The Philadelphia Phillies have signed a new broadcast deal with Comcast SportsNet.

According to reports the deal is for 25 years. Comcast SportsNet will broadcast the majority of Phillies games, but NBC10 is expected to get its share of Sunday broadcasts. WPHL will no longer carry games.

“We’re pleased to confirm that NBCUniversal and Comcast SportsNet have signed a new long-term deal with the Philadelphia Phillies that will expand Comcast SportsNet’s role as the Phillies’ primary TV partner,” Comcast said in a statement, confirming a Philadelphia Daily News report. “Although the terms of the comprehensive deal are confidential, details surrounding the 2014 schedule of games will be provided in the coming months.”

A 25-year deal falls in line with contracts signed in recent years between networks and other Major League Baseball clubs, like the Dodgers (a reported 25-year, $7 billion deal), Angels (a reported 20-year, $3 billion deal) and Rangers (a reported 20-year, $1.6 billion deal). How the Phillies’ new deal impacts their payroll remains to be seen.

The Phillies’ current deal with Comcast expires following the 2015 season.

Cleveland Golf/Srixon has announced that Scott Carlyle has been named Vice President of Business Development for Cleveland Golf/Srixon – U.S.A.

“I have tremendous confidence in Scott’s leadership abilities,” said Todd Harman, President of Cleveland Golf/Srixon – U.S.A. “His experience, knowledge and attention to detail make him the right individual for this critical role in our organization.”

Carlyle, who graduated from the University of California-Berkeley with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, also received a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University. He started his career at Cleveland® Golf in 2004, serving as a Project Engineer for Woods. Carlyle has held several prominent roles since then, including Product Manager for wedges and Business Unit Leader for wedges and irons.

“My passion is to understand the ever-increasing overlap between information systems and marketing – and to glean meaningful insights that will improve our business,” said Carlyle. “Even as global economic conditions are slow to recover, our strong global presence and resources provide our company a unique opportunity to innovate and energize interest in our brands. The timing is fortunate to coincide with the early success of our new product launches that are building excitement for 2013. For these reasons, I am really excited to be a part of the guiding team that will reaffirm our competitiveness on our path to sustainable earnings growth.”

It will cost Singapore US$387 million to host this year’s inaugural Youth Olympic Games, three times the original estimate of US$122 million, it has been revealed.

The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) has said that the increased spending was used to upgrade existing venues to allow international broadcasting, as well as this, numbers of volunteers for the Games has risen from 7,000 to 20,000.

However, permanent secretary of the MCYS, Niam Chiang Meng, has defended the increased spending, saying: “The benefits will outweigh the cost, we are quite sure of that. That’s why we decided to go for it. This is the biggest thing that Singapore can ever host. You cannot host an Olympic Games. You cannot host a World Cup. This is it.

“If you want to host this, better host the first one, but hosting the first one, means you are the guinea pig. There are a lot of unknowns, uncertainties.”

UEFA has announced a media rights agreement with Abu Dhabi Media Company for the international European Qualifiers which will kick off in September 2014. 

The AD Sports-branded channels will ensure a wide and comprehensive coverage of the European nations’ qualification matches for UEFA EURO 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. AD Sports will also broadcast an extensive highlights programme each matchnight during the so-called Week of Football.  

In line with UEFA’s platform-neutral approach, all matches will also be available via the super.ae internet and mobile applications. 

In announcing the rights award, UEFA commented: “We are pleased to welcome Abu Dhabi Media on board as a broadcast partner of the European Qualifiers. The AD Sports channels represent a great platform to ensure exposure for national-team football. We are looking forward to working together to make the European Qualifiers a great viewing experience for football fans across the region.” 

 

iSportconnect, and the world’s leading sports business platform, pills are delighted to announce a partnership with the Worlds Sports Congress 2013.

The deal see’s iSportconnect become official social media partners for the inaugural World Sports Congress taking place in London on the 26th and 27th February 2013.

The first edition of the World Sports Congress, organised by International Research Networks (IRN), will be a high profile meeting with exclusive networking opportunities bringing together the most senior-level players in the sporting industry.

The congress focuses on discussing and developing strategies to ensure financial stability when planning, designing and constructing sporting infrastructure, guaranteeing that revenue is maximised and return on investment is secured.

iSportconnect Chairman and former CEO of Wembley stadium, Michael Cunnah, will be moderating a panel at the congress, along with other prominent speakers from the industry.

iSportconnect’s Marketing & Partnership Manager Xavier Cureau said “I am very much looking forward to the inaugural World Sports Congress as it is shaping up to be a great event. I look forward to promoting the event across the Sports business community and look forward to working with the IRN team.”

IRN Production Director, Pooja Samani, commented, “the World Sports Congress is the first event to be held in our new World Sports Series, and we are very glad to be working with iSportconnect and look forward to a successful inaugural event”.

About iSportconnect

iSportconnect is an exclusive online platform that brings together thousands of sports business professionals worldwide.

The site provides news, market data and analysis, columns and features, forums, listings of events and jobs and great opportunities for online networking.

There are no introductory fees and no limits on communication.

The site is complemented by events where attendees can network face-to-face and discuss relevant topics with a panel of experts.

For more information visit: dev.isportconnect.com

About IRN

IRN is a business information group and elite organiser of senior level summits, forums, training, publications and business events, covering an array of sectors including global finance, commodities, risk management, project and trade finance, oil and gas, regulation, legal, governmental and technology.

The IRN summit formula is based upon learning and sharing knowledge by exchanging ideas. A combination of formal and informal networking is the key quality of all IRN conferences. For more information visit www.irn-international.com.

 

Last week saw the third edition of the Soccerex Global Convention take place in Rio de Janeiro, adiposity bringing together the world of football for five days of exclusive networking, prescription learning and business. The event was seen around the globe with extensive media coverage online, sales in print and through broadcast and delegate numbers exceeded 4,000 for the third year running.

The event was the ‘most global yet’ with attendees from over 100 countries and a conference programme that featured thought leaders from 20 different nations sharing their knowledge, including the likes of Jérôme Valcke, General Secretary, FIFA, Sergio Cabral, Governor, Rio de Janeiro, Aldo Rebelo, Brazil’s minister of Sport, José Maria Marin, CBF President and 2014 LOC Chairman, Jeffrey Webb, President, CONCACAF, Football Agent Pini Zahavi, Michael Brown, CEO 2015 AsiaCup LOC, Domingos Soares de Oliveira, CEO, S.L Benfica, Adrian Bevington, Club England Managing Director and Director of Communications, Maurício Assumpção, President, Botafogo, Ricardo Fort, Global Head of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, Visa, David Dein, Former vice-chairman Arsenal and the Football Association, Gérard Houllier, Former Technical Director, French Football Federation & current Head of Red Bull Soccer, Alex Horne, General Secretary, English Football Association and many more.

As always football was at the core of the event with over 60 past and present international players and managers taking part over the five days – including 10 World Cup winners and 5 Champions League winners including the likes of; Carlos Alberto Torres, Ronaldo, Mário Zagallo, Roy Hodgson, Bebeto , Zico, Aldair, Juliano Belletti, Djalminha, Ruud Gullit, Carlos Alberto Parreira, Ricardo Tavarelli, Roberto Ayala, Paulo Montero, Ronald de Boer, Chelsea’s new signing, Wallace, Deco, Wagner Love, Botafogo players Doria and Jefferson, Denilson, Caniggia, Jay Jay Okocha, Caju, Paul Breitner and Gaizka Mendieta  to name just a few.

Recent Paris Saint-Germain signing Lucas Moura was also in attendance and was announced as a Soccerex ambassador, joining the likes of Brazilian superstar Neymar, 1970 FIFA World Cup winner Carlos Alberto Torres, England and Manchester United legend Bryan Robson, 1978 World Cup winner Osvaldo Ardiles, Portuguese football legend Eusébio and three time European champion Phil Thompson.

Soccerex is an event with a focus on business and whilst it is impossible to calculate the amount of business done at this early stage, previous editions of the event have seen estimates in excess of £250 million. With an expanded sold out exhibition area and growing delegate numbers this figure is expected to increase once again this year.

Duncan Revie, Soccerex CEO commented: ‘Once again, Rio de Janeiro welcomed us with open arms and initial feedback shows that our delegates embraced the opportunity and found the event to be a huge success. The Football Festival was amazing, the exhibition was packed and we had all of the biggest names in football setting the agenda. No other event can pull together this level and number of big business and football names and we are proud that Soccerex has once again shown itself to be the leading football business event in the world.’

Leading media rights agency MP & Silva has announced today it has secured Japanese rights for 2013-2014 Super League Greece matches.

The deal was agreed with TAF Sports, medicine the international rights holders of the Greek league.

The Super League Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece, consisting of 18 teams playing 34 games each. As of May 2013, Super League Greece is ranked 12th in the UEFA ranking of leagues, based on performances in European competitions over the last five years.

Peter Hutton, Joint-CEO, MP & Silva, said: “We are happy to acquire the Super League Greece for Japan. Greek football is growing in Europe and internationally and teams like Panathinaikos, Olympiakos have a lot of traction in Japan.  MP & Silva is delighted to use our local network in Japan to offer the best distribution of Greek football content in the country.”

Dinos Deris, CEO TAF Sports, commented: “We are glad to partner with MP & Silva in Japan. They are leaders in sports content distribution in the territory and they are the right partners to support the expansion the Greek football among Japanese fans”.