND 6-4 7-6 (8-6)


THIS WEEK

Fri, 7th Sep 2007
US Open Tennis Championships 2007: Women’s Semi-finals

Sat, 8th Sep 2007
US Open Tennis Championships 2007: Men’s Semi-finals
US Open Tennis Championships 2007: Women’s Finals

Sun, 19th Aug 2007
US Open Tennis Championships 2007: Men’s Finals
AVP Crocs Tour 2007: Final Day – Las Vegas Gods & Goddesses
Superbikes World Championship 2007: Race Day – Euro Speedway, Lausitz, Germany
Masters Football: Finals


SPORTS SHORTS

* IEC in Sports has been exclusively appointed as television co-ordinator for the international broadcast rights of the Chinese Taipei Badminton Association. The three-year deal begins with the Yonex Chinese Taipei Open, scheduled for September 17 to 23. IEC said that it had already agreed deals for live coverage of the semi-finals and final of the event in Asian markets including Malaysia, China, Hong Kong and the Philippines. Highlights will appear on the ‘World of Badminton’ programme broadcast by 14 stations across Asia and Europe. IEC in Sports works with the badminton associations of China, Japan, Malaysia, Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Macau and Thailand and is also involved in distributing the Asian Championships and Badminton World Federation’s newly-launched Super Series. Source: Sportcal, 6th Sep 2007

* ESPN STAR Sports agreed a new four-year contract for the exclusive rights to broadcast Cricket Australia’s domestic and home international matches across various platforms including TV, internet, mobile and radio covering the entire Asian region. Under the deal, said to be worth $95 million, ESPN STAR Sports will broadcast more than 170 days of live International cricket action from Australia, including 243 mobile Test Matches. ESS also plans to broadcast Cricket Australia’s top-class domestic cricket, which includes popular tournaments such as the Pura Cup, Ford Ranger One Day Cup and KFC Twenty20 Big Bash. Last week, ESS renewed its deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board, agreeing to pay $90 million to show England’s home matches for the next five years. Source: Sport Business, Sportcal, 6th Sep 2007

* American football fans in South East Asia will get the opportunity to follow the sport as ESPN STAR Sports offers NCAA football starting tomorrow morning at 7 am, where Louisville takes on Middle Tennessee. NCAA Football, the hotbed for professional football talent in the US, will be broadcast on ESPN from tomorrow with up to two games per week from such powerhouse conferences as the Big Ten, Big 12, Pacific Ten (Pac Ten) and South Eastern Conference (SEC). College Football fans can look forward to up to twenty six matches this season plus Bowl Games including the Capital One Bowl and the ‘Granddaddy of them all’ – the Rose Bowl, the oldest and the most prestigious bowl game. Source: Sports e-Media, 6th Sep 2007

* The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) has fired a warning shot to clubs and public venues in Hong Kong about the illegal broadcasting of sports ahead of the launch of the Rugby World Cup this weekend. CASBAA has sent 300 "awareness" letters to pubs and clubs warning that illegally broadcasting sports are acts of copyright infringement that will result in hefty fines. CASBAA has today placed ads in the South China Morning Post and other magazines to further increase public awareness about pay TV piracy. Source: Marketing HK, 6th Sep 2007

* Al Jazeera Sport Channel has reached more than one million subscribers. The channel's MD Ayman Jada says, "This is a testament to the Channel’s superb content which our subscribers recognize and value.” The channel has acquired TV rights for regional and global sporting events including the Qatari, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Argentinean, Portuguese and Japanese soccer leagues. In addition, Al Jazeera Sport has the TV rights to European football competitions such as the English, Spanish, French and German Cup, the European League Cup. Source: Indian Television, 6th Sep 2007

* India has surpassed its internet subscriber target of 40 million, more than three years ahead of time. Department of Telecommunication (DoT) had set a goal of 40 million internet subscribers through ‘various technologies’ by 2010 which has been met in 2007. However, the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are not happy, saying that internet on mobile is not a pure play, feature rich service and thus those who access the internet on mobile phones cannot be counted among the subscribers. As of March 31, 2007, India had about 9.2 million internet subscribers on personal computers (PCs) and 31.3 million subscribers on mobile phones (both GSM/CDMA). The DoT had set a 40 million subscribers target in its broadband policy of 2004. DoT is now planning to set a new target. Source: The Economic Times IND, 6th Sep 2007

* The Women’s International Squash Players’ Association has introduced a new initiative to help television viewers distinguish them. Starting from 2008, players who reach the quarter-final stage of WISPA Gold and Platinum tournaments will have their names printed on the back of their shirts so that fans on television and at the event can recognise them. Andrew Shelley, WISPA's chief executive, said he wanted the players 'to be more easily recognisable, bearing in mind that a good deal of TV coverage is filmed from behind. 'Even with our players wearing different colours when they are on TV - another WISPA Rule - we want to be sure that it is easy for the viewer to easily distinguish between each player.' Source: Sportcal, 6th Sep 2007

* The fifth FIFA Women’s World Cup is expected to reach new heights in global TV viewership and will be covered in over 200 territories across all confederations. This represents not only a 25% increase in terms of broadcast coverage compared with 2003, but also significant growth in the number of broadcasters in the various regions with sometimes up to three TV stations in the same country covering the competition live. The 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup was broadcast in 67 countries. By 2003, the TV audience had grown to 144 territories worldwide, covering nearly 3,000 hours of tournament play with a total cumulative TV audience of 526 million viewers worldwide. Source: Sport Business, Sportcal, 6th Sep 2007

* Four of the world’s leading press agencies today announced that they were suspending all coverage of the Rugby World Cup, beginning in France tomorrow, in a further escalation of a bitter dispute with the International Rugby Board over the conditions for press accreditation for the competition. Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Associated Press and Getty Images said that they were suspending text, photographs and television coverage of pre-tournament events and training sessions. However, a statement by Reuters to its clients seemed to leave open the door for a rapprochement when it said: ‘Reuters would like to resume coverage of the Rugby World Cup, to provide the world’s media with premium, timely text, photographs and TV. However, freedom of the press and our editorial integrity are at the core of our business, and these must be respected.’ Source: Sportcal, 6th Sep 2007

* US president George Bush stated today that he will attend next year’s Olympic Games in Beijing. Bush said he was happy to accept the offer extended to his family by Chinese president Hu Jintao in talks ahead of this week’s Asia-Pacific summit in Sydney. The decision is likely to disappoint campaign groups which are using the Olympics to highlight alleged shortcomings in the Chinese administration’s human rights record, policy on Tibet and its relationship with the controversial government of Sudan. However, Bush’s aides have claimed that the president will attend the games for sporting reasons and not to make a political statement. Source: Sportcal, 6th Sep 2007


MORE NEWS

Indonesia/Rights: Government Wants Premier League on Terrestrial TV

Astro, the pay-television satellite broadcaster, has been urged by the Indonesian government to share the rights for English soccer’s top-tier FA Premier League with free-to-air broadcasters. Astro, which operates in Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, won the rights to broadcast all 370 Premier League games from the 2007-08 season after commercial television networks were priced out of the market.

But Muhammad Nuh, Indonesia’s information and communication minister, told the Jakarta Post newspaper that ‘soccer is part of Indonesian people's lives. Many Indonesians love English soccer, therefore its broadcasting rights should not be monopolized by a single party.’ Nuh said that his ministry would meet with officials from Astro before Friday to discuss whether it would be possible for the pay-television broadcaster to offer rights to free-to-air television.

Trans7, the commercial station, previously broadcast live Premier League games free of charge in over 230 million homes. Trans7 had complained that the rights fees for the new Premier League contract were too expensive, saying that it could not afford them even if it 'sold all the advertising spots, combined with income from sponsors.’ Source: Sportcal, 6th Sep 2007

Elsewhere/Rights: TF1 Set For Losses at Rugby World Cup Despite Windfall

TF1, the French commercial broadcaster, could generate €47 million ($64.2 million) in advertising during the 2007 Rugby World Cup, but still make a loss on the event. ZenithOptimedia, the media-buying unit of French advertising giant Publicis, has calculated that TF1 will receive €47 million should France reach the final in Paris on October 20, and will generate as much as €40 million even if the host country is knocked after the opening phase.

The projections have been made after combining fees from TF1’s World Cup sponsorship partners with all other television advertising revenue from the 20 matches to be shown on TF1 and those aired on Eurosport, the cable and satellite broadcaster that is part of the TF1 group. Despite the high advertising revenue, TF1 is not expected to make a profit from the tournament.

TF1 paid a combined rights fee of €80 million for the 2007 World Cup, to be staged mainly in France, and the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand. However, given the impact of the time difference on viewer numbers and advertising revenue, the share of the fee for 2011 is between €20 million and €25 million. TF1 spent around €100 million on the rights for the last soccer World Cup in Germany last year, and recuperated only €55 million, according to ZenithOptimedia.

Phillipe Nouchi, ZenithOptimedia’s director of audiovisual studies, said though that the French team would guarantee TF1 strong ratings. He predicted that, ‘The French team, enjoying the status of hosts, and because of its victory in the Six Nations, its world number two ranking and good chances of making the semi-final, is practically ensured to benefit from strong audiences.’ Source: Sportcal, 6th Sep 2007

Elsewhere/Rights: ORF on Track Euro 2008

Broadcast rights in Austria, the co-host of soccer’s 2008 European Championships, have still to be sold after ORF, the public-service broadcaster, denied reports that a deal has been agreed. A report in Österreich, the Austrian daily newspaper, had claimed that an agreement had been signed by ORF after lengthy negotiations, but this has been denied by the broadcaster. ORF has steadfastly refused to meet the €18-million ($24.6-million) asking price set by Sportfive, the international sports marketing agency, but negotiations are now ‘on the right track,’ according to an ORF spokesman. Sportfive said that it could not comment on any deals for Euro 2008 until it had received confirmation from Uefa.

ORF was reported to have come close to the €18-million asking price before ATV, the commercial network, pulled out of the race in early June, prompting ORF to withdraw its offer. In October, Austrian press reports had claimed that ORF had won the rights to Euro 2008 after agreeing a €15-million fee, but no deal was forthcoming. Elmar Oberhauser, ORF’s news director, said in June that the broadcaster was ‘not ready to pay €18 million to Uefa when other countries were getting the rights for less money.' These include Switzerland, Austria’s co-host for the European Championships, where a deal worth €6.8 million was signed with SRG SSR, the public-service broadcaster, for live and highlights rights to all 31 games. ORF paid around €5 million for the rights to the European Championships in Portugal in 2004. Source: Sportcal, 6th Sep 2007

Elsewhere/General: Formula 1™ Live on the Big Screen

Fans of Formula 1™ will soon be able to enjoy their favourite sport live in stunning high definition quality on big screens with outstanding surround sound in the comfort of an auditorium. After several successful trials, SuperVision Media is proud to present Formula 1™ races live to audiences in selected cinemas across the UK and beyond, starting with the Formula 1™ Gran Premio d'Italia from Monza on 9 September 2007. The races will be screened uninterrupted with coverage especially tailored for the cinema audience and a dedicated expert commentary team.

The images will be produced to high definition standards, bringing Formula 1™ to life in a way never seen before. With Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound viewers will experience the roar of the circuit all around them. Formula 1™ in Cinema offers outstanding marketing opportunities, ranging from cinema branding and on-screen promotions to hospitality and private screenings for clients and staff. From the 2008 season Formula 1™ in Cinema will be available on 250 screens across Europe and over 200 in North and South America. Expansion into Asia is scheduled for 2009. Source: Sports e-Media, 6th Sep 2007

Elsewhere/General: Broadcasting ‘Must Reinvent Itself Rapidly’

Mark Selby, VP Multimedia at Nokia, says TV, if it is to survive, must reinvent itself rapidly. Selby is speaking at the upcoming Broadcasting 2017 conference in London (BAFTA, September 27), which looks at the state of broadcasting ten years from now. Selby continued: “The economic, cultural and political implications of failure would be immense. The reinvention is possible but is the appetite for change sufficient?"

Mr Selby’s extensive background at Nokia perfectly qualifies him to speak on the importance of TV to mobiles. But recent experience shows that not all is well in this sector. The collapse of the British Telecom-backed Movio service which forced Virgin Mobile to curtail its own limited TV offering shows that lessons still need to be learnt. Greater education for the consumer on the benefits of video to handsets is also needed. Mr Selby will also take part in an all-important revenue panel that contains Patrick Parodi, head of amobee mobile advertising, and Robin Truchy, a director at XBox Live Europe. Source: Rapid TV News, 6th Sep 2007


ARTICLES, COMMENTS & OPINIONS

‘Sports Marketing Awaits Consolidation’
The Financial Express’ Surabhi Agrawal Interviews WSG’s Venu Nair, 6th Sep 2007

He recently cracked the largest “on ground” cricket rights deal ever in the history of India. Up for sale were 55 matches to be played in India till March 2010, which the Singapore based sports marketing company—World Sport Group (WSG) grabbed after shelling out Rs 173 crore (three times the amount of the last contracted bid). From holding commercial rights bodies like the Asean Football Federation to producing television content with the sultry Mandira Bedi during the ICC World Cup, they have been there, done that. Surabhi Agarwal talks to Venu Nair, CEO, South Asia, World Sport Group about the recent wins, the sport and sponsor’s equation and the controversial ICL. Excerpts...

Congratulations on WSG’s recent win. What is the general sentiment at WSG after the win?
Thank you. As can be expected, the sentiment is very upbeat not only within WSG India, but across the group. It is in line with our strategy to focus on the game of Cricket, Golf and Football and working with the BCCI is a step in the right direction for us.

How tough was winning these rights? WSG paid Rs 3.15 crore per match, which is about three times the price paid last time. Do you think it was too much to ask for?
It was quite tough. Interest in the Indian market place for cricket is huge. There are many brands in the country that desire an association with the game as it appeals to a cross section of people. Both, old as well as new sponsors were interested in taking up these rights. To answer your second question, the valuation of cricket in the country has gone up by many times. The reason why broadcasters are sitting happy after paying so much for TV rights is because the market can support them.

How do you plan to exploit these rights to the maximum?
We believe we have arrived at the ability to make the right bid based on a combination of innovative bundling of resources as well as our experience in the game of cricket. We have a cross section of advertisers on-board who signed up for these rights. Before we went in for the bid, we had four advertising partners with us. A small bunch ensures there is enough opportunity for all, more advertisers mean too much fragmentation. In on-ground rights, we will have all the premium spots that will provide maximum visibility to the advertisers.

Who are these advertisers and do you have some inventory innovations in mind?
I can’t name the sponsors till the time BCCI makes formal announcements. They are a mix of old and new sponsors. Some have already tasted success with past associations while others are seeking more value. We do have some innovations in mind. But we will ensure that they are in line with ICC guidelines, which is that promotions should not disturb the game.

Bids for Twenty20 International matches and India’s domestic cricket will be open soon. Do you plan to bid for them too?
These bids were opened at the same time as the bid for the international games and while we have been awarded the rights for the international tests and ODIs played in India, we are confident that as marketing partners for the BCCI, if we can bring in partners for the series you mentioned, we will be in a position to help the BCCI in furthering support and nurturing domestic cricket and 20-20 cricket also.

How has association with Dentsu helped WSG’s India foray?
Support from an international agency like Dentsu is always a major help both, in terms of reach to their basket of clients as well as exposure to the best in class practices that occur across the world.

Recently, World Sport Group signed an agreement with Sachin Tendulkar to manage his image rights and endorsements. Do you have any more players on your radar?
A brand like Tendulkar is a huge opportunity. He is India’s truly global brand. He has performed consistently for the past many years and he is just the right fit for a global brand. As far as other Indian players are concerned, I do not see a global brand on the horizon for the moment.

WSG has a history of association with global golf and football tournaments. How keen is WSG to promote these sports in the country?
We are rights holders to the Indian Open Golf tournament in India for six year—it is India’s longest running golfing event and among the longest running sporting events too. It is our endeavour to ensure that we continue to expand our portfolio of interests in golf in India. We also are aligned with the Asian Football Confederation—ensuring the development of the game across Asia until 2011.

Does WSG seek association with other sports too?
Our business primarily revolves around these three sports. We build a sport that is commercially viable. And golf is picking up in the country in a big way, both corporate and youth golf are becoming more and more popular. Bodies like PGTI (Professional Golf Tour of India) are doing some great work. I believe India can become a more than one sport nation.

What is the future of sports marketing in India? What is the potential and the challenges involved?
In my opinion the future of sports marketing in the country will be characterised by growth where capability exists and rapid consolidation will happen among all other players. It will lead eventually to greater professionalism in sport management and more accountability from sport sponsorship in general.

Can you elaborate on the accountability bit?
See the problem is that today, there are a lot of one-man sports companies who provide one of deals. Now, when a client invests money, they seek value. With consolidation in the industry, there will be a few professionally run sports marketing companies that will be able to provide rights across the spectrum, be it media rights or any other rights. Clients will then have the whole sports outlay to choose from and they would be able to plan their action well in advance.

Are Indian stadiums at par with stadium in foreign countries when it comes to revenue options?
No not really. Opportunity in a stadium in England is same vis-à-vis a stadium in India. However, India needs to work on its hospitality options. In foreign stadiums there are corporate boxes, which are immensely popular. They could be a great source of revenue.

What is your reaction to ICL? Would you like to associate with it?
I have heard about it, but I don’t know what it is about. Where will they play etc. We as a company only work with sports associations that are recognised by sports bodies like ICC or BCCI.

Any specific reason for that?
The reason is that such bodies (recognised) have a calendar of events, which enables us to plan from the long-term perspective. More value comes out of long term planning, rather than what comes out of one-off events.

How are advertisers in the country looking at ICL?
I remember reading somewhere that some small time companies who are not associated with mainstream cricket are interested in the league. I guess everyone is following a wait and watch strategy.