Wednesday, 30th May 2007

SPORTS SHORTS

* Doordarshan says it will likely start HD transmissions next year. Doordarshan chief executive Baljit Singh Lalli said the broadcaster was considering introducing high-definition broadcasts from 2008 in Delhi, extending to India’s six largest cities by 2010 to coincide with the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. The broadcaster’s DVB-H trial, launched recently in Delhi, is likely to be extended to Mumbai, Kolkata and Chenai shortly. The number of channels is also likely to be raised, from eight to ten or even 15 channels. Source: Rapid TV News, 29th May 2007

* India’s Telecoms Regulatory Authority has rapped the knuckles of some cable operators. TRAI has reiterated that all Indian cable operators must carry the signals of state broadcaster Doordashan, after receiving notice that some operators are not making all of DD’s channels available. Operators who do not carry the channels risk prosecution. The order comes ahead of DTH package DD Direct’s switch from the NSS-6 satellite to Insat-4B from June 1, which could also cause problems for some smaller operators. Source: Rapid TV News, Business Line, DNA India, 29th May 2007

* The Football Association of Malaysia has been formally instructed to cancel a match between a select team and English club Manchester United in Kuala Lumpur on June 27 as it clashes with the Asian Cup, for which Malaysia is one of the four hosts. However, Fifa has given permission for the country to stage the Champions Youth Cup from August 5 to 19. The event had been in doubt because it is supported by the G14, the group of top European clubs, which is not recognised by governing bodies. Source: Sportcal, 29th May 2007

* Fifa will proceed with negotiations with the African Union of Broadcasting, which represents the continent’s main television channels as it seeks to conclude a television rights deal for the next World Cup in the sub-Saharan region. Any deal will relate to the television coverage of Fifa tournaments in 42 territories in the next three years, including the World Cup in South Africa in 2010. Agreements are already in place with state broadcaster SABC in South Africa and Jordan-based Arab Radio and Television in northern Africa. Source: Sportcal, 29th May 2007

* The decision by Fifa to ban international matches from being played at altitudes over 2,500 metres above sea level has been heavy criticised by several South American countries. Fifa’s executive committee ruled there were medical concerns over playing at high altitudes because the thin air makes breathing difficult and strains the hearts of those not acclimatised. Fifa president Sepp Blatter said: ‘I know there will be complaints about this, especially from South America, but the health of the players has to come first. Source: Sportcal, 29th May 2007

* UEFA president Michel Platini asked the G14 group of European football clubs to disband and drop a number of lawsuits it is supporting. The G14 represents 18 European clubs and has come up against FIFA in its backing for court cases brought by clubs asking for compensation for players injured whilst on international duty. Platini announced the creation of a new body to represent club interests, the Professional Football Strategy Council and asked the G14 to join the council, rather than continue as a separate body. Source: Sport Business, Sportcal, 29th May 2007


MORE NEWS

Asia/Elsewhere/Broadcaster: Eurosport Events Partners with New Oceanic Race

Eurosport Events, a new subsidiary of Eurosport Group, agreed a partnership with SailingOne for the development of the SolOceans, a new single-handed oceanic round the world competition that will depart from France to New Zealand. Through this agreement, Eurosport Events becomes the Media Partner of the SolOceans and of the other sailing events organised by SailingOne (the Trophée Clairefontaine des Champions de Voile and the Final of the French Solo Offshore Racing Championship – Course des Falaises).

Eurosport will handle the international distribution of worldwide media rights. These events will also receive extensive coverage through Eurosport's network on Eurosport, Eurosport World (Asia-Pacific), Eurosport 2, Eurosportnews and eurosport.com's sites. The start of the first SolOceans is set for 25 October 2009. The SolOceans will then be run every two years. Beforehand, the first Veolia Oceans® will sail around the world for reconnaissance purposes, from October 2007 to March 2008. Source: Sport Business, 29th May 2007

Elsewhere/Rights: Fast Track Strike Gold for 2010 Commonwealth Games

Fast Track, the broadcast rights, sponsorship and event marketing agency, was appointed to represent the International Broadcast Rights by the Organising Committee of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Announcing the appointment in Delhi, Mr Suresh Kalmadi MP, Chairman of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, said, “Following a very open and highly competitive tender process we have appointed Fast Track because of their long and very successful track record of delivering revenue and distribution targets for many Commonwealth Games.”

Fast Track’s Edward Leask said, “We are extremely honoured to have been appointed by the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee and we look forward to building on the huge success that we were able to achieve for the Organising Committee of the 2006 Games in Melbourne.”

Fast Track and its predecessor API – both owned by former Olympians Alan Pascoe MBE and Edward Leask – have had an involvement with every Commonwealth Games since 1990. The most recent being the Melbourne 2006 Games for which Fast Track delivered record levels of rights income and broadcast distribution not only within the 71 Commonwealth nations and territories but from such non-Commonwealth countries as the United States of America, the Middle East and across much of Europe. Source: Sport Business, Sportcal, 29th May 2007

Elsewhere/General: European Tour Considers Joining Forces with Other Tours

Golf’s European Tour is reported to be planning to join forces with other world tours in order create a really attractive international schedule. European Tour chief executive George O'Grady said the "idea of amalgamating with other tours to put on a really attractive schedule, by whatever name we call it, is one we are in the final stages of refining. We respond to the wishes of the rest of the world; the Australasian Tour, South Africa, Asian Tour and Japan coming together, as long as we identify the key tournaments. I think we are absolutely down the line on that discussion."

However, O'Grady stressed any new amalgamated Tour would not be called a world tour. "We will be administering it and there might be a name change. We are the European Tour and we are working with all our partners to make, I would say, a strong alternative to the PGA Tour." Source Sport Business, Sportcal, 29th May 2007