Monday, 23rd July 2007
RESULTS
Source: AVP Official, 23rd Jul 2007
Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser would not relinquish their perfect record against Sean Rosenthal and Jake Gibb in the 2007 AVP Crocs season by taking Sunday's men’s match at Long Beach, 21-16, 19-21, 15-9. In the women’s event, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh raced to their ninth title in nine straight final appearances this season with a 21-10, 21-14 victory over Rachel Wacholder and Tyra Turner.
Source: Yahoo! Eurosport, 23rd Jul 2007
James Toseland was denied a double victory at Brno when Max Biaggi claimed a commanding win in the second World Superbike Championship race of the day in the Czech Republic. The 35-year-old Italian made his decisive move on Noriyuki Haga for the lead on lap 13 of 19 and pulled away to claim his second win of the season and his first since the season-opener in Qatar.
THIS WEEK
Sun, 15th Jul 2007
DTM 2007: Race Day – Zandvoort, The Netherlands
BTCC 2007: Race Day – Snetterton, UK
DID YOU KNOW…?
The closest split-second difference in an F1 race finish for first and second place was recorded in 1999 when Michael Schumacher zipped past the finish line ahead of Ferrari teammate, Mika Salo at 266km/h and the video camera recorded a lead of 0.001 seconds. This was equivalent to 7.4cm between the two Ferraris. Source: The Sun MY, 23rd Jul 2007
SPORTS SHORTS
* Ten Sports has launched a sports news show called 'Bajaj Pulsar DTS Sportsnight' in partnership with Bajaj. The show starts from 23 July at 10 pm. Presented by Anand Narasimhan, the show will also include live reporting of international sports events that are broadcast on Ten Sports bringing viewers news, action, opinion and analysis from the various sporting occasions. The show will focus on cricket stories and will also connect with top level international sports shown on the channel including the US Open tennis, Champions League football and World Hockey events. Source: Indian Television, 20th Jul 2007
* China's CCTV5 will become a 24-hour Olympics channel from January 1st, 2008, China Central Television President, Zhao Huayong has said. Zhao said preparation for promotion, technical upgrades, logistics, multimedia and marketing has almost finished for the CCTV5 Olympic reporting group. The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will open in August 8th and close on August 24th. During the 17 days of competition, 2500 hours of sport programmes will air, 1000 hours of broadcasting more than the 2004 Athens Olympics. Other CCTV channels and digital TV channels will cooperate with CCTV5 to provide a colourful sport broadcast to the world. Source: Xinhua English, 19th Jul 2007
* India’s Zee TV is launching a streamed mobile content portal on state-owned provider BSNL’s platform, called ISEE. ISEE has been developed by Digital Media Convergence Ltd (DMCL), part of the Essel Group, which also backs Zee. It will launch first in northern parts of India before rolling out nationwide before the end of the year, on existing 2G and 2.5G networks. For Rs150 a month, subscribers will have unlimited access to ISEE which will offer news and sport as well as Zee’s soap programmes. Source: Rapid TV News, 20th Jul 2007
* Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan are the world leaders in connecting homes via fibre optics, according to a global ranking of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) market penetration. The ranking, issued jointly by the FTTH councils of Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America, is the first official ranking of FTTH deployments in the world's economies found that 21.2% of homes in Hong Kong are wired with FTTH, followed by South Korea at 19.6% and Japan at 16.3%. Taiwan and China are also among the top 11 economies, with penetration rates of between 1.4 and 1%. Source: Ken Radio, 20th Jul 2007
* South African public broadcaster, SABC, has formally taken legal action to freeze a television rights deal between pay-television operator Supersport and the Premier Soccer League. SuperSport recently claimed the live rights to the PSL for the next five seasons in a deal worth an estimated R1.6 billion ($233 million) and pledged to offer a package of games to free-to-air broadcasters. SABC, which previously held the rights, has challenged the agreement signed by the PSL and claims that it had rights which should have allowed it to match any deal offered to a rival broadcaster. Source: Sportcal, 20th Jul 2007
* German commercial broadcaster Sat.1 acquired rights for the remainder of this year's Tour de France after German public broadcasters dropped the coverage in response to the news that T-Mobile rider, Patrik Sinkewitz had failed a June drugs test. ARD and ZDF dropped the coverage and ZDF is reported to have said it may seek compensation for lost income that resulted in the suspension of broadcast. “We bought the rights to a clean sports event,” ZDF managing editor Nikolas Bender told the Berliner Zeitung. “We will seek out talks with the Tour organizer Amaury Sports Organisation.” Source: Sport Business, 20th Jul 2007
* New York sports and media company, SCP Worldwide, has entered partnership with Real Madrid to promote the club in the USA. The multiyear deal sees SCP acquire broadcasting rights to Real Madrid content and manage tours in the USA. SCP owns US Major League Soccer franchise Real Salt Lake and NHL ice hockey’s St. Louis Blues but a bid for cable and satellite soccer network GolTV fell through in June. SCP had previously agreed a deal to acquire an 80% stake in GolTV for $200 million. Source: Sportcal, 20th Jul 2007
* The International Mind Sports Association, in collaboration with the international federations for bridge, draughts, chess, Chinese chess and Go is to organise the first Mind Sports Games in Beijing in October next year, on the site of the Olympic Games. The games are being organised under the auspices of the General Association of International Sports Federations. The IMSA, which plans to establish the games as a quadrennial event. Source: Sportcal, 20th Jul 2007
* Although television continues to dominate — as distribution platform for sports content and as a medium for marketers who attach their brands to sports properties — online and mobile platforms are quickly evolving and becoming an important part of the media and marketing mix. eMarketer estimates that US advertising spending at sports Web sites will grow from $407 million in 2006 to reach $1.1 billion in 2011. As a result, the Internet's share for sports websites will double to 10% by 2011, up from 4.9% in 2006. According to a January 2007 Adweek poll, sports ranked second — behind celebrities — as the best subject matter for an ad-supported Web site. Source: Ken Radio, 20th Jul 2007
MORE NEWS
Singapore/Broadcaster: New Pay-TV Service Launches
Singapore Telecommunications has launched mio TV, a new pay-TV service featuring 24 linear channels, including new offerings from VOOM and the BBC, and video on demand content such as a host of feature films from Sony Pictures Television International. “The next generation of television watching has arrived,” said Allen Lew, the Singapore CEO at SingTel. “Customers have been calling for choice and flexibility in the pay-TV market and now they have it.”
The platform, which is taking on established cable player StarHub, will feature on-demand access to blockbuster movies from major Hollywood movie studios including Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox and Disney. Customers can search for content by genre, by title or by actor’s name. SingTel has inked an output deal with Sony Pictures Television International that brings viewers feature films at the same time as the DVD release.
In terms of HD content, the platform offers Equator HD, a documentary channel; SLING HD, a teen oriented co-venture of VOOM HD and Singaporean company Mega Media, with content on computer games, virtual reality and extreme sports; WorldSport HD, a video-on-demand service featuring sports documentaries and select arena sporting events; and VOOM HD, with a broad slate of original programming of adventure travel, fashion, luxury lifestyle, art and music.
In addition to MediaCorp's suite of free-to-air channels (Channels 5, 8, U, Channel Newsasia, Suria and Central), its HD5 will also be available on mio TV. This will be the first free-to-air HD channel in Singapore. Also available will be the Mei Ah TV channel, Singapore’s first Cantonese movie channel. Selected titles will premiere simultaneously on mio TV and on Hong Kong cinema screens. Other channel offerings include Sony Entertainment Television targeting women; Luli for toddlers, KBS World from Korea, India’s Zee Channel and ETTV Asia News from Taiwan.
The platform offers an a la carte price plan as opposed to basic tier subscription packages. Channels are priced at between S$4.28 and S$12.85 per month. Mio TV will also offer customers a personal video recorder, and the mio TV website allows subscribers to program their recordings when they are not at home. An upcoming service will enable them to do it via their mobile phones. Source: Worldscreen, Rapid TV News, Advanced Television, 20th Jul 2007
Elsewhere/General: Beckham Already Having Commercial Impact on US Soccer
While the media speculated as to whether David Beckham will play his first game for the LA Galaxy in last Saturday’s friendly against Chelsea at the Home Depot Centre, one thing is certain: Beckham is already generating significant revenue for his employers.
Since the announcement of his signing in January, the Galaxy and Major League Soccer (MLS) have been focused on selling Beckham to sponsors and fans. The effort has been an unqualified success. In addition to major shirt sponsor Herbalife ($20 million over five years), it has been reported that the Galaxy have signed other deals totaling $6 million over the past six months.
Ticket revenue has also soared with the Galaxy having increased ticket revenue by an estimated $4 million compared to last year. Friendly matches this year – which have the potential of earning the team $1 million per game – have already been scheduled against two second division professional teams in the US and Canada (Minnesota and Vancouver) and one in Sydney. The Galaxy is planning a 2008 pre-season tour of Asia and friendly matches in the UK.
US media outlets have reported that the Galaxy received orders for 250,000 Beckham shirts before his unveiling last Friday and that first day Beckham Galaxy sales exceeded those for the players first day with Real Madrid. Beckham, however, is clearly not the only soccer attraction in MLS: Mexican star Cuauhtemoc Blanco generated a larger crowd than Beckham for his MLS unveiling in April and has likewise increased ticket sales and commercial revenue for the Chicago Fire. Source: Sport Business, 20th Jul 2007
ARTICLES, COMMENTS & OPINIONS
Analysis: Battling the pirates in Asia's pay-TV industry
By UPI Correspondent, Shailesh Palekar for UPI Asia Online, 20th Jul 2007
What would it take to battle piracy raging in Asia's billion-dollar pay-TV market -- sophisticated technology that protects transmission of content or plain simple marketing strategies that create affordable subscription packages? Perhaps both could be equally effective, but much would depend on the will to create a fully licensed competitive marketplace that supports digital infrastructure and adheres to international standards that protect intellectual property rights for all kinds of broadcasts.
Hong Kong's Apliu Street flea market was once the hotbed for pirates who openly sold illegal set-top boxes, or STBs, and cards configured to steal cable TV signals. These boxes could generate over 90 premium content channels ranging from sports to news, history to entertainment, and soft porn to the latest Hollywood releases, all for a one-time fee of about US$100, for an infinite length of viewing time.
However, Internet protocol technologies adopted by PCCW, Hong Kong's premier telecommunications provider for its NOW broadband pay-TV service, virtually ended the reign of these illegally "cloned" STBs. In the process, it transited from traditional analog cable to digital TV by using the digital rights management technology, which protects the interests of owners of content and services, such as copyright owners. This kind of technology stipulates that authorized recipients or users must acquire a license in order to consume the protected material like files, music or movies as per the rights or business rules set by the content owner.
The introduction of cheap and flexible channel pricing also attracted subscribers who were willing to pay only for those channels that they wanted instead of higher prices for a bouquet of channels -- many of which were of little of no interest to them.
NOW TV also utilizes a combination of security techniques like network-based conditional access, end-to-end encryption and analog copyright protection in the STB after the signal has been encrypted. The result is that no one seems to be selling the illegal STB's on Apliu Street now -- simply because the pirates have not been able to crack the new technologies.
In 2005, in order to protect intellectual property, the Philippine's National Bureau of Investigation along with the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia, or CASBAA, raided cable companies in Mindanao and Manila. They seized equipment used for illegal distribution of unauthorized pay-TV signals related to various news and entertainment channels such as CNN, Cartoon Network, Discovery, ESPN, HBO and MTV. They found that these cable operators were not paying the original content providers, but obtaining the signals illegally. However, raids such as these only produce short-term results while pirates re-group and start operations elsewhere.
India's piracy woes are rather unique; resolving them would require a complete reformation and restructuring of its national cable TV industry. Here, revenue losses occur in its unique last-mile gray market wherein subscriber fees are collected in cash on the consumer's doorstep. Stealing legitimate pay-TV cables and illegally hooking them into various households for a paltry sum is a neat trick that nets thousand of dollars for pirates as much as it benefits consumers who are unable to afford the cost of genuine cables and hefty channel subscriptions.
Like Hong Kong, the number of pirated pay-TV subscriptions has remained significantly low in Singapore due to its ongoing digitization of cable networks, and has resulted in a 15.8 percent decline in pay-TV piracy costs, making it, along with Hong Kong, a classic example of how to tackle pay-TV piracy.
However, other Asian regions have been slow in adopting similar measures. Despite the growth of legitimate subscribers in Vietnam, piracy there has increased. According to CASBAA, it has 2.5 million unauthorized pay-TV subscribers to cable, satellite, and other digital terrestrial systems, compared to a legitimate subscriber base of only 1 million. Thailand also suffers from rising costs of pay-TV piracy, comprising an alarming 1.27 million unauthorized connections, while Macau has ten pirated connections for every single legal subscriber.
A study conducted by CASBAA in 2006 estimated that the cost of pay-TV piracy in the region had increased from US$1.06 billion in 2005 to US$1.13 billion in 2006. The increase has been consistent for four consecutive years; the number of illegal subscriptions across Asia Pacific increased by 20 percent in 2006 to 5.2 million connections. The report also highlights the fact that pay-TV piracy cost the region's governments estimated tax revenue losses of US$158 million.
Although Asian states view the tax revenue losses as having important repercussions, growing piracy suggests that enforcement of tough measures has not been a high priority. The costs of replacing old equipment, investing in new technologies, and cutting down the recurring transponder and satellite costs for acquiring broadcast signals has been an expensive and slow process.
One can also argue that CASBAA's statistics are based on the assumption that people who acquire pirated content, either by purchasing illegal STBs or through unauthorized operators signals, would have paid for the same content legitimately if piracy didn't exist. If this is untrue then the loss of revenue does not paint a bleak picture that necessitates governments to take punitive action. Estimating the real revenue loss is tough, as it would only factor in people who buy pirated subscriptions and illegal STBs, but would be legitimate subscribers if piracy were to be rooted out.
Industry experts estimate that the future demand for the Asia-Pacific pay-TV market would come from China and India with their huge consumer bases despite their current relatively low pay-TV and digital penetration. However, keeping pirates at bay by plugging the system that is constantly under attack remains a daunting task in most Asian regions. Legitimate and affordable pay-TV, and good marketing strategies, still fall short of consumer expectations of watching channels at little or no cost.
Friday, 20th July 2007
HEADLINE NEWS
CBS Nears US Open Advertising Sell-out
Viacom-owned US television network, CBS, said that it has sold more than 90% of its commercial slots for this year’s US Open tennis championship. New advertisers include Aviva, Canon, Fed Ex, Goodyear, ING and Valspar, which will feature alongside returning advertisers. The network plans to have over 40 advertisers signed up by the start of its broadcast on September 1.
The tournament starts on August 27 and CBS will start its coverage on the first weekend of play, and will also air the final three days of the championship concluding on September 9. CBS will televise about 37 hours of the tournament in total. John Bogusz, CBS executive vice-president for sports sales, said: ‘The tennis marketplace has been more active and healthier this year than it has been the past few years.
‘Right now for the US Open we are very close to our goal in terms of sales volume and are well over 90% sold.’ Additional interest from advertisers could emerge should a US player reach the latter stages of the tournament, providing a boost to viewing figures. Source: Sportcal, 19th Jul 2007
THIS WEEK
Sat, 14th Jul 2007
Masters Football: London Masters
Sun, 15th Jul 2007
WWE Special: The Great American Bash, San Jose
AVP Crocs Tour: Long Beach Open, California
World Superbikes Championship 2007: Brno, Czech Republic
SPORTS SHORTS
* Tim Leiweke, CEO of the Anschutz Entertainment Group which owns LA Galaxy FC and David Beckham's contract, has revealed other money-spinning games are being lined up for Asia next year. Referring to reports that Real Madrid are being offered US$ 6 million a game to play exhibition matches in Asia, Leiweke told reporters: "I think the greatest opportunity for the Galaxy is touring and doing international matches. I don't think it is $6 million dollars a game but if we do six games a year, it can add a significant amount of value to the team’s revenue. We're still focused on training in Asia and doing games there next year at the beginning of the season." Source: Asian Football Business Review, 16th Jul 2007
* Real Madrid has signed a 3.5-year license agreement for the establishment of the Real Madrid Academy of Football Excellence in the Indonesian tourism province of Bali. In recent weeks Real Madrid has announced new school and academy opportunities in North America and Africa. In the USA, Real Madrid is partnering with SCP Worldwide to open football schools, organise Real’s trips and tours to the country for the next five years and control broadcast rights to Real Madrid TV. Source: Asian Football Business Review, 19th Jul 2007
* Of the 20 clubs in the English Premier League only three - Newcastle, West Ham and Wigan - are preparing for their 2007/08 season solely at home. Manchester United is in Asia along with Liverpool, Portsmouth and Fulham in Hong Kong for the Barclays Asia Trophy and Bolton and Reading in South Korea for the Peace Cup. Tottenham in South Africa, Chelsea, Everton and Aston Villa are in North America and the rest are around Europe. Source: Asian Football Business Review, 15th Jul 2007
* Thai police will be able to seize computers from homes and businesses under a new cyber-crime law that came into force this week, which authorities say will help crack down on Internet pornography. AFP reported that Thailand’s Computer-related Crimes Act allows authorities to seize computers suspected of illegal use, but media rights activists say the law will allow the government to invade people's privacy. People found guilty of breaking the new law could face up to 20 years in prison if their actions are seen as a threat to national security, the report said. Source: Asia Telecom, 19th Jul 2007
MORE NEWS
Elsewhere/Rights: Scottish Premier League Swaps IMG Media for Sportfive
Sportfive has won the rights to distribute television rights internationally for soccer’s Scottish Premier League, beating off competition from incumbent, IMG Media. Sportfive has agreed a two-year deal starting from the 2008-09 campaign and will be responsible for selling the television rights worldwide, with the exception of the UK and Ireland where the league markets the rights itself.
IMG Media’s four-year distribution deal with the SPL expires after the 2007-08 season but the sports marketing agency was unable to retain the contract after losing out to Sportfive in an auction that also involved two other unnamed bidders. The SPL issued an open tender for a contract lasting two years only, in order to bring the international distribution deal back in line with the SPL’s domestic live broadcasting contract with Setanta, the pay-television broadcaster.
Setanta’s original contract was due to expire after the end of the 2007-08 season but it signed an extension until 2009-10 in April 2006. Sportfive’s deal with the SPL does not include the distribution of separate mobile and internet packages, but does include linear simulcast rights.
Confirmed live broadcasters in 2007-08, the final year of IMG Media's contract, include Germany's Premiere, the pay-television broadcaster, Dutch digital broadcaster Sport1 and J Sports, the Japanese cable and satellite sports broadcaster. Meanwhile, the SPL has also signed a five-year non-exclusive television highlights, radio and online clips deal with BBC Scotland, the public-service broadcaster.
The BBC will now be allowed to show a 30-minute midweek television highlights show, in addition to extensive live radio coverage and online clips geo-blocked to the UK. Setanta currently offers a late-night highlights programme on Saturday evenings to compliment its live coverage of SPL matches. The deal starts with the new season and runs until the end of 2011-12. STV, the Scottish commercial broadcaster, also shows weekly SPL highlights as part of a four-year deal running from 2004 to 2008.
Commenting after the announcement of the deals with the BBC and Sportfive, Gold said that, ‘looking only at the next three seasons, the SPL has commercial deals in place with in excess of £60 million ($122.9 million).’ Source: Sportcal, 19th Jul 2007
Elsewhere/Rights: Mediapro to Continue with Soccer Rights Acquisitions
Mediapro is confident of agreeing broadcasting deals with the professional Spanish soccer clubs that it has not already signed up. Mediapro claims to have agreed exclusive television rights with most of Spain's 42 first- and second-tier clubs from the 2009-2010 season, with Atletico Madrid, Getafe, Tenerife and Betis said to be the only teams it has not signed.
Sogecable, the Spanish television group, threatened legal action against Mediapro and its chairman Jaume Roures earlier this month over the agreements. Roures agitated Sogecable by saying: ‘We will exploit the rights on our own.’ Sogecable holds a majority of Spanish soccer television rights through Audiovisual Sports, in which it has an 80-per-cent stake, and claims to have ‘numerous contracts with soccer clubs running through to 2013.’
Mediapro, which has a stake in the burgeoning commercial broadcaster La Sexta, previously announced that it had secured rights to the league matches of Real Madrid and Barcelona (from 2008-09) in long-term deals worth more than €1 billion ($1.4 billion). La Sexta presently shows one live match per week as part of a three-year deal worth €150 million a season, which expires at the end of the 2008-09 season.
The absence of top-flight soccer rights would be a major blow to Sogecable and jeopardise its position as the leading Spanish pay-television company. Its shares were down nearly 5% in early trading today. Source: Sportcal, 19th Jul 2007
Thursday, 19th July 2007
HEADLINE NEWS
More News: Liverpool Appoints New Commercial Director
Liverpool, of English soccer's top-tier Premier League, have appointed Ian Ayre as their commercial director. It is a new position and will see Ayre manage and direct commercial activity. He will join on August 16 and report directly to chief executive Rick Parry. Ayre will be tasked with growing sponsorship and merchandising revenues, starting with the selection of sponsors around the club's move to a proposed new stadium in 2010. As the former chief operating officer of Total Sports Asia, the sports marketing firm, Ayre will also lead the development of the 'LFC' brand in Asia. Source: Sportcal, 18th Jul 2007
Liverpool chairman Tom Hicks today hailed the ‘heaven sent’ appointment of the club’s new commercial director Ian Ayre. Hicks said Litherland born and bred Ayre - a Liverpool fan who once scored a half-time prize penalty in front of the Kop in 1975 during Chris Lawler’s testimonial – stood out after a determined international search for the right man to raidly develop the Reds’ huge commercial and marketing potential around the world. Ayre, 44, headhunted by Liverpool in a painstaking global search following the Americans' takeover in February, will assume a high profile and important new board role at Anfield, reporting to Reds' chief executive Rick Parry. Source: IC Liverpool, 18th Jul 2007
Liverpool’s new commercial director Ian Ayre today spoke of the challenges ahead as he prepared to return from Asia for a ‘dream job’ at his hometown club next month. Ayre, 44, a lifelong Reds fan, was yesterday announced as Anfield’s newest summer signing. Said Ayre from his current base in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: “I knew there was definite interest from Liverpool and the club is very dear to my heart. But it was only when I met Tom Hicks and George Gillett that I really understood the scale of the opportunity. I met George in London and Tom in New York and they are great guys. I was overwhelmed by how easy they were to deal with. Usually you might find people at that level a little aloof but that was not the case at all with them.” Source: IC Liverpool, 18th Jul 2007
SPORTS SHORTS
* The Copa America champion, Brazil, has returned to the top of the FIFA rankings of soccer teams. Brazil jumped from third in the wake of its Copa America championship. The Brazilians defeated Argentina 3-0 in the tournament finals Sunday. That strong runner-up showing allowed the Argentines to move to second from fifth in the July rankings. The FIFA soccer rankings are determined through an accumulation of points over a four-year period with the importance of matches and the strength of opponents weighed in and recent matches are weighted heavier. Source: Earth Times, 18th Jul 2007
* South Korean telco KT has signed a deal with internet content service operator, NHN, to develop KT’s new IPTV service, Mega TV. NHN will provide a wide range of services through the TV platform, including a TV search service and information search. NHN owns Korean portal and search engine Naver. Officially launched two weeks ago, Mega TV offers 1,200 on-demand titles including soaps, movies, and educational programmes from Korea and abroad, and user-generated content and interactive services like instant messaging, finance and sports information. It broadcasts in standard and high-definition. Source: Rapid TV News, 18th Jul 2007
* China Mobile plans to bid for the mobile TV rights of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The group is currently deliberating how best to make their bid. “We are not sure currently whether to bid for the Olympics solely, or to cooperate with other companies,” said Zhou Yi, China Mobiles general manager. China Mobile has gained permission to show advertisements on its wireless application protocol (WAP) network from the State Administration for Industry and Commerce. The 2008 Olympics will be broadcast on new media such as internet and mobile TV, as well as traditional TV channels. Source: Sport Business, Sportcal, 18th Jul 2007
* Broadcast Mobile TV will reach revenues of $11.7 billion worldwide by 2011, with Japan predicted to lead the market with revenues reaching $2.9 billion and the US will follow closely at $1.8 billion, says Juniper Reseach. The UK is also predicted to be a key market at $989m. Japan is initially offering a free service on its ISDB-T ‘One Seg’ network, Juniper Research predicts that it will start charging for the service in 2008. Japan, US and UK markets are prime breeding grounds for mobile television viewing mainly because of the large appetite for TV viewing. Source: Content Futures, 18th Jul 2007
* The Breeders’ Cup world Championships will be streamed live over internet on their website for the first time this year. The 11 races on October 26 and 27 2007 will be shown on breederscup.com simultaneous with live broadcast on ESPN. Last year, ESPN aired a live feed on espn360.com, a broadband service available on mobile services. Running live streaming simultaneously with live TV coverage is rare due to reliance on ad revenue to regain TV rights fees. However Breeder’s Cup and ESPN’s eight-year agreement is revenue sharing, rather than a strict typical rights contract. Source: Sport Business, 18th Jul 2007
* British Telecom’s new online sports channel has launched. BT’s service is comprehensive, offering 242 Premier League matches per season, plus up to 125 Coca Cola League and Carling League games but only 46 matches of the all-important Premiership games are live on Setanta Sports. The Setanta live action is likely to offer the greatest appeal, given that it includes 46 Premier League matches from England and 60 from Scotland, as well as action from other European soccer leagues, US PGA tour gold, Nascar auto racing from the USA and Magners League rugby. Source: Rapid TV News, Reuters, 18th Jul 2007
* 19 Entertainment and Major League Soccer’s Soccer United Marketing have teamed to produce David Beckham’s Soccer USA, a 30-min show that will air in the United States and around the world. Hosted by U.K. television personality, Natalie Pinkham, the show will follow Beckham in his first season with Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy. It will feature game highlights as well as behind the scenes footage and interviews with Beckham. This is the second major behind-the-scenes TV project to focus on the Beckhams after NBC earlier aired Victoria Beckham: Coming to America. Source: Broadcasting & Cable, 18th Jul 2007
MORE NEWS
Asia/General: Manchester United Defend Asian Tour
Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager of Manchester United, English soccer’s Premier League champions, has defended the club’s controversial tour of Asia. The tour, which takes in matches in Japan, South Korea and China, has courted controversy because it clashes with the Asian Cup, the continent’s top national teams competition. Ferguson rejected claims that his club were only interested in the tour because of the financial benefits.
Les Murray, the chairman of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Sports Group, last month launched an outspoken attack on European clubs’ attitudes to the Asian market. He told the ABU Sports Conference: ‘Manchester United, and other elite European football clubs like it, make massive amounts of money out of Asia, selling their tee-shirts and occasionally making appearances, charging fat match fees in return for turning up, usually without their best players, to go through the motions, usually at the pace of holiday makers on a picnic. ‘This is how European football repays, and reinvests in, the massive Asian markets it milks.’
Manchester United opened their tour yesterday with a 2-2 draw against Japanese champions Urawa Red Diamonds in front of 60,000 fans in Saitama. The Asian Cup, which is being jointly hosted by Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, started on July 7 and runs until July 29. Source: Sportcal, 18th Jul 2007
Elsewhere/Rights: Premiere Regains Bundesliga Rights After Regulator Intervenes
German pay-television broadcaster, Premiere, has won back the live rights to the German Bundesliga until 2009 after a sublicensing deal with rivals Arena was approved by the cartel office. The market regulator has given Arena the green light to sublicense its live rights for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons to Premiere, the previous rights holder, after the two broadcasters amended their original deal in the face of competition concerns.
Premiere will pay Arena a reported €300 million ($413.7 million) for the rights in the next two seasons. Arena initially agreed to pay €240 million-a-year for the rights for three seasons, beginning with the 2006-07 campaign. As part of the new deal, Arena will be allowed to broadcast Premiere’s Bundesliga coverage via cable and satellite for the next two seasons, a near role reversal of the deal that was presented for the scrutiny of the cartel office.
A statement from the cartel office said that the original Arena-Premiere agreement ‘contained a number of other points that would have led to an end to competition in terms of price and quality.’ Ahead of the verdict, it was reported that, if the two broadcasters had not been allowed to work together, Arena would have been forced into giving the broadcast rights back to Premiere due to a shortage of funds. Source: Sportcal, Rapid TV News, 18th Jul 2007
Wednesday, 18th July 2007
HEADLINE NEWS
Reds Appoint New Commercial Director
Ian Ayre was today appointed Commercial Director at Liverpool Football Club. His appointment is a new position at the Club which will see him manage and develop commercial activity. He will report directly to CEO Rick Parry and joins the Club on 16 August. Ian's initial focus will be to work alongside Rick Parry in growing sponsorship and merchandising revenues, starting with the selection of sponsors around the Club's move to a new stadium in 2010. He will also spearhead the development of the LFC brand internationally, particularly in Asia.
It was Ian's extensive experience in new media and sponsorships which greatly impressed new owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Most recently he was Chief Operating Officer of Total Sports Asia, a brand solutions business for international sports and entertainment partners aiming to develop an Asian strategy for their brands - including media distribution, live events, licensing & merchandising, and sponsorship. Ian's role focused on developing new business, defining and implementing sales strategy and marketing their partner brands across the Asian region.
Other appointments have included Managing Director of Premium TV Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of NTL Inc, where he worked between 2001 and 2004. Before this he was for 3 years the Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Huddersfield Town FC. During his time at the club Ian developed a marketing strategy and business plan for the exploitation of the clubs rights and developed the vehicle (Premium TV) in conjunction with a major investment from NTL Inc. From 1992 to 1997 he was Regional Director & CEO (Asia) of Pace Micro Technology Plc where he worked with the company through the successful IPO of the business on the LSE and helped the company establish a major Asian business from start up.
Ian, 44, was born in Liverpool and is a lifelong Liverpool FC supporter. The appointment comes after an extensive global search in which the Club was advised by executive search firm SevenArts Consultancy.
Rick Parry, CEO of Liverpool FC, commented:
"I'm delighted Ian has agreed to join us and I look forward to him arriving in Liverpool. There couldn't be a better time to be coming to the club as we're looking at a bright future both on and off the pitch. Ian has a great track record and also understands the values which make this club so special."
Tom Hicks and George Gillett, Co Chairmen of the Club said:
"We would like to welcome Ian to Liverpool Football Club. He has vast experience in an array of relevant fields for the club. In particular his marketing experience will be a great advantage as we look to grow the Liverpool brand overseas and make the club more competitive on this front. He is a strong addition to the team."
Ian Ayre said:
"Being Liverpool born and bred, this is a dream job for me. I feel that everything I've done so far – in sports marketing, media and technology – has been leading to this role. I've been away from Liverpool for many years, and I couldn't be returning at a better time. These are great times for the club, there are tremendous opportunities ahead, and I'm thrilled to be part of it." Source: Liverpool FC Official, 17th Jul 2007
THIS WEEK
Sat, 14th Jul 2007
Masters Football: London Masters
Sun, 15th Jul 2007
WWE Special: The Great American Bash, San Jose
AVP Crocs Tour: Long Beach Open, California
World Superbikes Championship 2007: Brno, Czech Republic
SPORTS SHORTS
* Ronaldinho and Kaka 's absence was barely missed in a memorable, goal-packed Copa America 2007 hosted by Venezuela. The 26 games produced 86 goals, culminating in Brazil's 3-0 win over Argentina and there was rarely a dull moment. The Copa America has struggled to be taken seriously recently, often when the competition was sandwiched between the region's marathon World Cup qualifying competition. This year's tournament provided teams with their first chance for a competitive match since the World Cup or, for those who did not go to Germany, since October 2005. Source: Reuters, 16th Jul 2007
* Recent Copa America host Venezuela could challenge Brazil for the hosting of soccer’s 2014 World Cup. Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, will reportedly meet with Sepp Blatter to discuss the proposed candidature. Deadline for submitting bids for the 2014 event was April 16, but Venezuela is hoping Fifa that will make an exception. Venezuela spent $1 billion to host the Copa America, which drew to a close on Sunday when Brazil beat Argentina 3-0 in the final. Brazil is currently the only candidate and the host of the 2014 World Cup will be announced on October 30. Source: Sportcal, 17th Jul 2007
* India's Prasar Bahrati is looking at a new business model with emphasis on mobile TV technology and content to generate new streams of revenue. Currently, the service is available to subscribers within New Delhi and is based on handheld DVB-H technology in association with Nokia. DVB-H enabled mobile phones currently are priced at Rs 30,000 ($745), but the broadcaster expects prices to come down to Rs 16,000 to 18,000 ($400 to $450) soon once business picks up. Currently, they are servicing eight channels of Doordarshan, the public broadcast run by Prasar Bahrati, on the mobile TV platform, which will soon be increased to 16. Source: Entertainment Asia, 17th Jul 2007
* Specialist US cable network, The Tennis Channel, has acquired rights to broadcast the Wimbledon tennis championships for the next six years. The agreement begins next year and comprises four hours of coverage per day. Earlier this month, national television network NBC extended its long-running deal to broadcast the Wimbledon championships, albeit at a lower price than before. Cable sports broadcaster ESPN, whose four-year deal, worth $6.4 million annually, expires this year, is in the process of negotiating a contract renewal with the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Source: Sportcal, Broadcast Newsroom, 17th Jul 2007
* French pay-TV, Canal Plus, has launched a legal attack on the LFP, the French professional league, over terms of a tender issued for broadcast rights for the second-tier Ligue 2, awarded last month. The Ligue 2 rights were acquired by cable TV operator Noos-Numéricable last month in a three-year deal worth €15 million [$21 million], but Canal Plus disputes two decisions made by the LFP in relation to the deal; that the LFP invited bidders to suggest inclusions in the rights packages, and opposes LFP’s claims that it could set up its own channel to broadcast matches. Source: Sportcal, 17th Jul 2007
* The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has agreed a multi-year deal with Dorna to host the second round of the MotoGP. The deal will start with the Indianapolis Grand Prix on September 14th 2008, and will mark the first time motorcycle racing has been to the track since 1909. The Indianpolis race will follow MotoGP's US Grand Prix held at Laguna Seca, California. The new deal comes after confirmation that Formula One has withdrawn from Indianapolis for the US Grand Prix next year. Source: Sport Business, 17th Jul 2007
* Vitali Klitschko, the former WBC heavyweight boxing champion, will enter the ring for the first time in almost three years when he takes on the USA’s Jameel McCline in Munich on September 22. Klitschko has not fought since a 2004 victory over British heavyweight Danny Williams and retired due to injury in November 2005. He had hoped to take on current WBC champion Oleg Maskaev in Moscow in his comeback fight, but has stood aside to allow number one challenger Samuel Peter of Nigeria to have first crack. Klitschko’s younger brother Wladimir is the IBF heavyweight champion. Source: Sportcal, 17th Jul 2007
MORE NEWS
India/Broadcaster: Star Cricket Channel Opens with England-India Matches
ESPN Star Sports is launching its new cricket channel to coincide with the start of the test series between England and India this week. Star Cricket will begin with coverage of the first of three test matches at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, which starts on Thursday and, according to internal estimates, should increase the network’s annual advertising and distribution revenues from between Rs2.5 billion ($62 million) and Rs3 billion to Rs10 billion over the next 18 months.
In line with a new Indian law covering sporting events of national importance, ESS will share live coverage of the one-day international series against England, which follows the test matches, with state broadcaster Doordarshan. As per the legislation, Doordarshan will only have daily highlights of the test series and, as the rights holder, ESS will keep 75 per cent of the advertising revenue from the coverage of India’s tour.
ESS says that deals worth Rs4 billion are in place with leading advertisers for the matches in England and India’s tour of Australia, which begins in December. ESS will also televise the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup taking place in South Africa in September having acquired the global rights to International Cricket Council competitions until 2015 in a deal worth $1.1 billion. Source: Sportcal, 17th Jul 2007
Tuesday, 16th July 2007
THIS WEEK
Sat, 14th Jul 2007
Masters Football: London Masters
Sun, 15th Jul 2007
WWE Special: The Great American Bash, San Jose
AVP Crocs Tour: Long Beach Open, California
World Superbikes Championship 2007: Brno, Czech Republic
DID YOU KNOW…?
A Swedish grandmother has become the fastest surfer on the web with a 40Gbps broadband connection delivered straight to her home. Sigbritt Löthberg, 75, had never owned a computer until recently, despite being the mother of Swedish internet guru Peter Löthberg. Her son set up the line with the local council's Karlstad Stadsnät network infrastructure arm. The new line will enable Sigbritt to watch 1,500 high definition television channels simultaneously or download a high-definition DVD in two seconds flat.
The connection was made possible using a modulation technique that allows signals to be sent 2,000 kilometres without transponders over fibre. "I wanted to show that there are other methods than the old fashioned ways such as copper wires and radio, which lack the possibilities of fibre," said Peter Löthberg, who now works at Cisco Systems. Source: Ken Radio, 16th Jul 2007
SPORTS SHORTS
* Former Liverpool keeper Jerzy Dudek is set to sign for Spanish champions Real Madrid on a free transfer. Dudek, the penalty shoot-out hero of Liverpool's 2005 Champions League win, has been unable to dislodge Pepe Reina from the first-choice spot at Anfield. The 34-year-old Pole was released by Liverpool at the end of last season. Source: BBC Sport, 15th Jul 2007
* Electronics company, PT Agis, is teaming with IPTV and broadband technology provider BNS and Toshiba to build a nationwide mobile TV network in Indonesia. Operated by Agis, the service will be the first Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-based (DMB) mobile TV service outside Japan and Korea. It is slated to launch early next year. “With a youthful population and low but fast growing mobile penetration, Indonesia is the perfect market for a broadcast-based mobile TV service,” said Anna Maria, the senior officer at Agis. Source: Worldscreen, 16th Jul 2007
* The 2007 WNBA All-Star Game, which will showcase the most talented female basketball players from around the world, will be televised in 198 countries with commentary in 30 languages. The 2007 WNBA’s All-Star Game, the eighth in league history, will be held in Washington, DC on Sunday, July 15. WNBA team rosters for 2007 feature 22 international players from 14 countries. Seattle’s Lauren Jackson and Phoenix’s Penny Taylor, both from Australia, have both been named to the Western Conference team, and will represent the league’s international contingent at the event. Eleven first-time WNBA All-Star Game telecasters will air the game including in China (Guangzhou TV, Shanghai TV) and Japan (J sports 1, J sports 2, J sports Plus). Source: Sport Business, 16th Jul 2007
* Asian satellite operator Measat has officially launched its high-definition distribution platform on the Measat-3 satellite. The service targets broadcasters in Singapore and across the region. The Platform design addresses content acquisition, MPEG-4 compression, encryption, uplink and content distribution via the MEASAT-3 satellite. Measat claims the platform is providing a gap in the market, with HD distribution in Asia lagging behind available technologies. Measat-3 launched in December 2006. It has 24 Ku-band transponders and high-powered spot beams focused on Malaysia, Indonesia and South Asia. Source: Rapid TV News, 16th Jul 2007
* China International Television Corporation (CITVC) and the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia have rescheduled the International Sports Television Forum 2007. Event will now run on Friday Aug 24, instead of Thurs 23 Aug, in Beijing. Topics for discussion include analysis of how companies can expand their sports brand in China, in particular soccer clubs from the English Premier League; how companies can build market share by partnering with major sports events; an examination of sports in the broadcast value chain; gains and losses from previous Olympic Games; and the relations between sports leagues and pay-TV. Source: Variety Asia, 16th Jul 2007
* EHF Marketing, the marketing company of the European Handball Federation, has taken over the sale of international television rights for all EHF European Cup men’s and women’s matches from the clubs. The new central selling system, which starts in 2007-08, will mean that the clubs now only hold the domestic television rights. The deal covers the EHF Cup, EHF Cup Winners’ Cup, the EHF Challenge Cup, and also qualification matches and tournaments (from round 2) for all competitions (including the Champions League). Sportfive, the international sports agency, holds the rights to centrally market sponsorship for the ‘last 16' of the men’s Champions League. Source: Sportcal, 16th Jul 2007
* The Women’s National Basketball Association has signed a multi-million dollar broadcasting deal with ESPN. The eight-year contract begins in the 2009 season and runs until 2016. It is believed that in an unprecedented move, ESPN has agreed to pay for the rights and the deal is “worth millions”, according to WNBA president Donna Orender. The deal includes new media rights, enabling ESPN to carry games on its broadband and mobile television platforms. Source: Sportcal, Mediaweek, Sports Illustrated, 16th Jul 2007
* Chelsea FC is teaming up The Walt Disney Company in a long-term agreement. The move is part of Chelsea’s business strategy to become the world’s biggest club brand. In the four-year agreement, Chelsea becomes the Official Professional Soccer Club of Disney’s Wide World of Sports and presenting sponsor of Disney Soccer Showcase Series. Chelsea will have significant presence at Disney soccer events through coaching and clinics held in association with the events. These will be run under the guidance of Chelsea's Football in the Community scheme. The agreement is Disney Sports’ most significant alliance with an international sports organisation, further cementing Disney’s Wide World of Sports as the pre-eminent venue for amateur and professional sports in the world. Source: Sport Business, Sportcal, 16th Jul 2007
* As expected, Louis Vuitton confirmed it will no longer sponsor the America's Cup, citing concerns the sailing event has become too commercial. Louis Vuitton has sponsored sailing’s premier competition since 1983, when the challengers' series became known as the Louis Vuitton Cup. "The new America's Cup rules define a more commercial approach, and the signed protocol has already been questioned by some of those concerned. Indeed, there is a risk of significant reduction in the number of participating teams," Vuitton said in a statement. Louis Vuitton’s deal for the 2007 event was believed to be worth in the region of £30 million ($60 million). Source: Sport Business, Sportcal, 16th Jul 2007
* Glasgow’s bid team for the 2014 Commonwealth Games has increased its contingency budget by £9.5 million ($19.3 million) to cover any possible shortfall in the sale of broadcasting rights for the event. The increase represents a 3% rise on the initial £288-million budget, and will be split 80-20 between the Scottish Executive and Glasgow City Council. Derek Casey, the leader of Glasgow’s bid said: ‘It is impossible to predict how new technology might impact the market seven years from now. Though it could be worth more than we projected, the commission has suggested it might be worth less. Source: Sportcal, 16th Jul 2007
* Irish new media video delivery service, Servecast, has been acquired by Level 3 Communications in a deal worth €33 million ($45 million). Servecast provides live and on-demand video management and streaming services to various firms and generated revenues of $5 million in 2006. It enables organisations and rights holders to exploit their new media assets to reach broadband and mobile phone audiences. Level 3 is based in Broomfield, Colorado and Servecast is its third major purchase of the year. Source: Sportcal, 16th Jul 2007
MORE NEWS
Macau/General: Sportsfest Macau Confirms Speaker List
Sportsfest Macao organisers have confirmed the participation of the first in a long line of international high-level industry speakers at its three-day sports media market from 5 to 7 September in Macao. The speakers represent key players from around the region and the world including Australia, Brunei, China, Europe, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore - and promise to give valuable insights into a wide cross-section of hot industry topics.
Confirmed speakers to date are: Mr. Bob Kemp, Sports Production Consultant (Australia), Mr. Lee Choong Khay (CK), Head of Sports, Astro (Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia), Mr. Ma Guo Li, Founder of CCTV5 Sports (China), Mr. Jiang He Ping, Head of CCTV5 Sports (China), Mr. John Barton, Head of Sports, ABU, Mr. Karl Bistany, CEO, Future Media Services, Ms. Sandie Lee, Senior VP Content, StarHub (Singapore).
With the support of local government bodies in Macao, Sportsfest Macao will host the three-day media market at the Macao Tower Convention and Entertainment Center. Source: Sport Business, 16th Jul 2007
Global/New Media: Mobile TV ‘Complicated’
Worldwide mobile TV markets are very “complicated” and will take some years to sort themselves out, according to new research from In-Stat. And the research outfit believes there won't be too many opportunities for operators to launch services outside of their home markets, at least initially.
Gerry Kaufhold, In-Stat analyst, said: "We've identified six competing vectors of growth that need to be understood by service operators before they make large infrastructure investments. Each geographic region is developing differently, and all technology approaches are in play. The opportunities appear to be huge, but the current level of fragmentation in the industry, and in the markets, may make it difficult for anybody to reach the economies of scale required to make Mobile Video Services a truly worldwide phenomenon. We're more likely to see geographic regions developing their own local approaches, and we will even find some country-specific versions."
In-Stat found that the competing methods of mobile TV reception (handsets, PCs, portable media players, navigation systems and others) will all need to provide a mix of broadcast TV, premium TV, PPV on-demand and interactivity in the long term. Worldwide, the value of transmission sites will have a value of US$216 million by 2011. However, that could be boosted dramatically should China turn one of its systems on earlier than expected. Source: Rapid TV News, 16th Jul 2007
ARTICLES, COMMENTS & OPINIONS
Asian Tycoons Chase Premiership dreams
AFP Article appearing in The Electric Paper SG, 17th Jul 2007
WEALTHY Asian businessmen are competing to buy top-flight English football clubs, attracted by the irresistible combination of profit and sporting glory. Thaksin Shinawatra, a billionaire football fanatic who was Thai Prime Minister until ousted by the military last year, now owns 74 per cent of Manchester City after his takeover. And directors at promoted Premiership side Birmingham City have recently agreed to sell 30 per cent of their shares to Hong Kong tycoon Carson Yeung, despite reported interest in the club from Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal.
Industry experts say the trend is likely to continue as English football becomes ever more popular among Asia's vast and increasingly wealthy population - bringing with it the promise of booming income from TV rights and merchandise. 'Asian businessmen want to own English football teams because they see Asia, particularly India and China, as the biggest developing market for the Premiership,' said Philip Long, football specialist at London accountancy firm PKF.
'The worldwide love of football is focused at the moment on the English game, and the Asian fan base is well-established and growing fast.' But Long warns that Asian investors are not just signing another business deal when they buy into the Premiership. 'Anyone investing in football is making a partly rational, partly romantic decision. That can be a dangerous mix,' he said.
Long has a word of warning both for Asian businessmen craving a Premiership team and for fans who imagine a wealthy Asian buyer turning their club into world-beaters. 'There is growth in the game now but perhaps it will plateau out soon, like Formula One,' he said. 'And we will see which of these deals actually goes through. Talking about buying a club is one way to attract headlines, but it is a different matter to completing the sale.'
One British academic who is advising an overseas consortium on Premiership takeover targets agrees that it is an investment area characterised by high drama and risk. 'English soccer is the biggest league in the world with a global audience and, hence, is attracting international interest,' he said, on condition of anonymity. 'The prestige and status are unique, and new television deals are perceived as offering new value. But the downside is that the current owners are extracting the surplus value when they exit.'
Several English clubs are on tour in Asia this month to boost their support in the region, with Manchester United, Liverpool, Portsmouth and Fulham all playing games. The visitors exemplify the changing face of Premiership boardrooms, with Manchester United and Liverpool owned by American tycoons, and Portsmouth and Fulham bought up by magnates from Russia and Egypt respectively.
Meanwhile, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which is running the 16-nation Asian Cup in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, said it would 'obviously' prefer Asian businessmen to invest in the region's own clubs. But, despite such hopes, the pull of the Premiership seems likely to remain strong for Asia's wealthiest.
Monday, 16th July 2007
RESULTS
Source: ESPN Soccernet, 16th Jul 2007
Brazil produced a ruthlessly efficient performance to beat old rivals Argentina 3-0 on Sunday and win the Copa America for the second time in a row. Brazil stung Argentina with a fourth-minute goal from Julio Baptista then Argentina captain Roberto Ayala, making his 115th appearance, put through his own goal before halftime. Although Argentina had more possession, Daniel Alves added a third as Argentina coach Alfio Basile, lost a Copa America match for the first time in a run spanning 19 games. It was a bitter pill for Argentina, who lost on penalties to the same opponents in the 2004 final and were favourites to win this time against a Brazil team missing Kaka and Ronaldinho.
Source: Eurosport Yahoo!, 16th Jul 2007
Mika Hakkinen caused a major upset by winning the sixth round of the DTM at Mugello in Italy. The ex-Formula One world champion started way down in 15th on the grid in his AMG Mercedes after Audi dominated qualifying by locking out the top six places in qualifying. But he had a large slice of good fortune to thank as he made his final pit-stop before the safety car was deployed, which was enough to see the Finn leapfrog most of the field and claim an unlikely second win of the year and the third of his career. Pole-sitter Mattias Ekstrom was the fastest man on the day in his Abt Audi and duly led the field until the safety car was sent out for a three-car accident that eliminated the Persson Mercedes of Britain's Gary Paffett, and the Audis of Martin Tomczyk and Christian Abt.
Source: Eurosport Yahoo!, 16th Jul 2007
Jason Plato claimed a well-deserved double win at a very wet Donington Park to re-claim the lead of the British Touring Car Championship. The 39-year-old Briton had to take a back seat as polesitter Gordon Shedden won the opening race of the day but proved untouchable in the later two encounters in his SEAT to leave his title rival Fabrizio Giovanardi clutching at straws.
THIS WEEK
Sat, 14th Jul 2007
Masters Football: London Masters
Sun, 15th Jul 2007
WWE Special: The Great American Bash, San Jose
AVP Crocs Tour: Long Beach Open, California
World Superbikes Championship 2007: Brno, Czech Republic
DID YOU KNOW…?
Men average 458 minutes of monthly wireless phone usage, and women average 453 minutes. The largest historical gaps since the survey's inception in 2001 were in 2002, when men averaged 589 minutes and women talked only 394 minutes, and in 2005, when men averaged 571 minutes and women talked only 424 minutes. AT&T survey results also indicate that 45% of wireless subscribers use the text-messaging features on their device and 44% use the camera feature; 17% of subscribers play games on their wireless device and 11% access wireless e-mail.
Women use the gaming, camera and text-messaging features more frequently, and men use their device for wireless e-mail and accessing the Internet more frequently than women. Both men and women continue to use cell phones more than home phones on average (455 minutes compared with 394 minutes), a trend that began in 2005. Women, on average, spend more time on home phones than men; women talk for 532 minutes compared with only 237 minutes for men. Source: Ken Radio, 13th Jul 2007
SPORTS SHORTS
* Real Madrid are confident on the completion of a deal to sign Arjen Robben as a new player at the Bernabéu next week. The Spanish giants' interest in the Blues' winger has been no secret and president Ramón Calderón had promised during his election campaign last summer, to bring Robben in along with Kaká and Cesc Fàbregas. However, Arsenal has revealed that Fabregas will stay with the Gunners, adding that the loan deal with Jose Antonio Reyes and Real Madrid is set to become a permanent contract. Source: Premiership Latest & Goal.com, 14th Jul 2007
* Inter Milan has furthered plans to reach out to Asia by opening a club store in Shanghai located within the 21st Century Sports City commercial centre in the busy Sichuan Road North shopping area. The shop aims to be more than just a merchandising outlet and features changing rooms and benches similar to the Serie A champion's San Siro home, internet cafe and permanent exhibition of 60 photos depicting the club's history. Inter hopes to introduce products tailored to the local market and open more outlets around China. Source: PA Sport, 13th Jul 2007
* The Trophee des Champions, the French season's curtain-raiser, will be held in France and not in China, as previously hoped. League chiefs had wanted the fixture between Ligue 1 Orange champion Olympique Lyonnais and Coupe de France winner Sochaux to be held in Beijing on July 24, in an ambitious attempt to promote French football in Asia. However, the Ligue de Football Professionnel has announced it is rescheduling the match for July 28, with the game being played in either Lyon or Sochaux. Source: PA Sport, 13th Jul 2007
* The SANZAR rugby unions were warned by their national broadcast partners that a repeat of this season’s selection policy would not be tolerated. The Australian, New Zealand and South African unions met with reps from Fox Sports, Sky Sports and SuperSport at a strategy review in Christchurch. The warning was a response to New Zealand resting their top All Blacks in early rounds of the Super 14 and South Africa sending a squad to Australia & New Zealand that excluded their best players. Both unions justified these decisions on the need to prepare for the World Cup. Source: Sport Business, Sportcal, 13th Jul 2007
* The International Rugby Board welcomed news that rugby union is one of two sports to be added to the list to be played at the 2011 Pan American Games in the Mexican city of Guadalajara. Rugby is popular in countries in the Americas, notably Argentina, and its inclusion is a boost to hopes of a return to the Olympic Games. The sport failed in its bid to be added to the London games of 2012. However, the IRB said: ‘The IRB believes the decision by Pan American Sports Organisation will strengthen rugby’s case for its return to the Olympic Games sporting programme.’ Source: Sportcal, 13th Jul 2007
* Formula 1 has failed in a bid to obtain exclusive rights in the UK to the ‘F1’ abbreviation. The trademark registry in London found that people identify Formula 1 as a type of sport, rather than as a brand name. The registry used media articles and an entry in Wikipedia, the online encyclopaedia, as evidence for its judgment. It said: ‘As Wikipedia comments, F1 is the highest class of single-seat, open-wheel formula racing. There is no hint in the Wikipedia references to indicate that F1 is seen as anything other than a particular form of motor racing.’ Source: Sportcal, 13th Jul 2007
MORE NEWS
Elsewhere/General: Milan Reaps Rewards of Champions League Win
The power of the UEFA Champions League as a revenue-generator has again been demonstrated with a new report showing that even the poorest performing club in last season's group stage managed to rake in close to that earned by UEFA Cup winner Sevilla. UEFA has issued details of the amounts distributed to the clubs that took part in the 2006-07 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup, and the figures illustrate why Europe's clubs fight so desperately for a place at the top table.
Last season saw the start of a new three-year cycle for the marketing of UEFA's club competitions and in 2006-07, the UEFA Cup was marketed centrally from the quarter-finals onwards. In the Champions League, half of the total amount was issued as a fixed sum, with the other half distributed in terms of the value of the commercial markets of the national associations involved. Fixed sums saw each club receive a participation premium of €2 million, with surplus revenue granting each club an extra €1 million.
Each team also received €400,000 per group match played, which is where the performance bonuses kicked in. Group victories were worth €600,000, and each draw €300,000, meaning that participation in the group stage alone provided a major shot-in-the-arm for the minnows of European football. The 16 teams that reached the first knockout round received a bonus of €2.2 million each, rising to €2.5 million for each of the quarter-finalists, and €3 million for the semi-finalists. AC Milan's 2-1 win over Liverpool in the 2006-07 final gave the Serie A TIM (sponsor) giant €7 million, while the Barclays (sponsor) Premier League club's pain was eased to the tune of €4 million. In total, AC Milan earned €39.5 million from its successful campaign and it was Chelsea, not Liverpool, that was the next most profitable with €34.7 million.
Liverpool earned €32.2 million, while PSV Eindhoven (€31.6 million), Manchester United (€31.5 million) and AS Roma (€31.1 million) were the only other teams to break the €30 million mark. Bulgarian club Levski Sofia managed to earn €5.6 million despite failing to pick up a single point in its group. In contrast, Sevilla's win over fellow Primera División club Espanyol in the UEFA Cup final in Glasgow only earned the Spanish giant €6.3 million. The final win itself was worth €2.5 million, illustrating the huge divide between the two competitions. Beaten finalist Espanyol earned €5.3 million for its run. Source: PA Sport, 13th Jul 2007