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.”