Tuesday, 1st April 2008

SPORTS SHORTS

* Singaporean cable platform StarHub will add a new dedicated sports channel, Eurosport, to its Sports Group package. Beginning April 15, Eurosport will be available to all Sports Group customers using the digital set-top box, HubStation or high-definition set-top box, at no additional cost. The addition of Eurosport increases the number of channels packaged in StarHub’s Sports Group to nine. The other channels in the Sports Group include ESPN, Football Channel, STAR Sports, SuperSports, SuperSports Plus, Golf Channel, Goal TV 1 and Goal TV 2. StarHub also offers three cricket channels: Neo Sports, STAR Cricket and Cricket Extra, which form the Cricket Group. Eurosport is a 24-hour channel that covers more than 60 sports genres, delivering sporting events and also presents a diverse range of Olympic summer and winter sports, as well as extreme sports. World Screen, 31st April 2008

* IM Innity has created an online racing game for motor sports enthusiasts, in a bid to raise awareness and educate the public about the sport. A navigational game, players are prompted to answer random racing-related questions at the end of the game to improve their race time. In addition, by inviting more friends to participate, their race time will also be improved accordingly. Banners have been placed at participating corporate sites while rich media expandable advertising banners were placed at leading high traffic sites, like Asiaone Motoring, One shift and One motoring. This game was jointly commissioned by People's Association, Singapore Motor Sports Association, Singapore Pools and Singapore Sports Council; and sponsored by Yeo's. Marketing-interactive.com, 1st April 2008

* The DLF Indian Premier League is set to carve out a distinct niche for itself in the international cricketing calendar with live coverage of the matches to be made available to several countries other than India. Arab Digital Distribution (ADD), a pay-TV platform management company, has won the 10-year exclusive television coverage rights for the DLF Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket tournament. The telecast rights, bagged at an undisclosed consideration, extends to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) territories. Indiatimes, sportbusiness.com, Sportcal.com 1st April 2008

* The UAE's Thuraya Satellite, the world's largest provider of handheld mobile satellite services, has extended its satellite coverage to the Asia Pacific region. The coverage expansion marks a major expansion plan for Thuraya in Asia. It is the third satellite phone communications network unveiled by Thuraya and the company further said through partnership with leading national telecom and mobile communications companies, Thuraya now provides blanket coverage to more than 110 countries in Europe, Most parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, including Australia. Subscribers can access to Thuraya’s satellite system through appointed service providers who could be national GSM operators. Thuraya is also making major headways in other market segments such as Maritime and Broadband satellite services. telecomasia.net, 1st April 2008

* Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. a leading media, entertainment and technology company, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with KDDI Corporation, expanding its relationship in Japan with this leading information and communications company, which provides comprehensive fixed and mobile communications services. Since 2006, KDDI has been deploying Gemstar-TV Guide’s G-GUIDE® Mobile Interactive Program Guide (IPG) for mobile handsets. Today, Gemstar-TV Guide and KDDI are extending their relationship and expanding the license granted to KDDI to include 1-seg, a mobile terrestrial digital video broadcasting service in Japan. Gemstar-TV Guide's G-GUIDE® Mobile IPG is adapted specifically for the Japanese market. It is built directly into mobile devices, offering Japanese consumers the industry's most advanced interactive television program guide. Yahoo Biz!, 31st Mar 2008

* Clube dos 13 - Brazil’s 13 most important clubs - are set to make a counter proposal to the US$258 million offer received for the 2009-2011 Campeonato Brasileiro TV rights. The proposal will be put before representatitives of media organisations Globo, Sportv and ESPN Brasil in a meeting on Monday. If no deal is forthcoming individual meetings with each of the broadcasters will need to be arranged. Broadcasters Record have dropped out of the race for the terrestrial TV rights for the period, leaving Globo as the frontrunner in the terrestrial The Clube dos 13 - equivalent to Europe’s G-14 - had set up a commission responsible for the negotiations surrounding the Campeonato Brasileiro TV rights which have been in the possession of Globo until this year. Soccer Investor, 31st Mar 2008

* Sheffield United's off-field business interests continue to thrive despite disappointment in the Coca-Cola Championship this season. Following relegation from the Barclays Premier League and "significant investment in the playing squad", the club has revealed operating profits dipped to £1.3 million from £2.6 million in 2006. The club has also made a loss of £100,000 - compared to a £1.3 million profit in 2006 - while a decrease in television revenues for this season saw turnover drop from nearly £26 million to just over £17 million. Chairman Kevin McCabe said: "The development of the Blades as a leisure, services and property company with an international portfolio of football brands at its core has progressed, despite the temporary setback of our current Championship league position. Our primary objective remains to return to the top echelon of football as soon as possible." Football Insider, 31st Mar 2008

* Kentaro is to market the international television rights of the Austrian soccer team following this year’s European Championships in a new deal with the Austrian Football Association (OFB), which was announced today, runs for 18 months from July 1, 2008 to the end of 2009 and covers Austria’s qualifying matches for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Austria have been drawn in the same qualifying group as 2006 runners-up France, as well as Serbia, Romania, Lithuania and the Faroe Islands. Kentaro currently markets the home matches of various European national teams, including Sweden, Norway, the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus. In addition, it has secured the rights to market the home matches of the England team in western Europe, excluding France and Germany, and Scandinavia until 2012, and has been organising friendlies for Brazil in Europe since 2006. Sportcal, 31st Mar 2008

* Joost, the online video service based on peer-to-peer streaming technology, has extended a deal to show clips from English soccer’s top-tier Premier League to cover territories in the Middle East and North Africa, together with Brazil, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, New Zealand and Oceania. The three-year deal running until the end of the 2009-10 season, was agreed with Nimbus Sport International, which is distributing the rights on behalf of the league, and is in addition to one announced last week for the Indian sub-continent, Hong Kong, Japan and other Asian countries. The deal enables internet users to watch highlights of all Premier League games, including every goal scored, free of charge as part of the dedicated advertising-funded Premier League channel. Sportcal, 31st Mar 2008

* Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria in Australia, has retained its status as the best location in the world to hold a sports event and has been declared Ultimate Sports City 2008. According to results published this week exclusively in SportBusiness International, the 2006 Commonwealth Games host has come out on top again having previously been awarded the title 18 months ago. This time Melbourne has beaten Germany’s capital city Berlin into second place and Australian rival Sydney into third place. London, England has taken fourth place and Winter Olympics 2010 host Vancouver fifth for Canada. sportbusiness.com, 31st March 2008


MORE NEWS

Global/General: Developing Markets to Lead Ad Growth

ZenithOptimedia has downgraded 2008 ad expenditure growth in North America and Europe to 3.8%, but has upgraded the forecast for the rest of the world to 11.1%. The organization notes that developing markets will contribute 63% of ad expenditure growth between 2007 and 2010, increasing their share of the global ad market from 27% to 33%. The developed markets—North America, Western Europe, Japan—will contribute 37% of new ad expenditure between 2007 and 2010. In addition, the Asia Pacific, excluding Japan, will overtake Western Europe as the second-largest ad region by 2010.

Ad expenditure in North America is forecast to hit $193.6 billion this year, a 3.7% increase from 2007. Expenditure is expected to rise just 2.2% next year to $197.9 billion. In Western Europe, a 3.9% increase is forecast, to reach $112.56 billion in 2008, rising 4.2% in 2009 to reach $117.25 billion. The Asia Pacific will see an 8.2% increase this year to $106.98 billion, with growth slowing to 6.5% in 2009, when ad expenditures are expected to reach $113.9 billion. In Central and Eastern Europe, expenditures are forecast to rise 18.3% to $34 billion this year, and 16.2% in 2009 to reach $39.5 billion. In Latin America, a 13.3-percent growth rate is predicted for 2008, with ad expenditures forecast at $29 billion, rising a further 10% in 2009 to reach $31.9 billion.

In Africa, the Middle East and the rest of the world, ad expenditures will rise 12.4% this year to $18.7 billion and 17.4% next year to $21.98 billion. The U.S. will remain the biggest ad market from now until 2010, when ad expenditures are forecast to be $194.1 billion. Japan will remain the second-largest market with $43.9 billion and the U.K. the third with $27.9 billion. By 2010, however, China will rise to fourth place with $24.3 billion, Brazil will rise from ninth to seventh place with $14.2 billion, and Russia will crack the top ten with $17.2 billion in expenditures.

By medium, television’s share is expected to remain flat, with 37.8% this year, dropping slightly to 37.6% in 2010. The Internet is expected to account for 9.7% of the pie this year, rising to 11.1% in 2009 and 12.3% in 2010 with revenues of $67 billion. Worldscreen, 31st Mar 2008

Global/New Media: Mobile TV Subs to Hit 200m in 2012

The mobile TV subscriber universe will grow from less than three million at the end of last year to more than 200 million in 2012, according to a new report from research company In-Stat. The mobile TV broadcasting report, published in April, says that along with massive growth, fragmentation appears to be the way of the future. The digital mobile broadcasting world is, at the moment plagued by standards that threaten to divide the world – and even individual countries – much like NTSC, PAL and SECAM did in the analogue TV universe. “In digital mobile TV broadcasting, several of the standards are being used in only one country today, and that situation is likely to continue in the future,” the report says, using the U.S.’ MediaFLO and CMMB in China as examples. Plus there’s the ATSC-M/H being developed in the U.S. by the Advanced Television Standards Committee (ATSC), which could be used in other countries that choose ATSC as their digital TV standard. The most widely deployed of services available, is DVB-H, says principal analyst Michelle Abraham.

In addition to being promoted by the European Union, DVB-H trials (or limited services) are operating in the Philippines, India, Vietnam, Kenya, Nigeria, Namibia, and soon, Indonesia. In Europe, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Russia, and the Netherlands are expected to have DVB-H services on air in 2008, joining Italy and Finland. Another option for mobile TV broadcasting was introduced in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa in 2007, the report says. Mobile handsets began shipping with analogue TV receivers. Around five million receivers had shipped by the end of 2007. That number is expected to grow six times larger in 2008. “There are many markets where digital broadcasts have not begun and analogue shutoff is years away,” Abraham says. “Analogue TV is free, the consumer just has to buy a handset with a receiver, making this an attractive proposition, similar to the way consumers have snapped up digital mobile TV broadcast receivers in Japan and South Korea, where the digital terrestrial service is free-to-air,” she adds.

The launch of new digital mobile TV broadcast services in countries where they are currently not offered will drive an increase in mobile TV broadcast subscribers. In addition, as there are more services there will be larger numbers of handset models available at a range of prices. Content Asia, 31st Mar 2008

China/New Media: BroadWebAsia Enters Partnership With MLB Advanced Media

Buoyed by the success of the first Major League Baseball exhibition games in China, baseball fans in the country will now be able to follow the game's brightest stars as they compete in the United States via an agreement announced today between MLB Advanced Media, LP (MLBAM) and BroadWebAsia Inc. MLBAM is the interactive media and Internet company of Major League Baseball and operates the official league website at http://www.MLB.com as well as all 30 individual club sites. BroadWebAsia, established and chaired by Brad Greenspan, the founder of MySpace, owns and operates six of the leading web 2.0 properties in China.

Under the terms of the agreement, BroadWebAsia, an official MLBAM Licensee in China, will create and host a Major League Baseball-focused website in simplified Chinese targeting the China market. The site, http://www.major.tv/china, is being developed by BroadWebAsia's Shanghai-based Hupo TV subsidiary (http://www.hupo.tv), and officially launched in time for the MLB Opening Series in Japan on March 25th. This year's Opening Series featured the defending World Champion Boston Red Sox taking on the Oakland Athletics in Japan's Tokyo Dome on March 25th and 26th.

BroadWebAsia's MLB-focused China site will be in the simplified Chinese Language, offering Chinese fans video highlights, scores, feature articles, photos, up-to-date and historical statistics and a number of live baseball games streamed directly to China via the Major.tv/China website. Leveraging the popularity of Asian players such as Chien-Ming Wang, Ichiro Suzuki, Chin-Lung Hu, Hong-Chi Kuo, Chan Ho Park and Daisuke Matsuzaka, the site will promote baseball to the large Chinese audience. In addition to having all of the content needed for baseball fans to follow the game, http://www.major.tv/china will have online chats and other fan forums, a special section teaching the China fan base the playing rules of baseball as well as promoting and selling Major League Baseball branded merchandise online. Yahoo Biz!, 31st Mar 2008

Malaysia/General: Israeli Coach, Midfielder May be Allowed

The Government will study whether to grant permission for Chelsea's Israeli football coach and midfielder to enter Malaysia in view of the country's travel ban on Israelis, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said. The Deputy Prime Minister said there was a travel ban imposed on Israelis, but the Government would have to take into account that politics should not get in the way of sports.

"It's not my team but it's definitely good for local football. I'm not sure what the decision should be yet but it would be a pity if politics got in the way of sports," he told reporters Monday after the launch of Dayang Enteprise Holdings Bhd prospectus for its upcoming listing on Bursa Malaysia here. Najib was asked to comment on whether the Government would allow Chelsea Israeli coach Avram Grant and midfielder Tal Ben Haim into the country in view of the Premier League giant visiting Malaysia.

Chelsea is scheduled to play against the national team in July as part of its mini Asian tour.

"We'll have to study the situation first, but I would like to see Chelsea playing here. Although it's not my team." Asked which football team he supported, Najib said: "I'm a staunch supporter of Manchester United. The majority of you are, right?" he asked as the reporters burst out laughing, some disagreeing. Malaysia does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and its citizens. In 1997, Malaysia allowed Israel to compete in the 22-nation ICC Trophy criket tournament but the decision sparked a series of demonstrations in Kuala Lumpur. The Star, 31st Mar 2008

China/General: Galleon Kicks Chelsea Off

U.K.-based rights owner and developer, Galleon Holdings, premieres its first China format, Super Soccer Star, on 7 April. The sports talent show is a co-pro with southern Chinese operator Guangdong TV and Chelsea Football Club. The 13-episode series, which promotes football skills and fitness, airs on Guangdong TV Sports Channel, and will roll out across other platforms, including mobile and online in partnership with local company Mengo (SMS/MMS service provider), Phoenix (interactive TV services) and Croco Worldwide (premiums/merchandising), Galleon said.

The winner gets a place at the Chelsea Academy. Chelsea is the official football development partner of the Asian Football Confederation’s Vision China project, which aims to set up 10 city leagues in China, according to Galleon, which said Super Soccer Star could reach about 50 million viewers across Guangdong province and parts of neighbouring provinces Guangxi and Zhongxing. Guangdong TV Sports Channel is one of the official broadcasting partners to the FA Premier League broadcasting FAPL games into China. Galleon is also bringing the format to MIP, according to chief executive Stephen Green. Content Asia, 31st Mar 2008

Elsewhere/General: Chelsea Upset after Premier League Game is Switched for TV

Chelsea, one of the challengers for English soccer’s top-tier Premier League title, have complained about the rescheduling for television of their match at Everton next month which they say hands an advantage to their competitors in the last few weeks of the season. The game has been brought forward by two days to Thursday April 17 to enable it to be televised live by pay-television operator BSkyB. This is just three days after Chelsea’s home game against Wigan Athletic, which will be shown by rival broadcaster Setanta. By contrast, Manchester United, who lead the league by five points from Chelsea, will have five days of rest between their matches against Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers on April 13 and 19 respectively. Arsenal, which lie third, one point behind Chelsea, have a similar break between their games.

The Premier League has rejected Chelsea’s complaint, claiming that Thursday night is the only suitable time for the Everton game, prompting an angry statement from the London club. Chelsea said: ‘We believe the decision to hold the match on Thursday, April 17 undermines the sporting integrity of the competition by giving our rivals for the Premier League title an unnecessary competitive advantage at a critical time of the season. ‘The decision sets a dangerous precedent in changing match days still further when fixture congestion does not exist and when a sensible solution regarding other television matches that weekend was suggested. Football has benefited greatly from the backing of television and Chelsea as much as anyone else. However, this decision is one step too far.’ Sportcal.com, 31st Mar 2008

Malaysia/Broadcast: Media Prima Joins Regional Race

Malaysia’s media conglomerate, Media Prima, has picked the Philippines to launch its ambitious regional expansion plan, with a new joint venture, a block airtime deal, and the mandate to turn around the fortunes of local free-TV broadcaster ABC5. The new strategy also involves setting up a private equity media fund that aims to invest between US$100 million and US$150 million in the region. Media Prima will be the anchor investor. The fund is expected to be up and running by June this year.

Investing in the region via a fund would “enable Media Prima to share risks with other investors and minimise financial impact on earnings,” Media Prima said. “Whilst capping its exposure to the amount invested as the anchor investor in the proposed fund, Media Prima will also have the opportunity to participate in the capital upside of the assets invested through the proposed fund once they become profitable,” the company told investors towards the end of March.

Media Prima said the region’s favourable economic environment “has been a key motivating factor driving investments into Southeast Asia”. Prime markets are Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia, which recorded strong growth. Quoting ZenithOptimedia advertising expenditure forecasts from December 2007, Media Prima said projected CAGR was 10.8% to 2010. “The
favourable economic conditions are expected to facilitate growth in advertising spending,” the company said.

The Philippines’ initiative, announced on 25 March, involves local partner, SBC Markwendell, which will hold 30% of the new Primedia joint venture. Media Prima subsidiary mmStudios (formerly known as Newslink Asia) will hold 70%. The Primedia joint venture was incorporated in Philippines on 21 February this year with an authorised share capital of Ps5.6 million/US$134,000. The venture will manage the ABC5 block as well as provide business consultancy services, with a fee based on performance.

ABC5 is the Philippines’ fifth ranked free-to-air television network in terms of viewership with about 1% market share. Media Prima says the broadcaster has strong potential to increase market share, given the estimated total TV adex of US$2.5 billion. 89% of TV audience share is controlled by market leaders ABS-CBN and GMA, according to ZenithOptimedia and AGB Nielsen Media Research. Media Prima said there were “significant re-branding opportunities to target an untapped segment”.

In 2007, the Philippines had a population of 91.1 million. This is expected to grow to about 104 million in 2015, Media Prima says. “The Philippines presents a large target market for advertisers as it has a very young population with 62.8% below the age 30 in 2007. Most TV networks target mass and family segments. This presents a significant potential for ABC5 to re-brand itself to cater to the other segments currently underserved in the market,” Media Prima said. Media Prima forecasts are supported by robust net exports growth, strong growth in private consumption driven by higher remittances from overseas workers, and higher government expenditure in particular public sector construction investment. Content Asia, 31st Mar 2008

Global/General: GAISF Martial Arts Games set for 2010 Launch

A new multi-event martial arts and combat sports games is to be introduced in 2010, involving sports governed by 13 different international sport federations. The bidding process to stage the games is set to be unveiled by the General Association of International Sports Federations in June. Hein Verbruggen, the GAISF president, told Sportcal.com that several cities in China had already expressed an interest in hosting the event, while Thailand, Hungary and countries of the Middle East are also keen. The games would involve both Olympic and non-Olympic sports and there would also be seminars addressing the more ‘philosophical’ aspects of martial arts like wushu and judo.

The federations understood to be involved in the initiative are JJIF (ju-jitsu), IJF (judo), WKF (karate), FIK (kendo), WAKO (kick-boxing), IFMA (muaythai), FIAS (sambo), WTF (taekwondo), IWUF (wushu), IFS (sumo), IAF (aikido), AIBA (boxing) and FILA (wrestling). AIBA confirmed its involvement to Sportcal.com. The event will also seek to capitalise on the rise in popularity of Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA. FILA president Raphaël Martinetti said earlier this month that the federation was trying to use the rise in popularity of MMA and 'entertainment' wrestling to increase interest in FILA’s sports, rather than treat the new phenomenon as a threat.

As well as managing two Olympic disciplines – Greco-Roman wrestling and freestyle wrestling – FILA itself is responsible for ‘associated wrestling,’ which includes MMAs such as sambo, grappling and pancrase. FILA organises world championships for each discipline and a world championship which brings together all disciplines. The next edition takes place in Tirana, Albania in September. Sportcal, 31st Mar 2008