RIGHTS FEE & DISTRIBUTION
=> Recently promoted Campeonato Brasiliero Serie A club, Esporte Clube Bahia, is the 9th Brazilian club to sign a 4-year media rights deal contract from 2012-15, worth R$30 mil ($18 mil) per season with Globo. The deal will more than double its income from media rights, having received R$14 mil last season. Globo hoped that the rest of the Serie A clubs would sign up with Globo soon, a move which would simplify matters as legislation ensures media rights to each match belong to both the home and away team. Observers claim that if the media rights to the top division are split among two or more broadcasters, the system would be unworkable. Serie A soccer is extremely lucrative for Globo, which earns a huge profit on advertising around its live coverage.
=> President of French Ligue 1 club Lille, Michel Seydoux, suggested kick-off times be spread across the weekend to maximize revenue from TV rights deals from 2012-13 onwards. Seydoux is part of a steering committee that is drawing up procedures for the new Ligue 1 broadcast rights tender. Ligue 1 matches are presently played on Sat and Sun, including 6 matches played simultaneously at 7pm (CET) on Sat. Ligue 1 rights are presently shared by Canal Plus and Orange in deals worth €668 mil ($940.3 mil) per season. The LFP said the launch date for a tender for domestic broadcast rights from 2012-13 onwards will be between Apr 30 and May 15.
=> Austrian ProSieben-owned commercial broadcaster, Puls 4, won FTA rights to the UEFA Champions League from 2012/13 to 2014/15 in a deal that ends CL coverage on pubcaster, ORF. Puls 4 secured multi-platform rights to show one live match per matchweek, the Champions League final and the Super Cup. In 2009, ORF retained CL rights from 2009/10 to 2011/12, renewing a previous deal then worth an estimated €3 mil a year.
=> In Germany, Team Marketing is poised to announce the award of FTA Champions League rights from 2012-13 onwards. However, allocation of Europa League rights could be decided after the Champions League rights award. Pay-TV and incumbent, Sky Deutschland, was the only bidder in Germany for the pay-TV CL rights. Deals with Sat.1 and Sky Deutschland for current period are believed to be €90 mil ($126.6 mil) per season.
=> TV coverage in France of the Davis and Fed Cups could go back to France Télévisions after the pubcastersubmitted a bid. The International Tennis Federation issued invitation to tender and France Télévisions confirmed it will take part in the bidding. Currently, FT is paying €400,000 ($563,000) a year for first two rounds of the Davis Cup and an equal amount for when France reaches the final, plus added fees for Fed Cup. FT recoups its investment by sub-licensing matches to Canal Plus for €200,000 a year. The tender covers 4 years, split into five packages, comprising France’s matches in the Davis Cup, Fed Cup and matches not including France in both competitions plus highlights.
=> French handball’s LNH says a drop in domestic broadcast rights revenue from 2011-12 onwards is ‘‘inevitable’’ after incumbent, Orange, decided not to bid in a recent tender. LNH issued its tender at end 2010, prompting a joint bid of €1 mil ($1.41 mil) per year from pubcaster, France Télévisions and Eurosport, in an offer worth half as much as the fee currently paid by Orange and Eurosport. LNH held discussions with different broadcasters and Amaury Sport Organisation, the agency appointed to negotiate its new broadcast rights contract.
BROADCAST
=> The International Cricket Council had anticipated a record TV audience for an ODI when traditional rivals India and Pakistan met in the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup and claimed the competition has been an endorsement for the 50-over format. The match, which India eventually won, seemed certain to attract more viewers than the India-England clash, the most-watched game of the tournament at the time. Estimates put the likely global audience for India-Pakistan at 800 mil.
DATA
=> Video-on-demand (VOD) rapidly established itself as mainstay in pay-TV homes and will grow even faster as it integrates over the top (OTT) streams. In “On-demand Services Business Models: Video, Games & Over-the-Top – 2011 edition,” IMS Research estimates that at end 2010, 13.2% of the world’s digital pay-TV subscribers were requesting VOD content via their set-top box (STB). This figure will increase rapidly so that pay-TV households using VOD services will triple from 53.9 mil at the end of 2010 to 157.3 mil at the end of 2015. In 2010, operators generating $4.3 bil in on-demand revenues, with traditional closed-network VOD accounting for 99.5% although IMS forecasts in 2016, closed-network VOD’s share will decrease to 94% on total on-demand revenues globally.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> Market intelligence and illegal betting sources have put betting at Rs70 bil for the India-Pakistan semifinal of the ICC Cricket World Cup fixture, but this may double after India got past Pakistan to meet Sri Lanka on Saturday. Furious betting had been going on through the night before the match and by dawn, betting on this match is understood to be near Rs 10 bil. The two types of betting were ‘generic’, whether India or Pakistan will win and on specifics, like whether Shoaib will play or Sachin will score a century. Betting in these matches started from ball one and ended just before the last run or wicket to fall.
=> Panasonic Vietnam has agreed with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) to be co-sponsor of Vietnam’s national Olympic men’s and women’s soccer teams. The multi-layered sponsorship deal sees PV provide US$1 mil annually, injecting US$2 mil overall into the men’s and women’s national soccer teams and national U-23 soccer team for their overseas training for the next 2 years. The sponsorship will assist teams in international tournaments and cover cost of coaching over the two-year period.
=> Romania's boxers will compete at London 2012 Olympics despite their national governing body being hit with a ban by AIBA. AIBA's disciplinary commission has suspended the Romanian Boxing Federation from any activity at AIBA for the next two years and handed out a fine totaling SFr7,500 ($8,160), but ruled that the punishment does not extend to Romanian athletes, coaches, referees and judges. Earlier, AIBA provisionally suspended the RBF for failing to hold a presidential election, after the incumbent was last year banned for 11 years by AIBA. The provisional ban included all the country's boxers and coaches.
Tuesday, 29th March 2011
RIGHTS FEE & DISTRIBUTION
=> The International Sepak Takraw Federation signed a major broadcast deal for its newly-launched international calendar, with Eurosport. UFA Sports Asia and Wharf House said full-match and highlights coverage will be aired across Eurosport, the first time sepak takraw will be aired outside of its traditional South East Asian footprint. The men's and women's semi-finals and finals of the inaugural 2011 ISTAF Sepaktakraw World Cup in Kuala Lumpur will be carried across 15 countries in Asia on Eurosport Asia-Pacific, and across 47 European countries on Eurosport 2. ISTAF and UFA Sports Asia have already signed a deal with Thailand's Channel 3 and the agreement guaranteed live prime-time coverage across Thailand and Myanmar for the next three seasons of the international sepak takraw calendar.
=> MP & Silva continued its interest in men's tennis by taking up the exclusive, multi-year international media rights to the Austrian Bet-at-home.com Cup Kitzbühel, a third-tier ATP World Tour 250 series. The agreement covers worldwide rights, excluding Austria and Germany, and existing and future media and broadcasting technologies. The deal , which this year takes place between July 31 and August 6, takes to eight the number of ATP World Tour events represented by MP & Silva. In the past 15 months, MPS signed media rights deals with six ATP 250 events: Copa Telmex (Argentina); Movistar Open (Chile); Studena Croatia Open Umag and PBZ Zagreb Indoors (Croatia); Serbia Open; and the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships (Florida, USA).
EVENT
=> Eurosport will show live coverage of a charity soccer match between the Japanese national team and the J. League All-Stars, a fundraising game to support the affected Japanese population following the devastating earthquake and tsunami on March 11. The match at the Osaka Nagai Stadium will be broadcast on Eurosport 2. All proceeds from the game are to be donated to the Japanese Red Cross. The J. League has been postponed and is expected to resume on April 23, and Eurosport, broadcaster of the league in Europe since 2008, said that all matches will continue to be broadcast on Eurosport 2 this season.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> The Professional Squash Association elected James Willstrop as its new president. The Englishman, ranked 4th in the world, replaces Egypt's Amr Shabana, who stood down after 2 years in the role. PSA chairman, Ziad Al-Turki, said: "The players were all eager to be heard at the AGM, and this is their vote. The board have made significant strides in the right direction over the last couple of years, but James has been very vocal of further changes needed - and has added insight from a player's perspective in all meetings we have." Willstrop said that he was "excited to be in a position to help the association and its players."
=> The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has warned associations and players under its jurisdiction against unsanctioned events. Under new FIH regulations, ‘sanctioned event’ means events organised or sanctioned by relevant federation or association or the FIH. This could impact the franchise-based World Series Hockey, property of Nimbus Sport, unless Nimbus, which has signed up 160 international players, is able to secure clearance from FIH-recognized Hockey India and players get similar clearances from their respective national hockey bodies. FIH says these clearances will come into prospective, not retrospective effect, but is a must for any event that has cross-border aspects.
=> China's importance to development of snooker has been highlighted after World Snooker launched a Chinese version of its snooker.tom.com.The collaboration with Tom.com was unveiled in Beijing, where the Bank of Beijing China Open is taking place. World Snooker has always been keen to develop the sport around the world and tap into the commercial opportunities on offer in Asia, particularly in China, which has 6 players in the world rankings, including Masters champion Ding Junhui. China provided the vast majority of the 100 mil viewers who tuned in to watch Ding win the 2009 UK Open final, the most-watched snooker match of all time. The China Open is one of 3 World Snooker events held in China; others are Shanghai Masters and the Wuxi Classic.
=> The International Sepak Takraw Federation signed a major broadcast deal for its newly-launched international calendar, with Eurosport. UFA Sports Asia and Wharf House said full-match and highlights coverage will be aired across Eurosport, the first time sepak takraw will be aired outside of its traditional South East Asian footprint. The men's and women's semi-finals and finals of the inaugural 2011 ISTAF Sepaktakraw World Cup in Kuala Lumpur will be carried across 15 countries in Asia on Eurosport Asia-Pacific, and across 47 European countries on Eurosport 2. ISTAF and UFA Sports Asia have already signed a deal with Thailand's Channel 3 and the agreement guaranteed live prime-time coverage across Thailand and Myanmar for the next three seasons of the international sepak takraw calendar.
=> MP & Silva continued its interest in men's tennis by taking up the exclusive, multi-year international media rights to the Austrian Bet-at-home.com Cup Kitzbühel, a third-tier ATP World Tour 250 series. The agreement covers worldwide rights, excluding Austria and Germany, and existing and future media and broadcasting technologies. The deal , which this year takes place between July 31 and August 6, takes to eight the number of ATP World Tour events represented by MP & Silva. In the past 15 months, MPS signed media rights deals with six ATP 250 events: Copa Telmex (Argentina); Movistar Open (Chile); Studena Croatia Open Umag and PBZ Zagreb Indoors (Croatia); Serbia Open; and the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships (Florida, USA).
EVENT
=> Eurosport will show live coverage of a charity soccer match between the Japanese national team and the J. League All-Stars, a fundraising game to support the affected Japanese population following the devastating earthquake and tsunami on March 11. The match at the Osaka Nagai Stadium will be broadcast on Eurosport 2. All proceeds from the game are to be donated to the Japanese Red Cross. The J. League has been postponed and is expected to resume on April 23, and Eurosport, broadcaster of the league in Europe since 2008, said that all matches will continue to be broadcast on Eurosport 2 this season.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> The Professional Squash Association elected James Willstrop as its new president. The Englishman, ranked 4th in the world, replaces Egypt's Amr Shabana, who stood down after 2 years in the role. PSA chairman, Ziad Al-Turki, said: "The players were all eager to be heard at the AGM, and this is their vote. The board have made significant strides in the right direction over the last couple of years, but James has been very vocal of further changes needed - and has added insight from a player's perspective in all meetings we have." Willstrop said that he was "excited to be in a position to help the association and its players."
=> The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has warned associations and players under its jurisdiction against unsanctioned events. Under new FIH regulations, ‘sanctioned event’ means events organised or sanctioned by relevant federation or association or the FIH. This could impact the franchise-based World Series Hockey, property of Nimbus Sport, unless Nimbus, which has signed up 160 international players, is able to secure clearance from FIH-recognized Hockey India and players get similar clearances from their respective national hockey bodies. FIH says these clearances will come into prospective, not retrospective effect, but is a must for any event that has cross-border aspects.
=> China's importance to development of snooker has been highlighted after World Snooker launched a Chinese version of its snooker.tom.com.The collaboration with Tom.com was unveiled in Beijing, where the Bank of Beijing China Open is taking place. World Snooker has always been keen to develop the sport around the world and tap into the commercial opportunities on offer in Asia, particularly in China, which has 6 players in the world rankings, including Masters champion Ding Junhui. China provided the vast majority of the 100 mil viewers who tuned in to watch Ding win the 2009 UK Open final, the most-watched snooker match of all time. The China Open is one of 3 World Snooker events held in China; others are Shanghai Masters and the Wuxi Classic.
Monday, 28th March 2011
RIGHTS FEE & DISTRIBUTION
=> TV rights for Euro 2012 remains unsolved between SportFive (S5) and Vietnamese TV stations. As deadline looms, S5 said it had received one unnamed bid but confirmed it was not a TV station. S5’s asking price of US$5 mil for exclusive TV rights is 2.5 times higher than the $2 mil that Vietnam Television paid for Euro 2008. VTC digital TV channel’s vice director Vu Quang Huy said that most of local TV stations have collectively vowed not to join the race sparked by S5 to push up rights fee. Meanwhile, the Vietnam football fans association has also said that they are considering purchasing the right and selling it on to local TV stations.
=> The soccer rights business in Brazil became even murkier after representing body, Clube dos 13, confirmed signing a contract with national network RedeTV! for the free-to-air rights to 15 clubs over three seasons for total US$933 million, despite some clubs having agreed to individual deals with rival broadcasters. RedeTV! was the only bidder in a collective rights auction held earlier this month by Clube dos 13. RedeTV! bid R$516 million ($311 million) per season for the free-to-air rights from 2012 to 2014. The auction was marred by a boycott by major players.
=> French commercial broadcasters, TF1 and M6, have submitted a joint bid for rights of Euro 2012 and Euro 2016, while France Télévisions also submitted an offer ahead of deadline. TF1 and M6 offered a proposal to share matches equally after checking with UEFA that combined offers were allowed. The two shared rights in France to Euro 2008, paying €50 mil ($70.6 million) each and alternating coverage for games, including France matches. In 2009, TF1 and M6 offered a joint fee of €50 mil for the rights to Euro 2012. The new TF1-M6 offer is again €50 mil for Euro 2012 but more for Euro 2016. There will be 31 games at the 16-team European Championships in 2012, before the tournament is expanded to 24 teams and 51 games for Euro 2016.
=> Sportfive has come under fire from African broadcasters for fees demanded to broadcast rights of qualifying matches for 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. The African Union of Broadcasting issued a statement saying: "it deplores this unjustifiable decision of the rights-holders which does not reflect the reality of the advertising markets in the individual countries." The AUB claims the amounts it paid for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations "were expected to cover the qualifiers for 2012." Sportfive holds worldwide distribution for the Africa Cup of Nations finals and is also selling rights to the qualifiers on behalf of CAF, the governing body for African soccer. Kenya’s KBC told that Sportfive rejected KBC’s offer of $10,000 for rights to Kenya’s home qualifier against Angola, saying that the asking price was $150,000.
BROADCAST
=> India has 120 mil TV households, yet there are only 30 mil home with digital channels, showing a need to create infrastructure, said James Murdoch of News Corp. Murdoch said India's creative potential remains below expectation: "If India had a creative sector on the scale, relative to overall GDP, of Britain's, for example, instead of $15-bil, we would be talking about a $120-bil industry. Digitalisation is the key to unlocking the potential of the creative sector.” Of 550 TV channels in India, around 400 are active. There are 106 channels which still use analogue system to broadcast to 90 mil homes. Due to the dearth of digital infrastructure, broadcasters are forced to use analogue system and pay more in carriage fees.
=> China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) said it aims to digitize its entire cable TV networks by 2015. China's cable TV subs reached 187 mil by the end 2010, of which 88 mil are digital TV users. Digitized cable TV network enables larger amount of content transmission and makes it possible for TV broadcasters, telecom carriers, and Internet companies to enter each other's fields and provide services. China launched a pilot project in 12 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, for trials of the convergence last July.
=> Australian regional and rural subscription TV provider Austar is to broadcast the 24-hour motorsport channels Speed and Speed HD from 25 March. The channels will be added to Austar’s Sports option at no extra cost and will show live footage of NASCAR, IndyCar, World Superbike, British Elite Speedway Rolex Sports Cars and the GT1 World Championship. Replays of the local V8 Supercars and Australian Superbikes as well as overseas categories such as the DTM Series, British Rally Championship, Formula Drift and various special motor racing events from around the world are also part of the line-up.
=> European 24-hr news channel EuroNews is expanding in Asia following deals with Thailand Cable TV Association (TCTA) which allows it to reach 3.5 mil Thailand homes. This agreement is for the channel's English version but foresees some operators getting EuroNews’ Russian and Arabic version in their basic package. Recently, EuroNews presented a plan to expand internationally by opening offices in Asia and America. Also the channel premiered a new programming schedule with more contents.
NEW MEDIA
=> Data shows the top 5 markets most active in downloading mobile motorsports games are India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Vietnam and South Africa. In Feb, these countries generated more than 1 mil downloads of racing games. Ahead of the F1 season start, global mobile company BuzzCity released stats on the rise of motorsport-themed mobile games. Data from its mobile gaming site, Djuzz shows over 1.2 mil downloads a month, compared with 630,000 per month this time last year, a 90% increase in motorsports mobile games being downloaded over the past year. Top 50 game titles include Underground Racer, 3D Street Racing and GTS World Racing. Djuzz is an ad-supported free mobile games portal that has delivered 49.5 million games in the past year.
DATA
=> Increasing penetration of IPTV and online video services is giving global broadband subscriptions a boost, according to ABI Research. New study “Broadband Subscribers Market Data,” found that worldwide fixed broadband subscriber totaled 503 mil at the end of 2010 with nearly 48 mil subs added in the fourth quarter alone. South Korea, Hong Kong and France were among the countries and regions with the highest fixed broadband penetration. There will be an estimated 71 mil fibre broadband subs at the end of 2011. At the end of the third quarter of 2010, 7.6% of global broadband subscribers could access download speeds above 20Mbps, up from 6.4% in 2Q-2010.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> IPL has expanded the overall viewership base for sports, according to FICCI-KPMG Indian Media and Entertainment Industry Report 2011. Sports channels are doing well with ad revenues, and have a very high power ratio due to the increasing live broadcast of sport events like IPL, CWG and so on. Cricket continues to garner 80% of the ad revenue by share. CWC and IPL ad revenues are expected to make 10-15% of total TV ad revenues next year. However, the report mentioned that while India has a high number of GECs and news channels, it lags behind others on the number of sports channels. India has a mere 2% of sports channel share i.e., a total of 13 channels.
=> A first meeting between IMG-Reliance and All India Football Federation went well, with Mukesh Ambani present throughout and the issues of popularizing soccer and a developmental programme took centrestage. Ambani insisted that grassroot efforts be intensified for soccer development, and state level football needs to be given priority. IMG’s presentation brought out some startling statistics; there are 21 mil footballers in the country, third highest in the world. Conclusion was that popularising football would mean getting the national team to do well, as also improving the profile of I’League, as had been prioritized by AIFF.
=> Indonesian Bank Mandiri signed a US$230,000 sponsorship deal with the Indonesian Athletics Federation, giving the IAF a timly financial boost ahead of the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) which are to be held in Palembang, on Indonesia’s island of Sumatra from 11th November to 22nd November. The US$230,000 will be used by the federation to boost resources and the chances of the nation’s teams during the games. The deal sees Mandiri become the second lender to support national sports, following Bank Rakyat Indonesia’s agreement to give US$424,750 to Indonesia’s Karate Federation. Telekomunikasi Indonesia also signed a deal with the Indonesian Cycling Union (ISSI), and airline, Garuda supports the Indonesian Tennis Federation.
=> TV rights for Euro 2012 remains unsolved between SportFive (S5) and Vietnamese TV stations. As deadline looms, S5 said it had received one unnamed bid but confirmed it was not a TV station. S5’s asking price of US$5 mil for exclusive TV rights is 2.5 times higher than the $2 mil that Vietnam Television paid for Euro 2008. VTC digital TV channel’s vice director Vu Quang Huy said that most of local TV stations have collectively vowed not to join the race sparked by S5 to push up rights fee. Meanwhile, the Vietnam football fans association has also said that they are considering purchasing the right and selling it on to local TV stations.
=> The soccer rights business in Brazil became even murkier after representing body, Clube dos 13, confirmed signing a contract with national network RedeTV! for the free-to-air rights to 15 clubs over three seasons for total US$933 million, despite some clubs having agreed to individual deals with rival broadcasters. RedeTV! was the only bidder in a collective rights auction held earlier this month by Clube dos 13. RedeTV! bid R$516 million ($311 million) per season for the free-to-air rights from 2012 to 2014. The auction was marred by a boycott by major players.
=> French commercial broadcasters, TF1 and M6, have submitted a joint bid for rights of Euro 2012 and Euro 2016, while France Télévisions also submitted an offer ahead of deadline. TF1 and M6 offered a proposal to share matches equally after checking with UEFA that combined offers were allowed. The two shared rights in France to Euro 2008, paying €50 mil ($70.6 million) each and alternating coverage for games, including France matches. In 2009, TF1 and M6 offered a joint fee of €50 mil for the rights to Euro 2012. The new TF1-M6 offer is again €50 mil for Euro 2012 but more for Euro 2016. There will be 31 games at the 16-team European Championships in 2012, before the tournament is expanded to 24 teams and 51 games for Euro 2016.
=> Sportfive has come under fire from African broadcasters for fees demanded to broadcast rights of qualifying matches for 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. The African Union of Broadcasting issued a statement saying: "it deplores this unjustifiable decision of the rights-holders which does not reflect the reality of the advertising markets in the individual countries." The AUB claims the amounts it paid for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations "were expected to cover the qualifiers for 2012." Sportfive holds worldwide distribution for the Africa Cup of Nations finals and is also selling rights to the qualifiers on behalf of CAF, the governing body for African soccer. Kenya’s KBC told that Sportfive rejected KBC’s offer of $10,000 for rights to Kenya’s home qualifier against Angola, saying that the asking price was $150,000.
BROADCAST
=> India has 120 mil TV households, yet there are only 30 mil home with digital channels, showing a need to create infrastructure, said James Murdoch of News Corp. Murdoch said India's creative potential remains below expectation: "If India had a creative sector on the scale, relative to overall GDP, of Britain's, for example, instead of $15-bil, we would be talking about a $120-bil industry. Digitalisation is the key to unlocking the potential of the creative sector.” Of 550 TV channels in India, around 400 are active. There are 106 channels which still use analogue system to broadcast to 90 mil homes. Due to the dearth of digital infrastructure, broadcasters are forced to use analogue system and pay more in carriage fees.
=> China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) said it aims to digitize its entire cable TV networks by 2015. China's cable TV subs reached 187 mil by the end 2010, of which 88 mil are digital TV users. Digitized cable TV network enables larger amount of content transmission and makes it possible for TV broadcasters, telecom carriers, and Internet companies to enter each other's fields and provide services. China launched a pilot project in 12 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, for trials of the convergence last July.
=> Australian regional and rural subscription TV provider Austar is to broadcast the 24-hour motorsport channels Speed and Speed HD from 25 March. The channels will be added to Austar’s Sports option at no extra cost and will show live footage of NASCAR, IndyCar, World Superbike, British Elite Speedway Rolex Sports Cars and the GT1 World Championship. Replays of the local V8 Supercars and Australian Superbikes as well as overseas categories such as the DTM Series, British Rally Championship, Formula Drift and various special motor racing events from around the world are also part of the line-up.
=> European 24-hr news channel EuroNews is expanding in Asia following deals with Thailand Cable TV Association (TCTA) which allows it to reach 3.5 mil Thailand homes. This agreement is for the channel's English version but foresees some operators getting EuroNews’ Russian and Arabic version in their basic package. Recently, EuroNews presented a plan to expand internationally by opening offices in Asia and America. Also the channel premiered a new programming schedule with more contents.
NEW MEDIA
=> Data shows the top 5 markets most active in downloading mobile motorsports games are India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Vietnam and South Africa. In Feb, these countries generated more than 1 mil downloads of racing games. Ahead of the F1 season start, global mobile company BuzzCity released stats on the rise of motorsport-themed mobile games. Data from its mobile gaming site, Djuzz shows over 1.2 mil downloads a month, compared with 630,000 per month this time last year, a 90% increase in motorsports mobile games being downloaded over the past year. Top 50 game titles include Underground Racer, 3D Street Racing and GTS World Racing. Djuzz is an ad-supported free mobile games portal that has delivered 49.5 million games in the past year.
DATA
=> Increasing penetration of IPTV and online video services is giving global broadband subscriptions a boost, according to ABI Research. New study “Broadband Subscribers Market Data,” found that worldwide fixed broadband subscriber totaled 503 mil at the end of 2010 with nearly 48 mil subs added in the fourth quarter alone. South Korea, Hong Kong and France were among the countries and regions with the highest fixed broadband penetration. There will be an estimated 71 mil fibre broadband subs at the end of 2011. At the end of the third quarter of 2010, 7.6% of global broadband subscribers could access download speeds above 20Mbps, up from 6.4% in 2Q-2010.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> IPL has expanded the overall viewership base for sports, according to FICCI-KPMG Indian Media and Entertainment Industry Report 2011. Sports channels are doing well with ad revenues, and have a very high power ratio due to the increasing live broadcast of sport events like IPL, CWG and so on. Cricket continues to garner 80% of the ad revenue by share. CWC and IPL ad revenues are expected to make 10-15% of total TV ad revenues next year. However, the report mentioned that while India has a high number of GECs and news channels, it lags behind others on the number of sports channels. India has a mere 2% of sports channel share i.e., a total of 13 channels.
=> A first meeting between IMG-Reliance and All India Football Federation went well, with Mukesh Ambani present throughout and the issues of popularizing soccer and a developmental programme took centrestage. Ambani insisted that grassroot efforts be intensified for soccer development, and state level football needs to be given priority. IMG’s presentation brought out some startling statistics; there are 21 mil footballers in the country, third highest in the world. Conclusion was that popularising football would mean getting the national team to do well, as also improving the profile of I’League, as had been prioritized by AIFF.
=> Indonesian Bank Mandiri signed a US$230,000 sponsorship deal with the Indonesian Athletics Federation, giving the IAF a timly financial boost ahead of the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) which are to be held in Palembang, on Indonesia’s island of Sumatra from 11th November to 22nd November. The US$230,000 will be used by the federation to boost resources and the chances of the nation’s teams during the games. The deal sees Mandiri become the second lender to support national sports, following Bank Rakyat Indonesia’s agreement to give US$424,750 to Indonesia’s Karate Federation. Telekomunikasi Indonesia also signed a deal with the Indonesian Cycling Union (ISSI), and airline, Garuda supports the Indonesian Tennis Federation.
Friday, 25th March 2011
RIGHTS FEE & DISTRIBUTION
=> Chinese Taipei’s privately-owned digital media company, ELTA Technology Co, has struck a deal with the International Olympic Committee for broadcast and exhibition rights for the London 2012 Olympic Games. ELTA acquired rights across all broadcast platforms, including FTA TV, pay-TV, radio, internet and mobile. ELTA also acquired broadcast rights for 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver and the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in August last year. Richard Carrión, the IOC’s chief negotiator for the new contract, added: "ELTA have proved they are an excellent broadcast partner for the Olympic Games, using cutting-edge technology to provide the best possible broadcast experience across a variety of platforms."
=> Brazilian club, Corinthians, has signed a media rights deal with Globo for close to R$80 mil ($48 mil) per season for 4 seasons from 2012 to 2015. The fee compares with the annual R$100 mil for 5 seasons offered to Corinthians and Flamengo by rival broadcaster Record. The Globo deal covers FTA TV, pay-TV, pay-per-view and internet rights to the Corinthians' home games in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A league over four years. Despite comparison, the fee is still more than what Corinthians earned in previous seasons, the most recent being R$67 mil in 2007. Corinthians is the 6th club to sign a media rights deal with Globo. The first was Grêmio, followed by Goiás, Coritiba, Cruzeiro and Vitória. Fluminense and Palmeiras are expected to be next.
=> The Irish FA welcomed a UEFA’s initiative of centralizing the sale of rights that will guarantee the association substantial revenue from TV rights money. The FAI could earn up to €40m over a four-year period from 2014-18 when the new arrangement kicks in. Ireland have profited recently from drawing Germany in Euro 2008 and France in the World Cup 2010 play-off. The real winners of UEFA’s move are the associations further down the food chain and FAI’s money will significantly contribute towards wiping out the Aviva Stadium debt by 2020. The FAI borrowed extensively to fund the building of the stadium.
=> Infront Sports and Media will sell all commercial rights for next year’s soccer friendly match between Bayern Munich and the Dutch national team on May 22, 2012 in a friendly match to compensate for an injury sustained by Bayern's Dutch winger Arjen Robben at last year's World Cup, and Infront has acquired the rights for the game. Infront has been mandated by Bayern to exclusively handle stadium advertising, ticketing, hospitality, and worldwide broadcast rights for the game. Broadcast rights include TV, internet and mobile with a "major HD quality broadcast already planned,". The friendly will take place 3 days after the final of the 2011/12 Uefa Champions League at Allianz Arena and two and half weeks before start of the 2012 European Championships.
CONTENT
=> Dominique Curchod and Pro-Active Television have teamed to create a new, weekly, half hour magazine sports show which will be offered free of license fee to broadcasters worldwide, with the first programme due to air on April 19. Titled ‘Emotions,’ it will be available via the World Feed and World Link of Eurovision. The focus would be on Olympic sports, including basketball, archery, shooting, wrestling and taekwondo, along with Pro-Active’s content of sailing, powerboating, water skiing, motor sport and extreme sports. Programmes will be 26 minutes and broadcast 52 weeks a year.
DATA
=> Research from Point Topic revealed broadband subs has driven global IPTV usage to a record level of over 45 mil users, with over 11.5 million new subs. The results showed all IPTV usage climbed by 34.6%; in the July, the half bil broadband lines mark was passed and the year ended with 523 mil lines, a net addition of over 55 million lines. Q4 2010 was the strongest quarter for IPTV growth, at 8% delivering 3.4 million additions. China (including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) spearheaded the surge in Asia surpassing 10 mil subs and Asia on the whole, showed particularly strong growth (50%) for the year and is set fair to overtake Europe as the largest IPTV subscriber base by the end of the year.
EVENT
=> The ICC has reopened the debate on its plans to restrict the 2015 World Cup to a 10-team affair. ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: "We are still having a debate on the 10-team World Cup and qualification process. The second tier teams, especially Ireland, have done exceptionally well and we want more such teams and a higher level of competition.” Another reason to reduce the number of teams was to strike a balance between the length of the tournament and the number of teams.
=> Pune, often referred as the birth place of roll ball - a game that fuses basketball, handball and skating - is all set to host the first edition of the Roll ball World Cup 2011. The Roll Ball World Cup 2011 will see 20 Nations, 200 players, 100 officials and 100 volunteers and the event is managed by Lets Play, Sports Management Company a division of Sphinx Adonis Events. Roll Ball is a game where players in teams of 12 each (six playing, and six substitutes), move swiftly on skates without stoppers, dribbling the ball and trying to shoot it into hockey like goal posts with their hands.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> Charles Less, SVP of advertising sales at ESPN STAR Sports has left the company to head advertising sales at AETN All Asia Networks. ESPN confirmed the development adding that a replacement will be made soon. Less had been with the STAR Group for over a decade and a half. AETN confirmed the appointment but could not offer more details. It is known that Less in his new role will report directly to Louis Boswell, general manager of AAAN. AAAN has channels like History, Bio and Crime & Investigation in its stable.
=> Chinese Taipei’s privately-owned digital media company, ELTA Technology Co, has struck a deal with the International Olympic Committee for broadcast and exhibition rights for the London 2012 Olympic Games. ELTA acquired rights across all broadcast platforms, including FTA TV, pay-TV, radio, internet and mobile. ELTA also acquired broadcast rights for 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver and the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in August last year. Richard Carrión, the IOC’s chief negotiator for the new contract, added: "ELTA have proved they are an excellent broadcast partner for the Olympic Games, using cutting-edge technology to provide the best possible broadcast experience across a variety of platforms."
=> Brazilian club, Corinthians, has signed a media rights deal with Globo for close to R$80 mil ($48 mil) per season for 4 seasons from 2012 to 2015. The fee compares with the annual R$100 mil for 5 seasons offered to Corinthians and Flamengo by rival broadcaster Record. The Globo deal covers FTA TV, pay-TV, pay-per-view and internet rights to the Corinthians' home games in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A league over four years. Despite comparison, the fee is still more than what Corinthians earned in previous seasons, the most recent being R$67 mil in 2007. Corinthians is the 6th club to sign a media rights deal with Globo. The first was Grêmio, followed by Goiás, Coritiba, Cruzeiro and Vitória. Fluminense and Palmeiras are expected to be next.
=> The Irish FA welcomed a UEFA’s initiative of centralizing the sale of rights that will guarantee the association substantial revenue from TV rights money. The FAI could earn up to €40m over a four-year period from 2014-18 when the new arrangement kicks in. Ireland have profited recently from drawing Germany in Euro 2008 and France in the World Cup 2010 play-off. The real winners of UEFA’s move are the associations further down the food chain and FAI’s money will significantly contribute towards wiping out the Aviva Stadium debt by 2020. The FAI borrowed extensively to fund the building of the stadium.
=> Infront Sports and Media will sell all commercial rights for next year’s soccer friendly match between Bayern Munich and the Dutch national team on May 22, 2012 in a friendly match to compensate for an injury sustained by Bayern's Dutch winger Arjen Robben at last year's World Cup, and Infront has acquired the rights for the game. Infront has been mandated by Bayern to exclusively handle stadium advertising, ticketing, hospitality, and worldwide broadcast rights for the game. Broadcast rights include TV, internet and mobile with a "major HD quality broadcast already planned,". The friendly will take place 3 days after the final of the 2011/12 Uefa Champions League at Allianz Arena and two and half weeks before start of the 2012 European Championships.
CONTENT
=> Dominique Curchod and Pro-Active Television have teamed to create a new, weekly, half hour magazine sports show which will be offered free of license fee to broadcasters worldwide, with the first programme due to air on April 19. Titled ‘Emotions,’ it will be available via the World Feed and World Link of Eurovision. The focus would be on Olympic sports, including basketball, archery, shooting, wrestling and taekwondo, along with Pro-Active’s content of sailing, powerboating, water skiing, motor sport and extreme sports. Programmes will be 26 minutes and broadcast 52 weeks a year.
DATA
=> Research from Point Topic revealed broadband subs has driven global IPTV usage to a record level of over 45 mil users, with over 11.5 million new subs. The results showed all IPTV usage climbed by 34.6%; in the July, the half bil broadband lines mark was passed and the year ended with 523 mil lines, a net addition of over 55 million lines. Q4 2010 was the strongest quarter for IPTV growth, at 8% delivering 3.4 million additions. China (including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) spearheaded the surge in Asia surpassing 10 mil subs and Asia on the whole, showed particularly strong growth (50%) for the year and is set fair to overtake Europe as the largest IPTV subscriber base by the end of the year.
EVENT
=> The ICC has reopened the debate on its plans to restrict the 2015 World Cup to a 10-team affair. ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: "We are still having a debate on the 10-team World Cup and qualification process. The second tier teams, especially Ireland, have done exceptionally well and we want more such teams and a higher level of competition.” Another reason to reduce the number of teams was to strike a balance between the length of the tournament and the number of teams.
=> Pune, often referred as the birth place of roll ball - a game that fuses basketball, handball and skating - is all set to host the first edition of the Roll ball World Cup 2011. The Roll Ball World Cup 2011 will see 20 Nations, 200 players, 100 officials and 100 volunteers and the event is managed by Lets Play, Sports Management Company a division of Sphinx Adonis Events. Roll Ball is a game where players in teams of 12 each (six playing, and six substitutes), move swiftly on skates without stoppers, dribbling the ball and trying to shoot it into hockey like goal posts with their hands.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> Charles Less, SVP of advertising sales at ESPN STAR Sports has left the company to head advertising sales at AETN All Asia Networks. ESPN confirmed the development adding that a replacement will be made soon. Less had been with the STAR Group for over a decade and a half. AETN confirmed the appointment but could not offer more details. It is known that Less in his new role will report directly to Louis Boswell, general manager of AAAN. AAAN has channels like History, Bio and Crime & Investigation in its stable.
Thursday, 24th March 2011
RIGHTS FEE & DISTRIBUTION
=> Invitations for offers of broadcast rights from 2012/13 to 2014/15 for UEFA Champions League and Europa League have been launched in 4 south-east Asian countries, including Thailand, some African territories. Invitations was issued by Team Marketing. An invitation for offers was issued for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand with a deadline of May 9. Current Champions League rights in Thailand (2009/10 to 2011/12) are held by Ch 3 and Ch 7.
=> [Excerpt] The Australian Football League and National Rugby League are at odds over which is more popular in the eyes of TV viewers, with new broadcast rights deals on the horizon. The value of a proposed new AFL rights deal, from 2012-16, is expected to reach A$1 billion ($1 billion), compared with A$780 million presently. The NRL rights commanded an estimated A$500 million when they were last negotiated in 2006. It, too, is confident of making A$1 billion out of a new rights deal. The NRL's rights deal runs until the end of 2012.
=> Infront Sports and Media has renewed broadcast rights deals for Superbike World Championship with ESPN Star Sports, Al Jazeera (North Africa and the Middle East) and J Sports. The broadcasters will show live, delayed and highlights. ESS extended rights for 5 years, while Al Jazeera and J Sports renewed for 3 more years. Infront has also announced that it will introduce on-board cameras for the first time at the Donington Park race. Donington Park is the first European race of the season, following on from the season opener in Australia on February 27.
BROADCAST
=> China aims to digitise cable TV networks by 2015, stepping up pace for convergence of cable TV, telecommunications and the internet. The country's cable TV subs reached 187 mil at end-2010, of which 88 mil were digital TV users. There are numerous cable TV networks in China, run by different operators at varied administrative levels. At the county level alone, there are about 3,000 networks. The lack of a nationwide unified network has become an obstacle to three-network convergence. The SARFT said that it aimed to consolidate all provincial cable TV networks but the goal was far from being fully achieved and SARFT "should make more efforts" to achieve it this year.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> Liverpool’s commercial director Ian Ayre has been promoted to the Managing Director role at Liverpool. Ian has been at Liverpool since August 2007, when he was appointed by Tom Hicks and George Gillett to leave his post as Chief Operating Officer at Total Sports Asia in Malaysia. Previously he has also worked with Pace Systems (suppliers of satellite technology), Huddersfield Town (as Chairman and Chief Executive), and a UK Cable TV firm.
=> IMG announced that its Licensing division is to represent boxing legend, Muhammad Ali, for consumer products licensing. IMG said: “Under the multi-year agreement, IMG Licensing will act exclusively as representation for the brand in Europe and Asia. This new agreement will see IMG combine its extensive knowledge of the boxer’s life with its global capabilities in product licensing, providing opportunities to extend the brand to new consumer touch points. “IMG Licensing will seek opportunities in both traditional sports licensing categories including memorabilia and apparel, as well as new business areas that capture and leverage the showman and essence of Muhammad Ali.”
=> Invitations for offers of broadcast rights from 2012/13 to 2014/15 for UEFA Champions League and Europa League have been launched in 4 south-east Asian countries, including Thailand, some African territories. Invitations was issued by Team Marketing. An invitation for offers was issued for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand with a deadline of May 9. Current Champions League rights in Thailand (2009/10 to 2011/12) are held by Ch 3 and Ch 7.
=> [Excerpt] The Australian Football League and National Rugby League are at odds over which is more popular in the eyes of TV viewers, with new broadcast rights deals on the horizon. The value of a proposed new AFL rights deal, from 2012-16, is expected to reach A$1 billion ($1 billion), compared with A$780 million presently. The NRL rights commanded an estimated A$500 million when they were last negotiated in 2006. It, too, is confident of making A$1 billion out of a new rights deal. The NRL's rights deal runs until the end of 2012.
=> Infront Sports and Media has renewed broadcast rights deals for Superbike World Championship with ESPN Star Sports, Al Jazeera (North Africa and the Middle East) and J Sports. The broadcasters will show live, delayed and highlights. ESS extended rights for 5 years, while Al Jazeera and J Sports renewed for 3 more years. Infront has also announced that it will introduce on-board cameras for the first time at the Donington Park race. Donington Park is the first European race of the season, following on from the season opener in Australia on February 27.
BROADCAST
=> China aims to digitise cable TV networks by 2015, stepping up pace for convergence of cable TV, telecommunications and the internet. The country's cable TV subs reached 187 mil at end-2010, of which 88 mil were digital TV users. There are numerous cable TV networks in China, run by different operators at varied administrative levels. At the county level alone, there are about 3,000 networks. The lack of a nationwide unified network has become an obstacle to three-network convergence. The SARFT said that it aimed to consolidate all provincial cable TV networks but the goal was far from being fully achieved and SARFT "should make more efforts" to achieve it this year.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> Liverpool’s commercial director Ian Ayre has been promoted to the Managing Director role at Liverpool. Ian has been at Liverpool since August 2007, when he was appointed by Tom Hicks and George Gillett to leave his post as Chief Operating Officer at Total Sports Asia in Malaysia. Previously he has also worked with Pace Systems (suppliers of satellite technology), Huddersfield Town (as Chairman and Chief Executive), and a UK Cable TV firm.
=> IMG announced that its Licensing division is to represent boxing legend, Muhammad Ali, for consumer products licensing. IMG said: “Under the multi-year agreement, IMG Licensing will act exclusively as representation for the brand in Europe and Asia. This new agreement will see IMG combine its extensive knowledge of the boxer’s life with its global capabilities in product licensing, providing opportunities to extend the brand to new consumer touch points. “IMG Licensing will seek opportunities in both traditional sports licensing categories including memorabilia and apparel, as well as new business areas that capture and leverage the showman and essence of Muhammad Ali.”
Wednesday, 23rd March 2011
RIGHTS FEE & DISTRIBUTION
=> UEFA declared that all 53 member associations have now signed up for plans to centralise broadcast rights for qualifying matches of the Euro and World Cup. England was one of the last signatories to the new system, which comes into effect in 2014. England was placated by a guarantee that it will receive no less than £20 mil ($33 million) and £25 mil per year for their rights.
=> Malaysian pay-TV, Astro, has signed a new 3-year deal to broadcast German Bundesliga in Malaysia and Brunei, beginning with the 2012-13 season. Negotiated with DFL Sports Enterprises, the deal covers all broadcast channels: television, internet and mobile phones. Astro, which has held Bundesliga rights since the 2006-07 season, broadcasts via satellite to over three million subscribers. It also holds rights to other top soccer, including England’s Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, the Spanish Liga, France’s Ligue 1 and the Uefa Champions League, Europe's elite clubs competition.
=> Infront Sports & Media has extended its agreement with China Basketball Association (CBA) as exclusive global marketing partner for another eight years. Infront is also marketing of the CBA Professional League, via a joint-venture with CBA, formed in 2005. An agreement with CCTV-5 means all national team games in China are now broadcast across China. Total airtime for Team China's warm-up games exceed 1,400 hours in 5 years, with cumulative viewing audience of over 760 mil. The next 8 years will see Team China take part in two Olympic Games, two FIBA World Championships, another edition of the Asian Games and two Asian FIBA Championships.
=> US ESPN has reached 2 multi-year agreements for exclusive live coverage of matches from Champions League Twenty20 and International Cricket Council (ICC) events, including the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. The deals, signed with rights holder ESPN Star Sports, will dedicate more than 1,000 additional hours of exclusive live cricket in the U.S. to ESPN3.com’s programming lineup. The ICC presents the most prestigious cricket events in the world and this deal marks the first time the Cricket World Cup will be made available at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection or cable TV video subscription from an affiliated service provider.
=> Meanwhile, Nimbus, who newly won global IPL broadcast rights till 2014, is eyeing US, Canada, UK, Europe, Japan and Malaysia as potential markets to sub-license the rights. Nimbus though, has not yet decided whether their own Neo Cricket will telecast the IPL or not. Nimbus is scouting for tie-up with global partners in over 60 countries. Nimbus COO Yannick Colaco said that they wanted to take IPL into uncharted waters where cricket is not popular. He also said there is interest among broadcasters for the UK market. The IPL had licensed UK rights to ITV 4 on a revenue sharing basis, the broadcaster earned £ 60,000 from IPL 3.
=> ASO has agreed a new broadcast deal with the European Broadcasting Union covering the years 2012 to 2015 for a host of European cycling events including the Tour de France. The deal guarantees continued free-to-air coverage by EBU member broadcaster members across Europe as well as by Eurosport. The EBU and ASO said that they would "also be working together to ensure that cycling events are broadcast on other major general-interest channels in Europe."
BROADCAST
=> Spain's Competition National Commission has fined Mediapro €500,000 for abusing its dominant position to obstruct competitors in the market of reselling of sporting rights of the La Liga and Copa del Rey. In May 2009, the Commission accused Mediapro of configuring packages of TV rights for broadcasting of football matches for the League and the King's Cup in Spain for the seasons 2009/2010 and 2011/2012 because CNC claims that Mediapro "artificially" forced the creation of competition advantage for its football pay-TV channel Gol TV.
DATA
=> India’s TV industry expanded 15.5% in 2010 and is expected to record a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16% to touch Rs 630 bil by 2015, according to FICCI-KPMG. Research on India’s media and entertainment industry showed the sector recording growth of 11% in 2010 (from 2009), becoming worth Rs 652 bil. Increase in the DTH TV subscriber base, which reached 28 mil by end 2010, helped boost the sector. TV households are expected to surge to156 mil by 2015 with the progress of digitization, during which TV will account for half of the industry’s revenues. Advertising spends, meanwhile, grew by 17% to Rs 266 bil.
EVENT
=> The Snooker World Cup will return to the pro calendar for the first time in 15 years, as World Snooker continues to broaden the game's appeal. The WC will be held in Bangkok, Thailand from July 11 to 17, co-sponsored by PTT and EGAT. 20 two-man teams from around the world will participate, with eight teams seeded into the event based on the position of players in the world rankings. As hosts, Thailand will have two teams. World Snooker said that it will confirm the remaining 10 teams in the next few weeks. Thailand has four snooker players ranked in the top 97 in the world, with James Wattana the highest-ranked at 76.
=> UEFA declared that all 53 member associations have now signed up for plans to centralise broadcast rights for qualifying matches of the Euro and World Cup. England was one of the last signatories to the new system, which comes into effect in 2014. England was placated by a guarantee that it will receive no less than £20 mil ($33 million) and £25 mil per year for their rights.
=> Malaysian pay-TV, Astro, has signed a new 3-year deal to broadcast German Bundesliga in Malaysia and Brunei, beginning with the 2012-13 season. Negotiated with DFL Sports Enterprises, the deal covers all broadcast channels: television, internet and mobile phones. Astro, which has held Bundesliga rights since the 2006-07 season, broadcasts via satellite to over three million subscribers. It also holds rights to other top soccer, including England’s Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, the Spanish Liga, France’s Ligue 1 and the Uefa Champions League, Europe's elite clubs competition.
=> Infront Sports & Media has extended its agreement with China Basketball Association (CBA) as exclusive global marketing partner for another eight years. Infront is also marketing of the CBA Professional League, via a joint-venture with CBA, formed in 2005. An agreement with CCTV-5 means all national team games in China are now broadcast across China. Total airtime for Team China's warm-up games exceed 1,400 hours in 5 years, with cumulative viewing audience of over 760 mil. The next 8 years will see Team China take part in two Olympic Games, two FIBA World Championships, another edition of the Asian Games and two Asian FIBA Championships.
=> US ESPN has reached 2 multi-year agreements for exclusive live coverage of matches from Champions League Twenty20 and International Cricket Council (ICC) events, including the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. The deals, signed with rights holder ESPN Star Sports, will dedicate more than 1,000 additional hours of exclusive live cricket in the U.S. to ESPN3.com’s programming lineup. The ICC presents the most prestigious cricket events in the world and this deal marks the first time the Cricket World Cup will be made available at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection or cable TV video subscription from an affiliated service provider.
=> Meanwhile, Nimbus, who newly won global IPL broadcast rights till 2014, is eyeing US, Canada, UK, Europe, Japan and Malaysia as potential markets to sub-license the rights. Nimbus though, has not yet decided whether their own Neo Cricket will telecast the IPL or not. Nimbus is scouting for tie-up with global partners in over 60 countries. Nimbus COO Yannick Colaco said that they wanted to take IPL into uncharted waters where cricket is not popular. He also said there is interest among broadcasters for the UK market. The IPL had licensed UK rights to ITV 4 on a revenue sharing basis, the broadcaster earned £ 60,000 from IPL 3.
=> ASO has agreed a new broadcast deal with the European Broadcasting Union covering the years 2012 to 2015 for a host of European cycling events including the Tour de France. The deal guarantees continued free-to-air coverage by EBU member broadcaster members across Europe as well as by Eurosport. The EBU and ASO said that they would "also be working together to ensure that cycling events are broadcast on other major general-interest channels in Europe."
BROADCAST
=> Spain's Competition National Commission has fined Mediapro €500,000 for abusing its dominant position to obstruct competitors in the market of reselling of sporting rights of the La Liga and Copa del Rey. In May 2009, the Commission accused Mediapro of configuring packages of TV rights for broadcasting of football matches for the League and the King's Cup in Spain for the seasons 2009/2010 and 2011/2012 because CNC claims that Mediapro "artificially" forced the creation of competition advantage for its football pay-TV channel Gol TV.
DATA
=> India’s TV industry expanded 15.5% in 2010 and is expected to record a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16% to touch Rs 630 bil by 2015, according to FICCI-KPMG. Research on India’s media and entertainment industry showed the sector recording growth of 11% in 2010 (from 2009), becoming worth Rs 652 bil. Increase in the DTH TV subscriber base, which reached 28 mil by end 2010, helped boost the sector. TV households are expected to surge to156 mil by 2015 with the progress of digitization, during which TV will account for half of the industry’s revenues. Advertising spends, meanwhile, grew by 17% to Rs 266 bil.
EVENT
=> The Snooker World Cup will return to the pro calendar for the first time in 15 years, as World Snooker continues to broaden the game's appeal. The WC will be held in Bangkok, Thailand from July 11 to 17, co-sponsored by PTT and EGAT. 20 two-man teams from around the world will participate, with eight teams seeded into the event based on the position of players in the world rankings. As hosts, Thailand will have two teams. World Snooker said that it will confirm the remaining 10 teams in the next few weeks. Thailand has four snooker players ranked in the top 97 in the world, with James Wattana the highest-ranked at 76.
Tuesday, 22nd March 2011
RIGHTS FEE & DISTRIBUTION
=> The IPL announced the media rights tender for IPL’s global internet, mobile and radio rights, along with TV rights in selected territories was won by a consortium led by Times Internet Limited for Rs 2.616 bil for 4 years from 2011-14. Multi Screen Media (MSM) and ESPN Star Sports also picked up tender documents, though bid amounts were not available. The bid process followed order of Supreme Court. The TV rights to the IPL for Indian subcontinent, which is held by MSM, along with certain territories, were not part of the tender. The IPL 2011 season starts on 8 April when reigning champions, Chennai Super Kings host the Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai.
=> France is the latest to join UEFA’s plan to centralise broadcasting rights for qualifying matches for the European Championships and World Cup. The FFF accepted the proposal on the condition that it will earn at least as much as it does presently from sale of broadcasting rights for France matches to commercial network TF1, equivalent to €4.1 million ($5.7 million) per match. France, a crucial signatory, has prompted hope for a position to declare the required support of all 53 member associations ahead of the meeting of the Congress in Paris tomorrow. Last year, UEFA delivered projections that claimed that a central sale of TV and sponsorship rights would raise €1 bil gross revenues for its members and €900 mil net revenues over a 4-year period, an increase (in net terms) of over 60% on total revenues raised by individually-sold distribution.
=> Brazilian broadcaster, Record, offered R$100 mil ($60 mil) per season in media rights fees to league giants, Flamengo and Corinthians, for 5 seasons from 2012 to 2016. Record made the offer to the two big clubs in a move intended to warn them – and the others - not to sign with rival, Globo, before considering all options. Record will file the offer in a registry office to make it official. Presently, Corinthians and Flamengo earn R$17.5 mil per season for their FTA rights. Pay-TV and PPV rights, plus bonuses and perimeter advertising, earn another R$8 to 10 mil per season. Signing with Record for R$100 million per season would more than triple their earnings. In Brazil, media rights to a match are owned by both home and away teams and both must give permission for the match to be broadcast.
EVENT
=> The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has confirmed a deal with Smart Communications, worth US$1.8 mil over 10 years to aid the national team and start a local club championship, aiming to develop football in the country. The Filipino Premier League was discontinued after one season in 2008, but after the success of the national team in the AFF Suzuki Cup where they reached the semi-finals, league soccer faces a revival in the Philippines. The communications provider is already a major backer of tennis, boxing, basketball and boxing in the country. The league will feature teams from across the country and will commence this month through May.
=> Meanwhile, fans of the Philippine Azkals football team complained the lack of live broadcast of their AFC Challenge Cup group match in Myanmar. ABS-CBN and the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) tried but failed to get the permit from authorities to beam the matches live via satellite to the Philippines. Filipinos are accustomed to receiving live feeds of events but was left wondering about the tightly controlled media space in Myanmar by the military junta. Local media needs also to get government permission to beam broadcasts live, including the AFC Challenge Cup. Foreign media access into the country is restricted and internet is closely monitored, although connection is slow and unreliable, exacerbated by poor electric supply.
=> India play Chinese Taipei in the AFC Challenge Cup 2012 Group B Qualifying match in Malaysia. The match kicks off at 7.30 PM (local time) will be played at the MBPJ Stadium. India has registered 23 players for the tournament. Chinese Taipei, Pakistan and Turkemnistan are other teams in the Group. India last met Chinese Taipei at home in two international friendlies in 2008 when they won one and drew the other. In the other match of the day Turkemnistan take on Pakistan at 4 PM (Local time).
=> Confusion reigns over the 2011 Indian Open as a deal is yet to be signed between Indian Golf Union (which owns the Open) and the Asian Tour (who co-sanctions the event). The agreement between the AT and IGU lapsed last year, as did the agreement between World Sports Group and Asian Tour. However, IGU had signed a 3-year contract with Nimbus Sports which gives it the Tour Manager rights which throws up the question of whether the Indian Open is still valid within the Asian Tour. Asked about the capitation fee Nimbus is paying IGU, an unnamed official said that as of now it is ‘privileged’ information.
=> OneAsia has launched its 13 stop golf schedule for 2011, adding three more tournaments to the 10 held last year. Formed in 2009 as a rival to the Asian Tour with just five events, the circuit delivered 10 events last year and will add at least three more in 2011, each with minimum prize money of $1 mil. Starting with the Indonesia PGA Championship at the Imperial Klub Golf, it will boast a prize purse of $180,000 to the winner. The Championship will aired on OneAsia's TV platform with live coverage for 4 hours a day on all four tournament days and broadcast to over 400 mil homes in more than 40 countries. Full coverage of OneAsia is on ESS, Jupiter Golf Network, SBS Golf Ch., Fox International, Network Ten, Sky Sports NZ, ESPN3 USA and ViaSat & Bloomberg TV, among others, in Europe.
=> The IPL announced the media rights tender for IPL’s global internet, mobile and radio rights, along with TV rights in selected territories was won by a consortium led by Times Internet Limited for Rs 2.616 bil for 4 years from 2011-14. Multi Screen Media (MSM) and ESPN Star Sports also picked up tender documents, though bid amounts were not available. The bid process followed order of Supreme Court. The TV rights to the IPL for Indian subcontinent, which is held by MSM, along with certain territories, were not part of the tender. The IPL 2011 season starts on 8 April when reigning champions, Chennai Super Kings host the Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai.
=> France is the latest to join UEFA’s plan to centralise broadcasting rights for qualifying matches for the European Championships and World Cup. The FFF accepted the proposal on the condition that it will earn at least as much as it does presently from sale of broadcasting rights for France matches to commercial network TF1, equivalent to €4.1 million ($5.7 million) per match. France, a crucial signatory, has prompted hope for a position to declare the required support of all 53 member associations ahead of the meeting of the Congress in Paris tomorrow. Last year, UEFA delivered projections that claimed that a central sale of TV and sponsorship rights would raise €1 bil gross revenues for its members and €900 mil net revenues over a 4-year period, an increase (in net terms) of over 60% on total revenues raised by individually-sold distribution.
=> Brazilian broadcaster, Record, offered R$100 mil ($60 mil) per season in media rights fees to league giants, Flamengo and Corinthians, for 5 seasons from 2012 to 2016. Record made the offer to the two big clubs in a move intended to warn them – and the others - not to sign with rival, Globo, before considering all options. Record will file the offer in a registry office to make it official. Presently, Corinthians and Flamengo earn R$17.5 mil per season for their FTA rights. Pay-TV and PPV rights, plus bonuses and perimeter advertising, earn another R$8 to 10 mil per season. Signing with Record for R$100 million per season would more than triple their earnings. In Brazil, media rights to a match are owned by both home and away teams and both must give permission for the match to be broadcast.
EVENT
=> The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has confirmed a deal with Smart Communications, worth US$1.8 mil over 10 years to aid the national team and start a local club championship, aiming to develop football in the country. The Filipino Premier League was discontinued after one season in 2008, but after the success of the national team in the AFF Suzuki Cup where they reached the semi-finals, league soccer faces a revival in the Philippines. The communications provider is already a major backer of tennis, boxing, basketball and boxing in the country. The league will feature teams from across the country and will commence this month through May.
=> Meanwhile, fans of the Philippine Azkals football team complained the lack of live broadcast of their AFC Challenge Cup group match in Myanmar. ABS-CBN and the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) tried but failed to get the permit from authorities to beam the matches live via satellite to the Philippines. Filipinos are accustomed to receiving live feeds of events but was left wondering about the tightly controlled media space in Myanmar by the military junta. Local media needs also to get government permission to beam broadcasts live, including the AFC Challenge Cup. Foreign media access into the country is restricted and internet is closely monitored, although connection is slow and unreliable, exacerbated by poor electric supply.
=> India play Chinese Taipei in the AFC Challenge Cup 2012 Group B Qualifying match in Malaysia. The match kicks off at 7.30 PM (local time) will be played at the MBPJ Stadium. India has registered 23 players for the tournament. Chinese Taipei, Pakistan and Turkemnistan are other teams in the Group. India last met Chinese Taipei at home in two international friendlies in 2008 when they won one and drew the other. In the other match of the day Turkemnistan take on Pakistan at 4 PM (Local time).
=> Confusion reigns over the 2011 Indian Open as a deal is yet to be signed between Indian Golf Union (which owns the Open) and the Asian Tour (who co-sanctions the event). The agreement between the AT and IGU lapsed last year, as did the agreement between World Sports Group and Asian Tour. However, IGU had signed a 3-year contract with Nimbus Sports which gives it the Tour Manager rights which throws up the question of whether the Indian Open is still valid within the Asian Tour. Asked about the capitation fee Nimbus is paying IGU, an unnamed official said that as of now it is ‘privileged’ information.
=> OneAsia has launched its 13 stop golf schedule for 2011, adding three more tournaments to the 10 held last year. Formed in 2009 as a rival to the Asian Tour with just five events, the circuit delivered 10 events last year and will add at least three more in 2011, each with minimum prize money of $1 mil. Starting with the Indonesia PGA Championship at the Imperial Klub Golf, it will boast a prize purse of $180,000 to the winner. The Championship will aired on OneAsia's TV platform with live coverage for 4 hours a day on all four tournament days and broadcast to over 400 mil homes in more than 40 countries. Full coverage of OneAsia is on ESS, Jupiter Golf Network, SBS Golf Ch., Fox International, Network Ten, Sky Sports NZ, ESPN3 USA and ViaSat & Bloomberg TV, among others, in Europe.
Monday, 21st March 2011
RIGHTS FEE & DISTRIBUTION
=> IEC in Sports has been appointed to handle broadcast rights and production for Real Madrid’s friendly matches in China later this year. Real Madrid are due to play Guangzhou Evergrand on Aug 3 and Tianjin Teda 3 days later. IEC in Sports was appointed by tour promoter Centurion Group and will act as exclusive broadcast rights holder and production co-ordinator.
=> The Brazilian top-flight auction for FTA rights was thrown into further confusion, with only RedeTV!, the smallest of 5 national FTA networks, submitting a bid. The two biggest, Globo and Record, and 12 of the 20 top-tier clubs, boycotted the auction. Globo refused to participate claiming the asking price of R$500 mil ($300 mil) per season was too high to recoup from advertising. The move was expected to pave the way for Record to sweep the coveted FTA package but Record withdrew at the last minute, saying the auction was rendered void by the fact that 12 of the 20 clubs were boycotting it. RedeTV!’s offer of R$1.54 billion over 3 seasons surpassed the minimum asking price of the Clube dos 13. However, the RedeTV!’s contract only becomes operational if all 20 clubs agree to cede their TV rights, and most are not expected to do so.
=> Meanwhile, following the close of auction, Globo agreed new individual media rights deals with 11 of the 20 top-flight Serie A clubs, a clear sign that media rights won by rival Rede TV! is not being respected. Grêmio is the latest club to join the rebellion, confirming that it will earn R$5 mil ($3 mil) per month, or R$40 mil over the 8-month Serie A competition, for 3 seasons from 2012 to 2014. Flamengo, Corinthians, Botafogo, Fluminense, Vasco da Gama, Palmeiras, Santos, Cruzeiro, Goiás and Internacional have also signed similar deals. São Paulo and Atlético-PR are the only two clubs that have publicly said they will support the Rede TV! deal. The Globo-Grêmio deal covers all the club’s media rights except pay-per-view rights, which are negotiated based on the number of buys per match. Grêmio presently earns R$15 mil per year under the present deal.
=> Broadcast rights for the UEFA Champions League are open for bids for 2012/13 to 2014/15 in the UK. CL rights are presently split between British Sky Broadcasting and ITV. BSkyB paid £80 mil ($128.3 mil) a season from 2009/10 to 2011/12 for a more substantial package of rights over ITV. ITV paid average £53.3 mil a season from 2009/10 to 2011/12. Meanwhile, Champions League and Europa League rights offers were invited for the territory of Hong Kong, closing on April 11. i-Cable is the rights-holder.
BROADCAST
=> The Indian DTH market is penetrating households at a fast pace according to RNCOS in its survey, ‘Indian DTH Market Forecast to 2012’, saying growth was possible due to unmatched quality of DTH service, surpassing other broadcast methods and revolutionised the TV experience. DTH subscribers in India are expected to grow at a CAGR of 14% during 2011-13. The industry will mainly comprise of private players and involves no role of the public sector. The Indian DTH market is dominated by Dish TV, Tata Sky and Airtel Digital TV. Competition resulted in affordable packages offered to consumers, with the option of changing the package at any time during the subscription. The report also looks at factors that may hinder growth of the industry in future.
=> The Shanghai Media Group (SMG) is launching new cable services as part of the group's aggressive push for audience share in domestic and international Chinese markets. SMG is a multimedia television and radio broadcasting, news, and Internet company comprising eleven analogue TV channels, 90 digital paid cable TV channels and a full broadcasting Internet TV service. Powered by a Thomson head end technology solution and distributing MPEG-2 format video, SMG says that its new channels will achieve extremely high video quality through the powerful statistical multiplexing performance of the new infrastructure.
NEW MEDIA
=> TVNZ launched U, a channel integrating social networking with broadcast content for the first time in New Zealand. U is a commercial FTA online TV channel featuring real life and factual entertainment programming aimed at Kiwis aged 15-24. The channel kicked off with the first episode of U live, a daily interactive entertainment music show. TVNZ worked with Facebook to create an interactive show where fans were able to comment on topics, post pictures, vote in polls which were pulled into the broadcast and on to the screen. TVNZ's Head of Digital Media and Channels, Eric Kearley, said the broadcaster was delighted to bring New Zealand its first true "social television" experience through the Facebook integration.
DATA
=> New research predicts uptake of IPTV in emerging and developed markets will drive a 23% rise in global subs to total 131.6 mil by end 2015. Pyramid Research says growth has begun with 2010 closing with 46.2 mil worldwide IPTV subs, a 38% increase over 2009. At the end of these 5-years, a boom in IPTV service revenues will grow at a CAGR of 25% to reach $36.3 bil. In context, this would represent 15% of total pay-TV revenue in 2015, compared 6% currently. Asia will be the IPTV sub hub, increasing from 35% of IPTV subs in 2010 to 51% by 2015. Sometime in 2011, China will overtake France to become the world's largest IPTV market. In 2011, China Telecom overtook Free to become the largest single IPTV provider. Despite commanding the majority of sub by 2015, Asia will likely amount for only 28% of services revenues; US and Europe will account for two thirds of the total.
=> Meanwhile, TeleGeography’s (TG) GlobalComms Pay-TV Research has revealed a surge in IPTV services and subscribers. TG calculates over 40 telcos launching IPTV services in 2010, bringing the total to more than 200. A subsequent 38% year-on-year rise in the number of IPTV subscribers, reaching 45 mil. For Q4 alone, the growth was 9%. In TG’s analysis, Western Europe accounted 40% of global subs in 2010, 5% ahead of Asia-Pac; French subs made up 23% of global total, followed by China and US both 16%, South Korea 8% and Japan 4%. Meanwhile, fixed broadband internet subs grew 13% in 2010 to over 530 mil, with telcos accounting for 82% share, although this is just over 10% of their broadband internet customer base.
=> Research into 3DTV by In-Stat suggests the TV industry reject the pessimism it has attracted and projects modest growth over the next 5 years. “3D TV Services: It's a Small World” predicts the costs to reproduce 3D will decline over time and in 2011, 3D content production will grow quickly, especially for live event coverage. Recognising that 3D channels that have already been launched, In-Stat pinpoints sports, movie, documentary, and music channels as the areas most conducive to 3D development. In addition to linear TV channels already launched, 3D content is made widely available on pay-TVs’ VOD systems. It expects those experimenting with 3D VOD to make linear available. In all, the number of 3D TV channels will grow to over 100 by 2014.
=> Meanwhile, Samsung launched a 3D VOD service in Korea, with plans to roll it out across the US and Europe. The service debuts with content from DreamWorks and offers 3D films, movie trailers and music videos, along with children's and educational content accessible via Samsung Apps, the marketplace that is available on some of its HDTVs. Films such as Shrek and Megamind will be the first to be released and viewers are also set to be able to access advertisements and music videos. It has been described as the "industry's first video-on-demand service to provide high-quality 3D content".
EVENT
=> All matches of the J-League have been suspended indefinitely, in response to disasters that devastated northern parts of the country. Fixtures in March had initially been postponed, amid hopes that the league could resume in April. 2 international friendly matches (Japan vs Montenegro and vs New Zealand) will be replaced by a charity match between Japan’s national team and a team from the J-League in aid of the disaster victims. The national team could pull out of the Copa America to which it has been invited to compete in Argentina in July. The MotoGP leg of Japan has been postponed until October 2. The final series of ice hockey’s Asia League has been cancelled until further notice.” The ISU World Figure Skating Championships were postponed and could yet be cancelled altogether.
=> Wrestling will get an Indian Premier League after the Wrestling Federation of India said it planned to launch a series modelled on the successful and lucrative cricket series. Working with Leisure Sports, the Federation plans to stage the league in Nov and Dec this year. Wrestlers will compete in 7 weight categories in men’s and women’s competitions, with 6 city-based teams competing in the league in its first season. Sports including boxing, soccer and field hockey have all launched, or are planning to launch, city franchise-based series, either in India or internationally, modelled on the IPL.
=> ESPN Star Sports plans to stage various street soccer competitions in the Far East this year. Tiger Street Football will kick off in Singapore on Apr 16-17 and move on to Bangkok in May, Guangzhou in Jul and Ho Chi Minh in Aug before culminating with the Grand Finals in Kuala Lumpur in Sep. The series, supported by Tiger Beer, will involve 182 teams and comprise aspiring players and some of the world’s best street footballers from countries such as England, Brazil, Spain and Argentina. The competitions will be organised by ESS’ Events Management arm, offering prize money totalling $80,000 in the run-up to the Grand Finals, where the top prize will be $30,000. ESS signed up Tiger Airways as presenting sponsor and Asics as the official sports brand.
=> Superleague Formula said that it is on course to "break even" next year and will avoid the pitfalls that caused the collapse of A1GP. The 4th season of SF begins in Estoril, Portugal in May and will feature 11 countries and 4 continents, more than before. After the season-opener in Portugal at end May, SF heads to the Netherlands, Spain, France, Belgium and the UK, before the inaugural Russia race on Sep 11. Then, begin the "flyaway" races, with the season ending in New Zealand in late November. Germany and Italy have dropped off the circuit for 2011, while China, the UK and Spain will only stage one race each, as opposed to two last year.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> North Korea's gymnasts remain barred from competing at London 2012 Olympics, despite a overhaul at the Federation (NKGF) aimed at appeasing the FIG. The FIG handed the North Korean team a 2-year ban in Nov 2010, following discovery a gymnast, Hong Su Jong, registered three different years of birth under three different passports. The NKGF fired its president and international director and approved an identification and registration process for its gymnasts. It subsequently asked the FIG for leniency on the ban. But the FIG said that NKGF failed to meet a 21-day appeal deadline. As well as the 2012 Olympics, North Korea will also miss the World Championships in Tokyo, slated for Oct 12 this year.
=> World Sport Group (WSG) have agreed a multi-year deal with the Chinese Football Association (CFA) and the Chinese Football Industry Development Corporation (CFIDC) to develop the Chinese national teams. WSG will produce extensive fixture schedule for ‘CFA Team China’, as well as provide support to increase commercial revenue and to raise the profile of the sport in the country. The national team is scheduled to play 3 friendlies in March against New Zealand, Costa Rica and Honduras and are hoping to secure one of the four guaranteed places for Asian teams at the 2014 Brazil World Cup when qualifying begins later this year. WSG brings experience of Asian soccer to China, having worked as exclusive marketing partner of the AFC since 1993. Infront Sports and Media was previously the marketing partner of the CFA but that deal expired last year.
=> Chelsea FC has extended their partnership with the AFC until 2015. The Stamford Bridge club will continue to support Vision Asia, the AFC’s soccer development mission, in China and other countries in Asia. Chelsea will provide instructors for coaching clinics, management workshops, grassroots support via coaching and financial support for various ventures. In addition, the AFC Youth Player of the Year will have a chance to train with Chelsea for a month while 10 other youth players from AFC Vision Asia projects in China will be able to train with the team for two weeks. The club is due to tour Asia for the second time this summer, playing matches in Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong.
=> Infront Sports and Media has extended its exclusive global marketing partnership of the Chinese Basketball Association until end 2018. The 8-year extension prolongs a relationship between Infront and the CBA that began in early 2006. Infront said that in addition to successful promotional and marketing programmes, it has organised over 100 international warm-up games for men’s and women’s Chinese national teams between 2006 and 2010. Broadcast rights deal with CCTV-5 means all national team games in China are televised across the country, and total airtime for Team China’s warm-up games has exceeded 1,400 hours over the last five years with a cumulative viewing audience of over 760 million.
=> Mohamed Bin Hammam will stand against incumbent Sepp Blatter in elections for the presidency of FIFA. As anticipated, Bin Hammam announced his candidacy for elections, to be held at the FIFA Congress in Zurich on Jun 1. The 61-year-old Bin Hammam said that “change is necessary and needed” at FIFA, which faced allegations of corruption in the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and banned two members of the decision-making executive committee as a result. FIFA has never had a leader from Asia but Bin Hammam faces a difficult task in ousting the 75-year-old Blatter, who is seeking a fourth term in office. Bin Hammam said he believed his chances of success were "50-50."
=> The Ultimate Fighting Championship has purchased Strikeforce, its biggest competitor in North America mixed martial arts (MMA), in a deal worth US$40 mil. UFC parent company Zuffa LLC confirmed Strikeforce will continue as a separate business, with fighter’s existing contracts and its broadcast agreement with the Showtime TV network honoured. Scott Coker will continue as Strikeforce’s chief executive after signing long-term employment with Zuffa. Strikeforce holds 16 annual events in the US and recently signed a contract extension with Showtime, taking its broadcast on the channel through until 2014. The UFC, valued at US$2 bil, in 2006 acquired World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and the World Fighting Alliance. In 2007, it brought Pride Fighting Championships, the biggest MMA organisation in Japan for just under US$70 mil.
=> FIFA has banned Nurdin Halid, chairman of PSSI football authority in Indonesia, from standing at next month's election. Majority of PSSI members want Halid removed, but election scheduled for Mar 26 was postponed by an appeals decision, prompting protests against PSSI. FIFA stepped in and told PSSI to arrange a general assembly by Mar 26 and organise elections by Apr 30. PSSI said that the election would take place on Apr 29. Halid was jailed in 2007 for abusing funds but continued to run the organisation from prison. His nomination for re-election would violate Fifa's statutes. Failure to adhere to FIFA's requests would result in "serious suspension" for PSSI.
=> IEC in Sports has been appointed to handle broadcast rights and production for Real Madrid’s friendly matches in China later this year. Real Madrid are due to play Guangzhou Evergrand on Aug 3 and Tianjin Teda 3 days later. IEC in Sports was appointed by tour promoter Centurion Group and will act as exclusive broadcast rights holder and production co-ordinator.
=> The Brazilian top-flight auction for FTA rights was thrown into further confusion, with only RedeTV!, the smallest of 5 national FTA networks, submitting a bid. The two biggest, Globo and Record, and 12 of the 20 top-tier clubs, boycotted the auction. Globo refused to participate claiming the asking price of R$500 mil ($300 mil) per season was too high to recoup from advertising. The move was expected to pave the way for Record to sweep the coveted FTA package but Record withdrew at the last minute, saying the auction was rendered void by the fact that 12 of the 20 clubs were boycotting it. RedeTV!’s offer of R$1.54 billion over 3 seasons surpassed the minimum asking price of the Clube dos 13. However, the RedeTV!’s contract only becomes operational if all 20 clubs agree to cede their TV rights, and most are not expected to do so.
=> Meanwhile, following the close of auction, Globo agreed new individual media rights deals with 11 of the 20 top-flight Serie A clubs, a clear sign that media rights won by rival Rede TV! is not being respected. Grêmio is the latest club to join the rebellion, confirming that it will earn R$5 mil ($3 mil) per month, or R$40 mil over the 8-month Serie A competition, for 3 seasons from 2012 to 2014. Flamengo, Corinthians, Botafogo, Fluminense, Vasco da Gama, Palmeiras, Santos, Cruzeiro, Goiás and Internacional have also signed similar deals. São Paulo and Atlético-PR are the only two clubs that have publicly said they will support the Rede TV! deal. The Globo-Grêmio deal covers all the club’s media rights except pay-per-view rights, which are negotiated based on the number of buys per match. Grêmio presently earns R$15 mil per year under the present deal.
=> Broadcast rights for the UEFA Champions League are open for bids for 2012/13 to 2014/15 in the UK. CL rights are presently split between British Sky Broadcasting and ITV. BSkyB paid £80 mil ($128.3 mil) a season from 2009/10 to 2011/12 for a more substantial package of rights over ITV. ITV paid average £53.3 mil a season from 2009/10 to 2011/12. Meanwhile, Champions League and Europa League rights offers were invited for the territory of Hong Kong, closing on April 11. i-Cable is the rights-holder.
BROADCAST
=> The Indian DTH market is penetrating households at a fast pace according to RNCOS in its survey, ‘Indian DTH Market Forecast to 2012’, saying growth was possible due to unmatched quality of DTH service, surpassing other broadcast methods and revolutionised the TV experience. DTH subscribers in India are expected to grow at a CAGR of 14% during 2011-13. The industry will mainly comprise of private players and involves no role of the public sector. The Indian DTH market is dominated by Dish TV, Tata Sky and Airtel Digital TV. Competition resulted in affordable packages offered to consumers, with the option of changing the package at any time during the subscription. The report also looks at factors that may hinder growth of the industry in future.
=> The Shanghai Media Group (SMG) is launching new cable services as part of the group's aggressive push for audience share in domestic and international Chinese markets. SMG is a multimedia television and radio broadcasting, news, and Internet company comprising eleven analogue TV channels, 90 digital paid cable TV channels and a full broadcasting Internet TV service. Powered by a Thomson head end technology solution and distributing MPEG-2 format video, SMG says that its new channels will achieve extremely high video quality through the powerful statistical multiplexing performance of the new infrastructure.
NEW MEDIA
=> TVNZ launched U, a channel integrating social networking with broadcast content for the first time in New Zealand. U is a commercial FTA online TV channel featuring real life and factual entertainment programming aimed at Kiwis aged 15-24. The channel kicked off with the first episode of U live, a daily interactive entertainment music show. TVNZ worked with Facebook to create an interactive show where fans were able to comment on topics, post pictures, vote in polls which were pulled into the broadcast and on to the screen. TVNZ's Head of Digital Media and Channels, Eric Kearley, said the broadcaster was delighted to bring New Zealand its first true "social television" experience through the Facebook integration.
DATA
=> New research predicts uptake of IPTV in emerging and developed markets will drive a 23% rise in global subs to total 131.6 mil by end 2015. Pyramid Research says growth has begun with 2010 closing with 46.2 mil worldwide IPTV subs, a 38% increase over 2009. At the end of these 5-years, a boom in IPTV service revenues will grow at a CAGR of 25% to reach $36.3 bil. In context, this would represent 15% of total pay-TV revenue in 2015, compared 6% currently. Asia will be the IPTV sub hub, increasing from 35% of IPTV subs in 2010 to 51% by 2015. Sometime in 2011, China will overtake France to become the world's largest IPTV market. In 2011, China Telecom overtook Free to become the largest single IPTV provider. Despite commanding the majority of sub by 2015, Asia will likely amount for only 28% of services revenues; US and Europe will account for two thirds of the total.
=> Meanwhile, TeleGeography’s (TG) GlobalComms Pay-TV Research has revealed a surge in IPTV services and subscribers. TG calculates over 40 telcos launching IPTV services in 2010, bringing the total to more than 200. A subsequent 38% year-on-year rise in the number of IPTV subscribers, reaching 45 mil. For Q4 alone, the growth was 9%. In TG’s analysis, Western Europe accounted 40% of global subs in 2010, 5% ahead of Asia-Pac; French subs made up 23% of global total, followed by China and US both 16%, South Korea 8% and Japan 4%. Meanwhile, fixed broadband internet subs grew 13% in 2010 to over 530 mil, with telcos accounting for 82% share, although this is just over 10% of their broadband internet customer base.
=> Research into 3DTV by In-Stat suggests the TV industry reject the pessimism it has attracted and projects modest growth over the next 5 years. “3D TV Services: It's a Small World” predicts the costs to reproduce 3D will decline over time and in 2011, 3D content production will grow quickly, especially for live event coverage. Recognising that 3D channels that have already been launched, In-Stat pinpoints sports, movie, documentary, and music channels as the areas most conducive to 3D development. In addition to linear TV channels already launched, 3D content is made widely available on pay-TVs’ VOD systems. It expects those experimenting with 3D VOD to make linear available. In all, the number of 3D TV channels will grow to over 100 by 2014.
=> Meanwhile, Samsung launched a 3D VOD service in Korea, with plans to roll it out across the US and Europe. The service debuts with content from DreamWorks and offers 3D films, movie trailers and music videos, along with children's and educational content accessible via Samsung Apps, the marketplace that is available on some of its HDTVs. Films such as Shrek and Megamind will be the first to be released and viewers are also set to be able to access advertisements and music videos. It has been described as the "industry's first video-on-demand service to provide high-quality 3D content".
EVENT
=> All matches of the J-League have been suspended indefinitely, in response to disasters that devastated northern parts of the country. Fixtures in March had initially been postponed, amid hopes that the league could resume in April. 2 international friendly matches (Japan vs Montenegro and vs New Zealand) will be replaced by a charity match between Japan’s national team and a team from the J-League in aid of the disaster victims. The national team could pull out of the Copa America to which it has been invited to compete in Argentina in July. The MotoGP leg of Japan has been postponed until October 2. The final series of ice hockey’s Asia League has been cancelled until further notice.” The ISU World Figure Skating Championships were postponed and could yet be cancelled altogether.
=> Wrestling will get an Indian Premier League after the Wrestling Federation of India said it planned to launch a series modelled on the successful and lucrative cricket series. Working with Leisure Sports, the Federation plans to stage the league in Nov and Dec this year. Wrestlers will compete in 7 weight categories in men’s and women’s competitions, with 6 city-based teams competing in the league in its first season. Sports including boxing, soccer and field hockey have all launched, or are planning to launch, city franchise-based series, either in India or internationally, modelled on the IPL.
=> ESPN Star Sports plans to stage various street soccer competitions in the Far East this year. Tiger Street Football will kick off in Singapore on Apr 16-17 and move on to Bangkok in May, Guangzhou in Jul and Ho Chi Minh in Aug before culminating with the Grand Finals in Kuala Lumpur in Sep. The series, supported by Tiger Beer, will involve 182 teams and comprise aspiring players and some of the world’s best street footballers from countries such as England, Brazil, Spain and Argentina. The competitions will be organised by ESS’ Events Management arm, offering prize money totalling $80,000 in the run-up to the Grand Finals, where the top prize will be $30,000. ESS signed up Tiger Airways as presenting sponsor and Asics as the official sports brand.
=> Superleague Formula said that it is on course to "break even" next year and will avoid the pitfalls that caused the collapse of A1GP. The 4th season of SF begins in Estoril, Portugal in May and will feature 11 countries and 4 continents, more than before. After the season-opener in Portugal at end May, SF heads to the Netherlands, Spain, France, Belgium and the UK, before the inaugural Russia race on Sep 11. Then, begin the "flyaway" races, with the season ending in New Zealand in late November. Germany and Italy have dropped off the circuit for 2011, while China, the UK and Spain will only stage one race each, as opposed to two last year.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> North Korea's gymnasts remain barred from competing at London 2012 Olympics, despite a overhaul at the Federation (NKGF) aimed at appeasing the FIG. The FIG handed the North Korean team a 2-year ban in Nov 2010, following discovery a gymnast, Hong Su Jong, registered three different years of birth under three different passports. The NKGF fired its president and international director and approved an identification and registration process for its gymnasts. It subsequently asked the FIG for leniency on the ban. But the FIG said that NKGF failed to meet a 21-day appeal deadline. As well as the 2012 Olympics, North Korea will also miss the World Championships in Tokyo, slated for Oct 12 this year.
=> World Sport Group (WSG) have agreed a multi-year deal with the Chinese Football Association (CFA) and the Chinese Football Industry Development Corporation (CFIDC) to develop the Chinese national teams. WSG will produce extensive fixture schedule for ‘CFA Team China’, as well as provide support to increase commercial revenue and to raise the profile of the sport in the country. The national team is scheduled to play 3 friendlies in March against New Zealand, Costa Rica and Honduras and are hoping to secure one of the four guaranteed places for Asian teams at the 2014 Brazil World Cup when qualifying begins later this year. WSG brings experience of Asian soccer to China, having worked as exclusive marketing partner of the AFC since 1993. Infront Sports and Media was previously the marketing partner of the CFA but that deal expired last year.
=> Chelsea FC has extended their partnership with the AFC until 2015. The Stamford Bridge club will continue to support Vision Asia, the AFC’s soccer development mission, in China and other countries in Asia. Chelsea will provide instructors for coaching clinics, management workshops, grassroots support via coaching and financial support for various ventures. In addition, the AFC Youth Player of the Year will have a chance to train with Chelsea for a month while 10 other youth players from AFC Vision Asia projects in China will be able to train with the team for two weeks. The club is due to tour Asia for the second time this summer, playing matches in Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong.
=> Infront Sports and Media has extended its exclusive global marketing partnership of the Chinese Basketball Association until end 2018. The 8-year extension prolongs a relationship between Infront and the CBA that began in early 2006. Infront said that in addition to successful promotional and marketing programmes, it has organised over 100 international warm-up games for men’s and women’s Chinese national teams between 2006 and 2010. Broadcast rights deal with CCTV-5 means all national team games in China are televised across the country, and total airtime for Team China’s warm-up games has exceeded 1,400 hours over the last five years with a cumulative viewing audience of over 760 million.
=> Mohamed Bin Hammam will stand against incumbent Sepp Blatter in elections for the presidency of FIFA. As anticipated, Bin Hammam announced his candidacy for elections, to be held at the FIFA Congress in Zurich on Jun 1. The 61-year-old Bin Hammam said that “change is necessary and needed” at FIFA, which faced allegations of corruption in the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and banned two members of the decision-making executive committee as a result. FIFA has never had a leader from Asia but Bin Hammam faces a difficult task in ousting the 75-year-old Blatter, who is seeking a fourth term in office. Bin Hammam said he believed his chances of success were "50-50."
=> The Ultimate Fighting Championship has purchased Strikeforce, its biggest competitor in North America mixed martial arts (MMA), in a deal worth US$40 mil. UFC parent company Zuffa LLC confirmed Strikeforce will continue as a separate business, with fighter’s existing contracts and its broadcast agreement with the Showtime TV network honoured. Scott Coker will continue as Strikeforce’s chief executive after signing long-term employment with Zuffa. Strikeforce holds 16 annual events in the US and recently signed a contract extension with Showtime, taking its broadcast on the channel through until 2014. The UFC, valued at US$2 bil, in 2006 acquired World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and the World Fighting Alliance. In 2007, it brought Pride Fighting Championships, the biggest MMA organisation in Japan for just under US$70 mil.
=> FIFA has banned Nurdin Halid, chairman of PSSI football authority in Indonesia, from standing at next month's election. Majority of PSSI members want Halid removed, but election scheduled for Mar 26 was postponed by an appeals decision, prompting protests against PSSI. FIFA stepped in and told PSSI to arrange a general assembly by Mar 26 and organise elections by Apr 30. PSSI said that the election would take place on Apr 29. Halid was jailed in 2007 for abusing funds but continued to run the organisation from prison. His nomination for re-election would violate Fifa's statutes. Failure to adhere to FIFA's requests would result in "serious suspension" for PSSI.
Monday, 14th March 2011
RIGHTS FEE & DISTRIBUTION
=> Nimbus Sport has entered into a 6-year contract with the Indian Golf Union (IGU) that will see the broadcaster market the Indian Masters as well as the Indian Open. The Indian Masters, previously a US$2.5 million tournament, is now set to be revived this year after it was cancelled when title sponsors Emaar-MGF pulled out following its inaugural appearance on the European Tour calendar in 2008. Nimbus Sport will replace World Sport Group (WSG) as marketing partner of the Indian Open and has also acquired title rights of the Indian Classic, which it will develop into a premier international match-play event. Both WSG and IMG were bidding against Nimbus for the right to become tournament promoters.
=> The Confederation of African Football will receive $137.45 mil in TV and marketing revenue from its competitions from 2011 to 2017. The figure is the minimum guarantee provided by Sportfive which handles the rights to six CAF competitions under a deal signed in 2007. Sportfive has pledged $46.8 mil for 4 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015). Until 2008, CAF earned $5.5 mil every two years from the sale of rights to the tournament. A 7-year agreement between Sportfive and CAF for the rights to the African Champions League and the African Confederation Cup is worth $71.4 mil until 2017. The agency will also pay $17 mil until 2015 for the rights to the African Nations Championship and $2.25 mil until 2016 for the African Youth Championship and the African Under-17 Championship. CAF said that it is in negotiations to sell TV rights for Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in a deal that would be worth than $150,000 to each member association.
=> Lega Calcio has opted against reallocating rights to the Serie A held by Dahlia TV, which folded last month. Dahlia held digital terrestrial rights for the matches of 8 Serie A teams and Lega Calcio has decided not to re-award the rights surrendered by Dahlia for the remainder of the 2010-11 season. Dahlia’s rights deal was worth €31.5 million ($43.4 million) per season, covering 2011-12 season. Lega Calcio will decide what steps to take regarding next season’s coverage at future league meetings.
BROADCAST
=> The International Sepak Takraw Federation has agreed its first major broadcast deal for the sport's new international calendar. UFA Sports Asia and Wharf House signed a deal with Thailand's free-to-air broadcaster Channel 3. The agreement guarantees live prime-time coverage across Thailand and Myanmar for the next 3 seasons of the international calendar, kicking off in July with the ISTAF World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ISTAF said there will be at least 17 tournaments played during the length of the Channel 3 contract. Top 8 women's and 12 men's nations from the World Cup will qualify for the ISTAF Super Series, of which will have 4 tournaments running until April 2012. They will take place in Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam (women only) and Iran (men only), before the Super Series Finals in June 2012.
=> Apple has signed online broadcast deals with Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Basketball Association (NBA), enabling it to stream live sports through its Apple TV service. Apple has agreed terms to carry both MLB.TV and NBA League Pass, online sports subscription channels, on its new digital media receiver, revamped in Sep 2010 as a US$99 set-top box. Both services are backed by their respective leagues and offer broadcasts of live games and match highlights. MLB.TV and NBA League Pass will come at an extra cost on top of an Apple TV subscription; NBA League Pass costs US$65 for the rest of the season, while MLB.TV’s basic package is priced at US$20 per month or US$99 per year.
=> Eurosport 2 has confirmed itself as one of Europe’s fastest growing pay-TV channels; it is now broadcasting to 50.4 mil homes in Europe, almost 25% up on the figure for Jan 2010. Launched in 2005, the channel is now available in 47 countries and in 16 languages and claims its growth is recognition of the quality programming and expert coverage of team and action sports. Eurosport 2 also claims that its national and regional offers in the UK, Nordics and Central & Eastern Europe are taking a prominent position in their respective markets. The news comes hot on the heels of its parent channel announcing in Jan 2011 that it had added 4 million viewers in 2010 and had a reach of 123 mil households across Europe.
EVENT
=> The 2011 KIA X Games Asia (KXG), returns to Shanghai for its fifth consecutive year end April, highlighted with the biggest names in the sport, a new street course and a strong panel of sponsors back to support the "biggest action sports competition in Asia". Organised by ESPN STAR Sports’ Event Management and ESPN X Games, KXG will feature nearly 200 athletes from more than 30 countries competing in the action sports competition. KXG earned a global reputation with a significant increase in awareness about action sports in the region. The KIA X Games Asia 2011 will be broadcast live on ESPN STAR Sports’ networks across Asia as well as SMG’s Great Sports on 30 Apr – 2 May.
=> Nimbus Sport has entered into a 6-year contract with the Indian Golf Union (IGU) that will see the broadcaster market the Indian Masters as well as the Indian Open. The Indian Masters, previously a US$2.5 million tournament, is now set to be revived this year after it was cancelled when title sponsors Emaar-MGF pulled out following its inaugural appearance on the European Tour calendar in 2008. Nimbus Sport will replace World Sport Group (WSG) as marketing partner of the Indian Open and has also acquired title rights of the Indian Classic, which it will develop into a premier international match-play event. Both WSG and IMG were bidding against Nimbus for the right to become tournament promoters.
=> The Confederation of African Football will receive $137.45 mil in TV and marketing revenue from its competitions from 2011 to 2017. The figure is the minimum guarantee provided by Sportfive which handles the rights to six CAF competitions under a deal signed in 2007. Sportfive has pledged $46.8 mil for 4 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015). Until 2008, CAF earned $5.5 mil every two years from the sale of rights to the tournament. A 7-year agreement between Sportfive and CAF for the rights to the African Champions League and the African Confederation Cup is worth $71.4 mil until 2017. The agency will also pay $17 mil until 2015 for the rights to the African Nations Championship and $2.25 mil until 2016 for the African Youth Championship and the African Under-17 Championship. CAF said that it is in negotiations to sell TV rights for Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in a deal that would be worth than $150,000 to each member association.
=> Lega Calcio has opted against reallocating rights to the Serie A held by Dahlia TV, which folded last month. Dahlia held digital terrestrial rights for the matches of 8 Serie A teams and Lega Calcio has decided not to re-award the rights surrendered by Dahlia for the remainder of the 2010-11 season. Dahlia’s rights deal was worth €31.5 million ($43.4 million) per season, covering 2011-12 season. Lega Calcio will decide what steps to take regarding next season’s coverage at future league meetings.
BROADCAST
=> The International Sepak Takraw Federation has agreed its first major broadcast deal for the sport's new international calendar. UFA Sports Asia and Wharf House signed a deal with Thailand's free-to-air broadcaster Channel 3. The agreement guarantees live prime-time coverage across Thailand and Myanmar for the next 3 seasons of the international calendar, kicking off in July with the ISTAF World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ISTAF said there will be at least 17 tournaments played during the length of the Channel 3 contract. Top 8 women's and 12 men's nations from the World Cup will qualify for the ISTAF Super Series, of which will have 4 tournaments running until April 2012. They will take place in Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam (women only) and Iran (men only), before the Super Series Finals in June 2012.
=> Apple has signed online broadcast deals with Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Basketball Association (NBA), enabling it to stream live sports through its Apple TV service. Apple has agreed terms to carry both MLB.TV and NBA League Pass, online sports subscription channels, on its new digital media receiver, revamped in Sep 2010 as a US$99 set-top box. Both services are backed by their respective leagues and offer broadcasts of live games and match highlights. MLB.TV and NBA League Pass will come at an extra cost on top of an Apple TV subscription; NBA League Pass costs US$65 for the rest of the season, while MLB.TV’s basic package is priced at US$20 per month or US$99 per year.
=> Eurosport 2 has confirmed itself as one of Europe’s fastest growing pay-TV channels; it is now broadcasting to 50.4 mil homes in Europe, almost 25% up on the figure for Jan 2010. Launched in 2005, the channel is now available in 47 countries and in 16 languages and claims its growth is recognition of the quality programming and expert coverage of team and action sports. Eurosport 2 also claims that its national and regional offers in the UK, Nordics and Central & Eastern Europe are taking a prominent position in their respective markets. The news comes hot on the heels of its parent channel announcing in Jan 2011 that it had added 4 million viewers in 2010 and had a reach of 123 mil households across Europe.
EVENT
=> The 2011 KIA X Games Asia (KXG), returns to Shanghai for its fifth consecutive year end April, highlighted with the biggest names in the sport, a new street course and a strong panel of sponsors back to support the "biggest action sports competition in Asia". Organised by ESPN STAR Sports’ Event Management and ESPN X Games, KXG will feature nearly 200 athletes from more than 30 countries competing in the action sports competition. KXG earned a global reputation with a significant increase in awareness about action sports in the region. The KIA X Games Asia 2011 will be broadcast live on ESPN STAR Sports’ networks across Asia as well as SMG’s Great Sports on 30 Apr – 2 May.
Friday, 11th March 2011
RIGHTS FEE & DISTRIBUTION
=> Rs 2.4 billion – this is the floor price the BCCI has fixed for the full package of 4-year IPL media rights it made available for bidding. The BCCI floated a tender for IPL broadcast rights for specific international territories and global internet and mobile rights, for the period 2011-2014. The BCCI has fixed a bottom of Rs 600 mil per year for the TV, radio, mobile & internet package. The other two packaged rights available are: i) all the rights except worldwide mobile rights; and ii) worldwide mobile rights only. BCCI stated it would accept consortium bids. Broadcast rights available do not include Indian sub-continent (which is with MSM Max), Australia, South Africa, Middle East, Carribean, Hong Kong and Singapore. Radio rights are available for all markets excluding Middle East, while internet & mobile rights are available for all territories.
=> Sportfive would be a candidate to distribute centralised broadcast rights to qualifying matches for the European Championships and World Cup on behalf of UEFA. UEFA’s plans for centralization would come into effect from Sep 2014, pending ratification by all 53 members associations. With approval, UEFA could decide to appoint an agency at its congress in Paris on March 22. Sportfive already works with UEFA selling the Euro 2012 broadcast rights in 49 territories in Asia and Oceania (exc. Japan (Dentsu), Brunei, Malaysia & Indonesia). Last year, UEFA delivered aggressive projections that claimed a central sale of TV rights and sponsorship rights would raise €1 bil ($1.38 billion) in gross revenues for its members and €900 mil in net revenues over a 4-year period, an increase (in net terms) of over 60% on revenues raised by individually-sold distribution.
=> The Brazilian Clube dos 13 hopes to earn a minimum of R$912 mil ($551 mil) per season from media rights for three seasons from 2012 to 2014, more than double on the present 3-year deal, from 2009 to 2011. The Clube dos 13 revealed a minimum price of R$250 mil for pay-per-view rights for 2012, rising to R$275 mil in 2013 and R$300 mil in 2014. It is asking a minimum of $100 mil per season for pay-TV, R$50 mil for internet and R$12 mil for mobile rights. It said that it would accept bids for coveted FTA rights package from R$500 million per season. All the media rights are held exclusively by Globo in the present deal. Globo's pay-TV pays a base price of R$120 mil per season for the PPV and R$50 mil for pay-TV rights. Internet rights are bundled with FTA rights, for which Globo pays R$220 mil per season. Globo also holds the mobile rights worth R$5 mil per season.
=> Spanish pubcaster, TVE, suggested that it should sell off MotoGP media rights in an attempt to save money. TVE is accused of failing to fulfil its public-service remit by spending huge money on content like Champions League, then failing to renew contracts for less popular events, like IAAF World Championships. However, TVE balked at the asking price for the IAAF package, at €2 mil per season. TVE is in the final season of its rights deal for MotoGP, secured after a hotly-contested auction in 2007 against rival, Cuatro, but was forced to increase its fee to €20 mil per season to keep the rights to the series from its previous deal, in which it paid €9 mil per season.
DATA
=> Over 30 mil web users in India watched online video in Jan 2011 - equating to 72% of its internet population - according to comScore, which rates YouTube and Facebook as the nation’s most popular host sites. Almost half the videos watched were hosted by YouTube, and the average web viewer consumed 58 videos and 5 hours of video content during the month. The report claims visitors to YouTube in India watched 780.7 mil videos in Jan, representing 44.5% of all videos viewed that month, with social network Facebook ranking second with 6.6 mil viewers and 30.1 mil videos viewed. Metacafe came third in the ratings, with 3.9 mil viewers. Indian-owned sites Network 18 and Rediff.com ranked highly, reaching 1.2 mil and 861,000 viewers respectively – placing them both in the comScore top 10 for Jan.
=> Hong Kong’s rapidly growing broadband market had 85% of households with access at the start of 2010, according to Research and Markets. “Hong Kong - Broadband - Overview and Statistics” show how extensive roll-out of sophisticated telecommunications infrastructure has allowed Hong Kong to towards 85% household penetration for broadband connectivity. There were over 5.3 mil internet users in the territory, gaining access using either dial-up or broadband, going into 2010 with 67% of those subscribing to broadband services. Extensive DSL and cable coverage, along with a large fibre optic footprint, has driven the market for triple play services and IPTV.
EVENT
=> German sports internet portal, Sportdigital.tv, has acquired rights to the remainder of the 2011 ‘Fight Code’ European kickboxing series, launched by MP & Silva and Taipan SrL. Sportdigital.tv has already shown this year’s first two events and has now secured rights for the eight remaining events in 2011. MP & Silva will provide HD broadcast production, event management and worldwide rights distribution. The 2011 series features 10 events and a minimum of 60 fights across two new weight categories: Rhinos (under 105kg) and Dragons (under 72.5kg). Each of the 10 events features a series of prestige fights, with local stars from the host countries taking on fighters from around the world.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> AIBA has provisionally suspended the Romanian Boxing Federation with immediate effect for failing to hold a presidential election, after the incumbent was last year banned for 11 years by AIBA. No Romanian boxers, coaches or officials will be authorised to participate in AIBA approved or controlled events and/or meetings, while the RBF cannot host any continental or international boxing events until an election for presidency takes place. After two delays of promised elections, AIBA put its foot down when it noted that "Obreja continues to act as president of the Romanian Boxing Federation despite his current long suspension." Obreja was handed an 11-year ban and fined $20,000, by AIBA after failing to respect the terms of a 2-year suspension that was imposed by AIBA in a scandal over alleged attempts to influence judging at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
=> Rs 2.4 billion – this is the floor price the BCCI has fixed for the full package of 4-year IPL media rights it made available for bidding. The BCCI floated a tender for IPL broadcast rights for specific international territories and global internet and mobile rights, for the period 2011-2014. The BCCI has fixed a bottom of Rs 600 mil per year for the TV, radio, mobile & internet package. The other two packaged rights available are: i) all the rights except worldwide mobile rights; and ii) worldwide mobile rights only. BCCI stated it would accept consortium bids. Broadcast rights available do not include Indian sub-continent (which is with MSM Max), Australia, South Africa, Middle East, Carribean, Hong Kong and Singapore. Radio rights are available for all markets excluding Middle East, while internet & mobile rights are available for all territories.
=> Sportfive would be a candidate to distribute centralised broadcast rights to qualifying matches for the European Championships and World Cup on behalf of UEFA. UEFA’s plans for centralization would come into effect from Sep 2014, pending ratification by all 53 members associations. With approval, UEFA could decide to appoint an agency at its congress in Paris on March 22. Sportfive already works with UEFA selling the Euro 2012 broadcast rights in 49 territories in Asia and Oceania (exc. Japan (Dentsu), Brunei, Malaysia & Indonesia). Last year, UEFA delivered aggressive projections that claimed a central sale of TV rights and sponsorship rights would raise €1 bil ($1.38 billion) in gross revenues for its members and €900 mil in net revenues over a 4-year period, an increase (in net terms) of over 60% on revenues raised by individually-sold distribution.
=> The Brazilian Clube dos 13 hopes to earn a minimum of R$912 mil ($551 mil) per season from media rights for three seasons from 2012 to 2014, more than double on the present 3-year deal, from 2009 to 2011. The Clube dos 13 revealed a minimum price of R$250 mil for pay-per-view rights for 2012, rising to R$275 mil in 2013 and R$300 mil in 2014. It is asking a minimum of $100 mil per season for pay-TV, R$50 mil for internet and R$12 mil for mobile rights. It said that it would accept bids for coveted FTA rights package from R$500 million per season. All the media rights are held exclusively by Globo in the present deal. Globo's pay-TV pays a base price of R$120 mil per season for the PPV and R$50 mil for pay-TV rights. Internet rights are bundled with FTA rights, for which Globo pays R$220 mil per season. Globo also holds the mobile rights worth R$5 mil per season.
=> Spanish pubcaster, TVE, suggested that it should sell off MotoGP media rights in an attempt to save money. TVE is accused of failing to fulfil its public-service remit by spending huge money on content like Champions League, then failing to renew contracts for less popular events, like IAAF World Championships. However, TVE balked at the asking price for the IAAF package, at €2 mil per season. TVE is in the final season of its rights deal for MotoGP, secured after a hotly-contested auction in 2007 against rival, Cuatro, but was forced to increase its fee to €20 mil per season to keep the rights to the series from its previous deal, in which it paid €9 mil per season.
DATA
=> Over 30 mil web users in India watched online video in Jan 2011 - equating to 72% of its internet population - according to comScore, which rates YouTube and Facebook as the nation’s most popular host sites. Almost half the videos watched were hosted by YouTube, and the average web viewer consumed 58 videos and 5 hours of video content during the month. The report claims visitors to YouTube in India watched 780.7 mil videos in Jan, representing 44.5% of all videos viewed that month, with social network Facebook ranking second with 6.6 mil viewers and 30.1 mil videos viewed. Metacafe came third in the ratings, with 3.9 mil viewers. Indian-owned sites Network 18 and Rediff.com ranked highly, reaching 1.2 mil and 861,000 viewers respectively – placing them both in the comScore top 10 for Jan.
=> Hong Kong’s rapidly growing broadband market had 85% of households with access at the start of 2010, according to Research and Markets. “Hong Kong - Broadband - Overview and Statistics” show how extensive roll-out of sophisticated telecommunications infrastructure has allowed Hong Kong to towards 85% household penetration for broadband connectivity. There were over 5.3 mil internet users in the territory, gaining access using either dial-up or broadband, going into 2010 with 67% of those subscribing to broadband services. Extensive DSL and cable coverage, along with a large fibre optic footprint, has driven the market for triple play services and IPTV.
EVENT
=> German sports internet portal, Sportdigital.tv, has acquired rights to the remainder of the 2011 ‘Fight Code’ European kickboxing series, launched by MP & Silva and Taipan SrL. Sportdigital.tv has already shown this year’s first two events and has now secured rights for the eight remaining events in 2011. MP & Silva will provide HD broadcast production, event management and worldwide rights distribution. The 2011 series features 10 events and a minimum of 60 fights across two new weight categories: Rhinos (under 105kg) and Dragons (under 72.5kg). Each of the 10 events features a series of prestige fights, with local stars from the host countries taking on fighters from around the world.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> AIBA has provisionally suspended the Romanian Boxing Federation with immediate effect for failing to hold a presidential election, after the incumbent was last year banned for 11 years by AIBA. No Romanian boxers, coaches or officials will be authorised to participate in AIBA approved or controlled events and/or meetings, while the RBF cannot host any continental or international boxing events until an election for presidency takes place. After two delays of promised elections, AIBA put its foot down when it noted that "Obreja continues to act as president of the Romanian Boxing Federation despite his current long suspension." Obreja was handed an 11-year ban and fined $20,000, by AIBA after failing to respect the terms of a 2-year suspension that was imposed by AIBA in a scandal over alleged attempts to influence judging at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Thursday, 10th March 2011
RIGHTS FEE & DISTRIBUTION
=> The Polish Ekstraklasa has ended a tender process for domestic broadcast rights from next season after no bids were accepted and will now enter into private negotiations with broadcasters. The Ekstraklasa and UFA Sports launched a rights tender in October for the period from 2011-12 to 2013-14. Lower-than-expected bids from broadcasters lengthened the tender process and prompted the league to consider the creation of its own channel to showcase matches. Domestic rights are currently with Canal Plus Poland and Telekomunikacja Polska in 3-year deals worth a total of 120 million zlotys ($41.9 million) per season. Bids for the rights for the next three seasons were rumoured to be worth the same amount or less than current deals.
=> In the USA, the Big East Conference may get $460 mil for multiyear TV contracts to its college basketball and football games. The conference has 16 members for basketball and may get an increase up to 230% that the Atlantic Coast Conference received when Fox and ESPN got into a bidding war. The BEC’s 6-year, $200 mil contract with Disney’s ESPN network ends with the 2012 season. The ACC increased its annual rights fees to $155 mil from $67 mil a year in a contract with ESPN.
DATA
=> New research revealed opportunities for cable TV operators embracing IP video platforms and deploying connected devices and place apps on smart TVs, tablets and other devices. Heavy Reading Cable Industry Insider Cable MSOs are taking up challenge to their current offerings, especially from cord-cutting, by increasing broadband connectivity to extend services. However, HRCI yet warns that content rights issues are a major hurdle that MSOs and programmers must resolve through business deals and DRM scenarios. It also suggests that for cable apps to succeed, MSOs, CE companies and content providers need more to come together to provide the scale needed to make business worthwhile.
=> Online video consumption, especially on demand, is outpacing traditional TV platforms. The study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) revealed people were accessing over 12 hours of TV and film content per week from online sources compared to under 9 hours from network and cable TV. Nearly 3 times as many people accessed film content from OTT sources rather than on-demand from a digital pay-TV supplier. That is both rented on-line via a subscription service, like Netflix streaming service or streamed from a non-subscription-based Internet website (e.g., Hulu: abc.com) for free. 36% of those who do engage video piracy claim they do so in order to prevent content owners from being more profitable. 4 out of 5 of those who currently pirate content said that they would continue to do so. Majority of those pirating content would curtail their activity if content was priced between $1 and $3 and available within a 30-day window.
EVENT
=> The Yonex All England Open Badminton Championship is set to take place in Birmingham, England from March 8th to 13th 2011. The second Premier Superseries event on the OSIM BWF World Superseries 2011 calendar will see top badminton players competing for a total US$350,000 purse. The tournament will be streamed live on totalsports.tv from the 10th to the 13th of March . The All England will be broadcast in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Myanmar, China, Indonesia, Denmark, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Macau, South Korea, Brunei, Laos and even as far reaching as the United States including the Caribbean.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> Continuing the BCCI-WSG-IPL saga, the BCCI gained advantage in its legal battle yesterday with World Sport Group. The Supreme Court stayed a Bombay High Court order for WSG's appeal against the BCCI, seeking arbitration over the termination of its worldwide media rights for the IPL outside of the Indian subcontinent. While seeking response from WSG, the bench undertook from the BCCI that any contract entered into with WSG will be honoured by it. The same undertaking was given by the BCCI before the Bombay High Court also. Interestingly, this is the contention WSG has made while publicly challenging the BCCI's move when it floated tenders for television, internet, mobile and radio rights of the IPL.
=> 24 hours remain for the Indian Sports Ministry to bring a solution to the hockey imbroglio with Hockey India emerging as the only legally viable option as a single consolidated body. The ministry had taken a ludicrous position telling the Delhi High Court that both HI and Indian Hockey Federation are recognised by the government. The court has consistently asked HI to select the Indian men and women teams for international outings since mid-2010. It is aware that FIH recognises HI alone and will make it clear that if it has abided by all government guidelines, there is no other body that can legitimately claim to be the official federation in India.
=> The English FA would support any credible challenger to FIFA president Sepp Blatter in June's election. The Press Association reports that anger at England's treatment during its 2018 World Cup bid defeat has convinced FA chiefs that it is time for a change at the top of FIFA. The FA will consider writing to AFC head Mohamed Bin Hammam urging him to stand against Blatter. The FA has yet to take an official position on the FIFA presidency. Blatter has a strong powerbase within the 204 members who make up FIFA and would be difficult to unseat. The FA supported Blatter when he first stood for presidency in 1998 but backed his defeated opponent Issa Hayatou in 2002. Blatter was re-elected unchallenged in 2007.
=> Meanwhile, AFC head Mohamed Bin Hammam, is expected to confirm his FIFA presidency challenge within the week. The Qatari, a member of FIFA's powerful executive committee, has been linked with the top job since FIFA faced allegations of corruption in the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. He hinted that change at the helm is necessary but has so far refused to publicly declare his candidacy. The deadline for nominations is April 1, with the vote to take place at the Fifa Congress in Zurich on June 1. Meanwhile Chuck Blazer, Sec. Gen. of CONCACAF, revealed the 35 members from his confederation are likely to vote as a bloc at the June 1 FIFA election. The three CONCACAF members on the Fifa executive committee, of which Blazer was one, also voted en bloc during the 2018 and 2022 World Cup process.
=> The Polish Ekstraklasa has ended a tender process for domestic broadcast rights from next season after no bids were accepted and will now enter into private negotiations with broadcasters. The Ekstraklasa and UFA Sports launched a rights tender in October for the period from 2011-12 to 2013-14. Lower-than-expected bids from broadcasters lengthened the tender process and prompted the league to consider the creation of its own channel to showcase matches. Domestic rights are currently with Canal Plus Poland and Telekomunikacja Polska in 3-year deals worth a total of 120 million zlotys ($41.9 million) per season. Bids for the rights for the next three seasons were rumoured to be worth the same amount or less than current deals.
=> In the USA, the Big East Conference may get $460 mil for multiyear TV contracts to its college basketball and football games. The conference has 16 members for basketball and may get an increase up to 230% that the Atlantic Coast Conference received when Fox and ESPN got into a bidding war. The BEC’s 6-year, $200 mil contract with Disney’s ESPN network ends with the 2012 season. The ACC increased its annual rights fees to $155 mil from $67 mil a year in a contract with ESPN.
DATA
=> New research revealed opportunities for cable TV operators embracing IP video platforms and deploying connected devices and place apps on smart TVs, tablets and other devices. Heavy Reading Cable Industry Insider Cable MSOs are taking up challenge to their current offerings, especially from cord-cutting, by increasing broadband connectivity to extend services. However, HRCI yet warns that content rights issues are a major hurdle that MSOs and programmers must resolve through business deals and DRM scenarios. It also suggests that for cable apps to succeed, MSOs, CE companies and content providers need more to come together to provide the scale needed to make business worthwhile.
=> Online video consumption, especially on demand, is outpacing traditional TV platforms. The study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) revealed people were accessing over 12 hours of TV and film content per week from online sources compared to under 9 hours from network and cable TV. Nearly 3 times as many people accessed film content from OTT sources rather than on-demand from a digital pay-TV supplier. That is both rented on-line via a subscription service, like Netflix streaming service or streamed from a non-subscription-based Internet website (e.g., Hulu: abc.com) for free. 36% of those who do engage video piracy claim they do so in order to prevent content owners from being more profitable. 4 out of 5 of those who currently pirate content said that they would continue to do so. Majority of those pirating content would curtail their activity if content was priced between $1 and $3 and available within a 30-day window.
EVENT
=> The Yonex All England Open Badminton Championship is set to take place in Birmingham, England from March 8th to 13th 2011. The second Premier Superseries event on the OSIM BWF World Superseries 2011 calendar will see top badminton players competing for a total US$350,000 purse. The tournament will be streamed live on totalsports.tv from the 10th to the 13th of March . The All England will be broadcast in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Myanmar, China, Indonesia, Denmark, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Macau, South Korea, Brunei, Laos and even as far reaching as the United States including the Caribbean.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> Continuing the BCCI-WSG-IPL saga, the BCCI gained advantage in its legal battle yesterday with World Sport Group. The Supreme Court stayed a Bombay High Court order for WSG's appeal against the BCCI, seeking arbitration over the termination of its worldwide media rights for the IPL outside of the Indian subcontinent. While seeking response from WSG, the bench undertook from the BCCI that any contract entered into with WSG will be honoured by it. The same undertaking was given by the BCCI before the Bombay High Court also. Interestingly, this is the contention WSG has made while publicly challenging the BCCI's move when it floated tenders for television, internet, mobile and radio rights of the IPL.
=> 24 hours remain for the Indian Sports Ministry to bring a solution to the hockey imbroglio with Hockey India emerging as the only legally viable option as a single consolidated body. The ministry had taken a ludicrous position telling the Delhi High Court that both HI and Indian Hockey Federation are recognised by the government. The court has consistently asked HI to select the Indian men and women teams for international outings since mid-2010. It is aware that FIH recognises HI alone and will make it clear that if it has abided by all government guidelines, there is no other body that can legitimately claim to be the official federation in India.
=> The English FA would support any credible challenger to FIFA president Sepp Blatter in June's election. The Press Association reports that anger at England's treatment during its 2018 World Cup bid defeat has convinced FA chiefs that it is time for a change at the top of FIFA. The FA will consider writing to AFC head Mohamed Bin Hammam urging him to stand against Blatter. The FA has yet to take an official position on the FIFA presidency. Blatter has a strong powerbase within the 204 members who make up FIFA and would be difficult to unseat. The FA supported Blatter when he first stood for presidency in 1998 but backed his defeated opponent Issa Hayatou in 2002. Blatter was re-elected unchallenged in 2007.
=> Meanwhile, AFC head Mohamed Bin Hammam, is expected to confirm his FIFA presidency challenge within the week. The Qatari, a member of FIFA's powerful executive committee, has been linked with the top job since FIFA faced allegations of corruption in the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. He hinted that change at the helm is necessary but has so far refused to publicly declare his candidacy. The deadline for nominations is April 1, with the vote to take place at the Fifa Congress in Zurich on June 1. Meanwhile Chuck Blazer, Sec. Gen. of CONCACAF, revealed the 35 members from his confederation are likely to vote as a bloc at the June 1 FIFA election. The three CONCACAF members on the Fifa executive committee, of which Blazer was one, also voted en bloc during the 2018 and 2022 World Cup process.
Wednesday, 9th March 2011
RIGHTS FEE & DISTRIBUTION
=> The BCCI has invited bids for the Indian Premier League's global internet & mobile rights and global broadcast rights excluding some key markets for a period from 2011-14. Key markets excluded for TV broadcast are the Indian sub-con, Australia, South Africa, Mid East, Carribean, Hong Kong and Singapore. Internet & mobile rights are available for all territories. Bidders can opt to bid for three packages of rights for TV, radio, mobile & internet, or all the rights (exc. worldwide mobile rights) and worldwide mobile rights only. Consortium bids will also be accepted. The ITT document is available from 8 to 15 March, last date of submission is 20 March.
=> As expected, World Sport Group has condemned the BCCI's move to float the tender for IPL rights. WSG said BCCI's move is in contrary to its submission in Bombay High Court which restrains it from entering agreement with any third party for worldwide broadcast rights contract for the IPL till it is resolved. WSG said it also violates the undertaking BCCI had given to the apex court. WSG also accused the BCCI of making claims to third parties that it will be broadcasting the IPL on its channels through agents even before issuing the tender. WSG has vowed to take necessary legal action against the BCCI for violating the court order and protecting the interest of its commercial rights holders.
=> An ITT for the broadcast rights in France to the Davis Cup and Fed Cup has been issued by the International Tennis Federation. The tender covers 4 years from next year onwards and has been split into five packages. The rights in France are presently held by France Télévisions which is reported to be paying €400,000 ($557,253) a year for the first two rounds of the Davis Cup and about the same again if France reaches the final, plus additional fees for the Fed Cup. France Télévisions recoups some of its investment by sub-licensing matches to Canal Plus which shows games on its Sport+ channel. France defeated Austria 3-2 in the Davis Cup World Group first-round match at the weekend to qualify for a quarter final tie against Germany in July.
=> One World Sports (OWS) has acquired the North American rights to the AFC Champions League in a deal struck with World Sport Group. OWS will present the 2011 AFC Champions League matches in English on TV, broadband and mobile. The 2011 AFC Champions League, which started on March 1, comprises 32 teams from 10 countries. The final will be held in November. Live and delayed match coverage will be available on OWS TV, OWS Broadband and mobile video coverage on Verizon Wireless V CAST Video. OWS also bought the North America rights to the recent AFC Asian Cup held in Qatar from WSG.
=> Brazilian Serie A clubs moving to sell their media rights individually to broadcasters has grown to 11, after Corinthians first broke away from the collective Clube dos 13 last month. Internacional is the latest addition to the ‘rebel’ ranks. Other clubs boycotting the collective sale are Coritiba, Grêmio, Santos, Palmeiras and Cruzeiro. The Clube dos 13 now faces a full-scale rebellion in the lead-up to the auction for the collective media rights to the first-division Serie A from 2012 to 2014. The group has already sent out the details of the tender for the coveted free-to-air package of television rights to Serie A, confirming that the minimum bids for the 2012-14 package would be R$500 million ($302 million) per season.
BROADCAST
=> Turner Broadcasting System Asia-Pac has launched a suite of top channels in Mongolia, after agreeing with the country’s IPTV operator, Univision. The multi-year deal will see mixed genre package of premium channels - CNN Int., Cartoon Network, Boomerang and truTV - as part of Univision’s triple play service: its network covering Ulaanbaatar and other major cities using high-speed fibre optic technology. Expansion into Mongolia marks the 7th Asian market for truTV, Turner’s most popular reality channel, since its regional debut April last year. Programming include The Smoking Gun Presents, World’s Wildest Vacation Videos and Disorder in the Court.
EVENT
=> The EPL will take the league trophy on tour around key markets over the next 3 years, as the league attempts to capitalise on its international popularity. The Barclays Premier League Trophy Tour will start in the United Arab Emirates later this month, April in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, before heading to Hong Kong in July for the Barclays Asia Trophy. During the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, the trophy tour go to China, Southeast Asia, USA, India and South Africa. The Premier League is broadcast to more than 580 million households in over 200 countries.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> Indian Sarath Kumar is will make history debuting in his first race with the WTR Team for the Moto GP 125 CC Championship that will be later replaced by the Moto3 class in 2012. WTR-Ten10 Racing, a tie-up between San Marino based WTR Team and Indian Team Ten10 Racing, lining up Sarath Kumar on Aprilia RSW bikes. Ten10 Racing is a motorcycle racing team based in Bangalore, which has competed in the '165cc' Indian bike category and the 'Superbikes' category in the Indian two wheeler motorsport scene as well as the Malaysian Super Series.
=> England's 2018 World Cup bid had tried to secure a voting alliance with Qatar by using the Duke of York's relationship with the Qatari royal family. The BBC revealed diplomats and the FA sought to ally with Qatar to help England's bid to host the tournament, which gained just two votes as it was eliminated in the first round, while Qatar's bid for the 2022 World Cup was successful. The Duke of York's press office had denied any lobbying with Qatar took place and that the FA had declined to comment.
=> FIFA has threatened to suspend Portugal's national sides and clubs from international competition should the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) fail to pass a set of new statutes that conform with the world football body's rules, after regional associations rejected them in previous assemblies for fear of losing influence at national level. The suspension could put the national side's 2012 European Championship qualifiers at risk and exclude the country's top clubs from Uefa competitions. Porto, Benfica and Braga have qualified for the last-16 round of the Europa League.
=> The BCCI has invited bids for the Indian Premier League's global internet & mobile rights and global broadcast rights excluding some key markets for a period from 2011-14. Key markets excluded for TV broadcast are the Indian sub-con, Australia, South Africa, Mid East, Carribean, Hong Kong and Singapore. Internet & mobile rights are available for all territories. Bidders can opt to bid for three packages of rights for TV, radio, mobile & internet, or all the rights (exc. worldwide mobile rights) and worldwide mobile rights only. Consortium bids will also be accepted. The ITT document is available from 8 to 15 March, last date of submission is 20 March.
=> As expected, World Sport Group has condemned the BCCI's move to float the tender for IPL rights. WSG said BCCI's move is in contrary to its submission in Bombay High Court which restrains it from entering agreement with any third party for worldwide broadcast rights contract for the IPL till it is resolved. WSG said it also violates the undertaking BCCI had given to the apex court. WSG also accused the BCCI of making claims to third parties that it will be broadcasting the IPL on its channels through agents even before issuing the tender. WSG has vowed to take necessary legal action against the BCCI for violating the court order and protecting the interest of its commercial rights holders.
=> An ITT for the broadcast rights in France to the Davis Cup and Fed Cup has been issued by the International Tennis Federation. The tender covers 4 years from next year onwards and has been split into five packages. The rights in France are presently held by France Télévisions which is reported to be paying €400,000 ($557,253) a year for the first two rounds of the Davis Cup and about the same again if France reaches the final, plus additional fees for the Fed Cup. France Télévisions recoups some of its investment by sub-licensing matches to Canal Plus which shows games on its Sport+ channel. France defeated Austria 3-2 in the Davis Cup World Group first-round match at the weekend to qualify for a quarter final tie against Germany in July.
=> One World Sports (OWS) has acquired the North American rights to the AFC Champions League in a deal struck with World Sport Group. OWS will present the 2011 AFC Champions League matches in English on TV, broadband and mobile. The 2011 AFC Champions League, which started on March 1, comprises 32 teams from 10 countries. The final will be held in November. Live and delayed match coverage will be available on OWS TV, OWS Broadband and mobile video coverage on Verizon Wireless V CAST Video. OWS also bought the North America rights to the recent AFC Asian Cup held in Qatar from WSG.
=> Brazilian Serie A clubs moving to sell their media rights individually to broadcasters has grown to 11, after Corinthians first broke away from the collective Clube dos 13 last month. Internacional is the latest addition to the ‘rebel’ ranks. Other clubs boycotting the collective sale are Coritiba, Grêmio, Santos, Palmeiras and Cruzeiro. The Clube dos 13 now faces a full-scale rebellion in the lead-up to the auction for the collective media rights to the first-division Serie A from 2012 to 2014. The group has already sent out the details of the tender for the coveted free-to-air package of television rights to Serie A, confirming that the minimum bids for the 2012-14 package would be R$500 million ($302 million) per season.
BROADCAST
=> Turner Broadcasting System Asia-Pac has launched a suite of top channels in Mongolia, after agreeing with the country’s IPTV operator, Univision. The multi-year deal will see mixed genre package of premium channels - CNN Int., Cartoon Network, Boomerang and truTV - as part of Univision’s triple play service: its network covering Ulaanbaatar and other major cities using high-speed fibre optic technology. Expansion into Mongolia marks the 7th Asian market for truTV, Turner’s most popular reality channel, since its regional debut April last year. Programming include The Smoking Gun Presents, World’s Wildest Vacation Videos and Disorder in the Court.
EVENT
=> The EPL will take the league trophy on tour around key markets over the next 3 years, as the league attempts to capitalise on its international popularity. The Barclays Premier League Trophy Tour will start in the United Arab Emirates later this month, April in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, before heading to Hong Kong in July for the Barclays Asia Trophy. During the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, the trophy tour go to China, Southeast Asia, USA, India and South Africa. The Premier League is broadcast to more than 580 million households in over 200 countries.
OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
=> Indian Sarath Kumar is will make history debuting in his first race with the WTR Team for the Moto GP 125 CC Championship that will be later replaced by the Moto3 class in 2012. WTR-Ten10 Racing, a tie-up between San Marino based WTR Team and Indian Team Ten10 Racing, lining up Sarath Kumar on Aprilia RSW bikes. Ten10 Racing is a motorcycle racing team based in Bangalore, which has competed in the '165cc' Indian bike category and the 'Superbikes' category in the Indian two wheeler motorsport scene as well as the Malaysian Super Series.
=> England's 2018 World Cup bid had tried to secure a voting alliance with Qatar by using the Duke of York's relationship with the Qatari royal family. The BBC revealed diplomats and the FA sought to ally with Qatar to help England's bid to host the tournament, which gained just two votes as it was eliminated in the first round, while Qatar's bid for the 2022 World Cup was successful. The Duke of York's press office had denied any lobbying with Qatar took place and that the FA had declined to comment.
=> FIFA has threatened to suspend Portugal's national sides and clubs from international competition should the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) fail to pass a set of new statutes that conform with the world football body's rules, after regional associations rejected them in previous assemblies for fear of losing influence at national level. The suspension could put the national side's 2012 European Championship qualifiers at risk and exclude the country's top clubs from Uefa competitions. Porto, Benfica and Braga have qualified for the last-16 round of the Europa League.
Tuesday, 8th March 2011
RIGHTS FEE & DISTRIBUTION
=> France’s LFP has said the launch date for tender for domestic broadcast rights to the top-tier Ligue 1 from 2012-13 will be between April 30 and May 15. The tender would be launched soon so that the clubs can plan forward with financial stability. Ligue 1 rights are presently shared by Canal Plus and Orange in deals worth €668 mil ($936.4 mil) per season, although Orange warned it will not renew TV rights and is likely to bid only for new media rights. Canal Plus’ has also warned that it will not pay more than the €465 mil a season presently.
=> The French Tennis Federation today launched invitation to tender for Roland Garros broadcast rights in Europe ahead of the expiry of its present deal with the EBU. The tender covers French Open rights from 2012 to 2016 and bidders have been asked to submit their offers by 6pm (CET) on April 6. The FFT’s present 4-year, €56-mil ($78.4-mil) deal with the EBU runs from 2008 to 2011. The deal represented a 69% increase in value on the previous agreement, largely due to competition for rights in markets like Spain. Broadcast rights in France are held by France Télévisions until 2013 as part of a deal worth €15.5-mil a year. The 2011 French Open is scheduled for May 17 to June 5.
=> German commercial broadcaster, Sat.1, expressed interest in acquiring highlights rights to German Bundesliga from 2013-14 onwards. Along with Champions League rights, Sat.1 also holds rights to UEFA Europa League. Pubcaster, ARD, presently shows Bundesliga highlights from 6.30pm onwards, having fought hard to hold on to that timeslot for its iconic ‘Sportschau’ programme during the last broadcast rights tender. ARD paid €90 million ($126.2 million) per season for the Bundesliga highlights rights from 2009-10 to 2012-13.
=> NTV-Plus has renewed rights to top-tier league, SOGAZ Russian Football Championship, for 2011-12 season, paying a total of $60 mil. The pay-TV operator won rights to show all league games on NTV-Plus and Sport-Plus channels and one match per round will also be shown free-to-air on a federal television channel in Russia. NTV-Plus’ 4-year deal from 2007 to 2010 was thought to be worth between $90 million and $100 million in total, representing a significant jump in rights value. The 2011-12 season is set to last a year and a half as the league converts from a summer to a winter season in time for the 2012-13 campaign, to bring itself into line with other European league and European club competitions.
BROADCAST
=> KBS is returning to The Asian Pitch (TAP), an initiative by NHK and MediaCorp, to fund original HD documentaries produced by independent directors who live and work in Asia. The Korean pubcaster was on board at the start of the event in 2007 pulled out of TAP in 2008 for internal reasons. KBS has now strengthened its international activities and is returning to TAP, starting with the 2011 edition. Now in its fifth year, TAP targets Asian documentary-makers, promoting them to tell original stories about the region. The selected projects receive full funding from the broadcasters, will be aired in prime-time slots and will be marketed and distributed in international markets after completion.
=> India TV producer, Sportzworkz, will produce live coverage of the inaugural Jharkland Premier League, a regional cricket series loosely based on the Twenty20 Indian Premier League. In India, Middle East and South-East Asia, the JPL will be broadcast on Ten Cricket. The JPL is an initiative of Jharkhand State Cricket Association and Elite Sports Management, the players' agent, to nurture cricket in the east Indian state. It will feature five franchises from across the state. The JPL takes place between March 13 and 19. This year's edition of the IPL, season four, is scheduled for April 8 to May 28.
=> Sony and The AELTC have announced a partnership to present Wimbledon in 3D. Sony will work with SuperVision Media, its theatrical distribution partners, to bring live tennis to 3D cinemas worldwide in partnership with Wimbledon broadcaster, The BBC for live 3D production. The AELTC/Sony/BBC production of the Men’s Singles Semi-Finals and the Ladies’ and Men’s Singles Finals will be filmed in High Definition 3D and offered to rights holders and interested global broadcasters seeking unique and compelling content for their 3D channels. The two parties say that they have a commitment to deliver 3D tennis to a much wider audience over time.
=> Meanwhile, Sony announced that it bought Hawk-Eye, the ball-tracking technology. News comes as FIFA announced extension of investigation into introducing goal-line technology in soccer matches for a further year. Andrew Croker, consultant to Hawk-Eye, said acquisition of the company by Sony would give it “extra geographical reach and access to resources” that are not presently available to it. Sony declined to say how much it paid for Hawk-Eye but analysts estimated that it could be worth £20 mil ($32 mil). The deal covers all Hawk-Eye intellectual property rights and software.
=> And finally, Sony predicted India will become one of its top five markets in a “few years”, with sales of 3DTV line in India accounting for 30% of revenue by the end of fiscal 2012. Currently among the ten largest markets, India represents a huge growth area for Sony – as does 3D technology, which it predicts will record the company annual sales of about US$12 billion (1 trillion yen) by the end of March 2013. Sony in India is growing 50% per annum in revenue and Sony intends for that pace of growth to keep going.
DATA
=> New study of how Europeans consume sport in 2011 and beyond, published for Global Sports Forum in Barcelona, claim that 98% watch sports content on TV, 57% of them daily. Comparing with internet, which attracts about 53% of fans daily. Just over 58% use HD TV, while over 65% own or have considered owning 3D TV. Research covered the top five European sports markets (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK), showing trends in media consumption for consumers aged 12 to 35, the key market of sports consumers in the next 10 years. Smart phone usage for sports was highest in UK, but half 42% of fans don’t use their phones to track their favourite sport, but 57% of those believe that they will in future. Social media is making slow progress in influencing sports consumption, with just 26% using Facebook or Twitter to check on favourite teams or athletes. ‘Consumption of Sport in 2011 and Beyond’ study was conducted by Havas Sports & Entertainment for the Global Sports Forum Barcelona. It was based on a quantitative study of over 2000 Europeans and was conducted in February 2011.
=> France’s LFP has said the launch date for tender for domestic broadcast rights to the top-tier Ligue 1 from 2012-13 will be between April 30 and May 15. The tender would be launched soon so that the clubs can plan forward with financial stability. Ligue 1 rights are presently shared by Canal Plus and Orange in deals worth €668 mil ($936.4 mil) per season, although Orange warned it will not renew TV rights and is likely to bid only for new media rights. Canal Plus’ has also warned that it will not pay more than the €465 mil a season presently.
=> The French Tennis Federation today launched invitation to tender for Roland Garros broadcast rights in Europe ahead of the expiry of its present deal with the EBU. The tender covers French Open rights from 2012 to 2016 and bidders have been asked to submit their offers by 6pm (CET) on April 6. The FFT’s present 4-year, €56-mil ($78.4-mil) deal with the EBU runs from 2008 to 2011. The deal represented a 69% increase in value on the previous agreement, largely due to competition for rights in markets like Spain. Broadcast rights in France are held by France Télévisions until 2013 as part of a deal worth €15.5-mil a year. The 2011 French Open is scheduled for May 17 to June 5.
=> German commercial broadcaster, Sat.1, expressed interest in acquiring highlights rights to German Bundesliga from 2013-14 onwards. Along with Champions League rights, Sat.1 also holds rights to UEFA Europa League. Pubcaster, ARD, presently shows Bundesliga highlights from 6.30pm onwards, having fought hard to hold on to that timeslot for its iconic ‘Sportschau’ programme during the last broadcast rights tender. ARD paid €90 million ($126.2 million) per season for the Bundesliga highlights rights from 2009-10 to 2012-13.
=> NTV-Plus has renewed rights to top-tier league, SOGAZ Russian Football Championship, for 2011-12 season, paying a total of $60 mil. The pay-TV operator won rights to show all league games on NTV-Plus and Sport-Plus channels and one match per round will also be shown free-to-air on a federal television channel in Russia. NTV-Plus’ 4-year deal from 2007 to 2010 was thought to be worth between $90 million and $100 million in total, representing a significant jump in rights value. The 2011-12 season is set to last a year and a half as the league converts from a summer to a winter season in time for the 2012-13 campaign, to bring itself into line with other European league and European club competitions.
BROADCAST
=> KBS is returning to The Asian Pitch (TAP), an initiative by NHK and MediaCorp, to fund original HD documentaries produced by independent directors who live and work in Asia. The Korean pubcaster was on board at the start of the event in 2007 pulled out of TAP in 2008 for internal reasons. KBS has now strengthened its international activities and is returning to TAP, starting with the 2011 edition. Now in its fifth year, TAP targets Asian documentary-makers, promoting them to tell original stories about the region. The selected projects receive full funding from the broadcasters, will be aired in prime-time slots and will be marketed and distributed in international markets after completion.
=> India TV producer, Sportzworkz, will produce live coverage of the inaugural Jharkland Premier League, a regional cricket series loosely based on the Twenty20 Indian Premier League. In India, Middle East and South-East Asia, the JPL will be broadcast on Ten Cricket. The JPL is an initiative of Jharkhand State Cricket Association and Elite Sports Management, the players' agent, to nurture cricket in the east Indian state. It will feature five franchises from across the state. The JPL takes place between March 13 and 19. This year's edition of the IPL, season four, is scheduled for April 8 to May 28.
=> Sony and The AELTC have announced a partnership to present Wimbledon in 3D. Sony will work with SuperVision Media, its theatrical distribution partners, to bring live tennis to 3D cinemas worldwide in partnership with Wimbledon broadcaster, The BBC for live 3D production. The AELTC/Sony/BBC production of the Men’s Singles Semi-Finals and the Ladies’ and Men’s Singles Finals will be filmed in High Definition 3D and offered to rights holders and interested global broadcasters seeking unique and compelling content for their 3D channels. The two parties say that they have a commitment to deliver 3D tennis to a much wider audience over time.
=> Meanwhile, Sony announced that it bought Hawk-Eye, the ball-tracking technology. News comes as FIFA announced extension of investigation into introducing goal-line technology in soccer matches for a further year. Andrew Croker, consultant to Hawk-Eye, said acquisition of the company by Sony would give it “extra geographical reach and access to resources” that are not presently available to it. Sony declined to say how much it paid for Hawk-Eye but analysts estimated that it could be worth £20 mil ($32 mil). The deal covers all Hawk-Eye intellectual property rights and software.
=> And finally, Sony predicted India will become one of its top five markets in a “few years”, with sales of 3DTV line in India accounting for 30% of revenue by the end of fiscal 2012. Currently among the ten largest markets, India represents a huge growth area for Sony – as does 3D technology, which it predicts will record the company annual sales of about US$12 billion (1 trillion yen) by the end of March 2013. Sony in India is growing 50% per annum in revenue and Sony intends for that pace of growth to keep going.
DATA
=> New study of how Europeans consume sport in 2011 and beyond, published for Global Sports Forum in Barcelona, claim that 98% watch sports content on TV, 57% of them daily. Comparing with internet, which attracts about 53% of fans daily. Just over 58% use HD TV, while over 65% own or have considered owning 3D TV. Research covered the top five European sports markets (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK), showing trends in media consumption for consumers aged 12 to 35, the key market of sports consumers in the next 10 years. Smart phone usage for sports was highest in UK, but half 42% of fans don’t use their phones to track their favourite sport, but 57% of those believe that they will in future. Social media is making slow progress in influencing sports consumption, with just 26% using Facebook or Twitter to check on favourite teams or athletes. ‘Consumption of Sport in 2011 and Beyond’ study was conducted by Havas Sports & Entertainment for the Global Sports Forum Barcelona. It was based on a quantitative study of over 2000 Europeans and was conducted in February 2011.