News Corp-owned Fox International Channels (FIC) has acquired a majority stake in Endemol’s Dutch football broadcaster Eredivisie Media & Marketing (EMM).

EMM was established in 2008 by the 18 clubs in the top division of Dutch football (Eredivisie) and global prodco Endemol. It handles corporate media and sponsorship rights on behalf of the clubs and has its own dedicated channel, viagra | Eredivisie Live.

FIC, advice which operates channels including 24Kitchen and Nat Geo Wild in the Netherlands, has now acquired a 51% stake in EMM. This will bring Eredivisie Live into its portfolio and gives it the right to show Dutch football live in the Netherlands. The clubs will retain a 49% stake.

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp has based its pay-TV success in the UK, Italy and elsewhere on long-term broadcasting rights to the domestic and European football competitions through its Sky brand. It is unclear whether Eredivisie Live will be rebranded as a Fox or Sky channel.

Financial details were not disclosed by FIC, but according to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf the deal is worth €1bn (US$1.23bn) over 12 years, running from the 2013/14 season through to the end of the 2024/25 campaign. The deal will see FIC pay €60m in its first year, €80m in its second and €100m thereafter, and underwrite the €60m debt currently carried by Eredivisie Live.

The deal was unanimously agreed to by the 18 clubs and Endemol, according to a statement from FIC.

Alex Tielbeke, director of media and marketing for Eredivisie, said: “FIC is part of an international network of successful sports channels in the US, Latin America, Asia and now Europe. We plan to use that knowledge and expertise as we continue to grow the success of Eredivisie Live.”

President and CEO of FIC Hernan Lopez said the move, which is subject to approval by the Dutch Competition Authority, was part of a continuing drive by his company into sports broadcasting worldwide.

Karen Webb the Olympic Park Legacy Company’s (OPLC) executive director of marketing and communications has left her role to become an independent consultant while already beginning proceedings with her first client, Westfield, a Tier Three sponsor of the Games and shopping centre just outside the Olympic Park.

Having first made her name at Sydney 2000 where she was in charge of media and marketing communications, Webb joined the International Olympic Committee (IOC) where she was vice-president for image and marketing communications.

Webb stayed at the IOC for eight years before moving to England where she worked for Vero Communciations and the Greater London Authority, and then to the OPLC, where she was a key figure in London’s successful bid to host the 2017 World Athletics Championships. 


Webb’s decision to leave the OPLC coincides with the decision by London Mayor Boris Johnson to incorporate them into a new company, the Mayoral Development Corporation, but the two are not believed to be connected.

One World Sports (OWS), North America’s leading Asian sports provider, has secured exclusive broadcasting rights for the North American region for a wide-ranging series of football matches from the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) third round of qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup from World Sport Group (WSG).

OWS will show some games live and same day delayed matches from the Asian football qualifying rounds in English.

The first series of games will be broadcast through OWS on September 2 featuring China versus Singapore, Australia versus Thailand and Tajikistan versus Uzbekistan. Four days later, on September 6, OWS will broadcast a series of two games including Uzbekistan versus Japan and Indonesia versus Bahrain.

OWS’ live and exclusive exhibition of select Asian football qualifying matches follows its successful transmission of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™, Asia’s top event and the AFC Champions League 2011, the region’s premier club competition as well as other top-level international and professional football. OWS is now available on DISH Network and local cable.

Preston Bornman, Chief Operating Officer, One World Sports, said: “The Asian qualifying matches are a fantastic addition to our live and exclusive multi-screen sports rights. The qualification matches for the 2014 FIFA World Cup showcase football on a global basis, and we are proud to offer these games halfway around the globe.”

Mark Hardess, President, ASEAN and Australia, World Sport Group, said: “World Sport Group and One World Sports are working closely to introduce U.S. football fans to the excitement and quality of Asian football which is growing steadily in North America. One World Sports provides the ideal platform to deliver the very best football from Asia to fans in the U.S.”

NDN, physician the Digital Media Exchange that powers the profitable newsroom, thumb today announced its partnership with MLB Advanced Media LP (MLBAM), medicine the interactive media and Internet company of Major League Baseball.

NDN will deliver licensed MLB game highlights within baseball stories featured on local news publishers’ websites.

“At MLBAM, we are committed to expanding the reach of the national pastime across leading news destinations,” said Kenny Gersh, senior vice president, business development of MLBAM. “NDN’s tremendous scale will help us accomplish this goal and we’re excited to partner with them to provide our fans with a variety of baseball content.”

MLBAM has been producing and distributing live and on-demand video for more than a decade and is among the web’s largest digital media producers of HD video content. NDN syndicates broadcast quality, late-breaking national and local video content, and is partnered with more than 4,500 online news publishers. NDN also acts as a newsroom extension by remotely embedding content in publishers’ stories.

“Understanding the commitment it takes to become a success, NDN and MLBAM are giving fans in local communities the ability to experience game footage in their local newspapers, when they want and where they want it,” said Reggie Jackson, baseball superstar and major NDN investor. “Online video has become a key component of consumers’ viewing habits within the sports vertical, and with NDN, MLBAM will be able to quickly and easily expand its reach to fans across the U.S.”

“MLBAM has built an impressive digital library of quality sports video content and boasts a devoted fan base that is eager to receive its favorite content across multiple destinations and platforms,” said Greg Peters, chief executive officer of NDN. “We’re thrilled to help MLBAM achieve a wider viewership for its content and look forward to offering our publisher partners a single platform for the delivery of news content across all verticals.”

A former FBI Director has been hired to aid the corruption investigation into suspended Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Mohamed bin Hammam.

Investigation company Freeh Group International, anabolics founded by former FBI Director Louis Freeh, has been chosen to look into allegations bin Hammam misused AFC funds and made payments to football officials in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.

The allegations were uncovered in an internal audit that resulted in the AFC giving bin Hammam a 30-day provisional ban last month.

PricewaterhouseCoopers prepared the audit that alleges he received millions of dollars from individuals linked to AFC contracts during his tenure that dates back to 2002.{jcomments on}

 

 

NFL franchise Chicago Bears have hired Kansas City Chiefs director of college scouting Phil Emery as their new general manager.

Emery was an area scout for the Bears from 1998-2004 and replaces Jerry Angelo, who was firedafter an injury-riddled 8-8 season.

Emery and New England Patriots director of pro personnel Jason Licht were finalists and both interviewed twice. The Bears also interviewed San Diego Chargers director of player personnel Jimmy Raye, New York Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross, and current director of player personnel Tim Ruskell.

Emery’s hiring comes after a major collapse marked by season-ending injuries to quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte, as well as a drug scandal involving backup receiver Sam Hurd. The Bears dropped five in a row after a 7-3 start, spoiling a promising season before closing with a win at Minnesota.

Chicago has now missed the playoffs four times in five years following a trip to the Super Bowl after the 2006 season.

Angelo was fired two days later, though he was signed through 2013. The Bears also parted with offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who had an expiring contract, and quarterbacks coach Shane Day but made it clear head coach Lovie Smith was safe for next season.

Emery has one mandate from president Ted Phillips: Close the talent gap with Green Bay and Detroit in the NFC North. Another criteria was to be able to work well with Smith, an area where Emery was thought to have the edge because of his previous ties with the Bears.

From 2004-08, Emery served as director of college scouting for the Atlanta Falcons and also worked as a regional scout for the Falcons leading up to the 2009 draft.

Emery started his career as a student assistant at his alma mater, Wayne State, before joining Central Michigan as a graduate assistant. He went on to become the offensive line/strength and conditioning coach at Western New Mexico for three seasons before taking the position of defensive line coach at Georgetown College.

Emery served as the defensive line and strength and conditioning coach at Saginaw Valley State from 1985-87 before joining Tennessee as the Volunteers’ assistant strength and conditioning coach from 1987-91.

He made his last collegiate stop as the director of strength and conditioning services and as an associate professor at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1991-98.

During Angelo’s 11-year run, the Bears won four division championships, reached the Super Bowl and got back to the NFC championship game last season. But he was undone on several fronts especially this season when backup Caleb Hanie struggled mightily after Cutler was hurt.

The Bears plan to introduce Emery in a Monday news conference at Halas Hall.

Sampdoria will start the new season with a one-point deduction after its plea bargain was accepted by the Italian Football Federation in the latest match-fixing scandal to rock Italy.

Serie B side Bari was also penalized, capsule as it was deducted five points and fined almost $100, pills 000.

Atalanta defender Andrea Masiello received the worst punishment for a player – 26 months for his contributions to match-fixing while at Bari.

Old teammates Alessandro Parisi and Marco Rossi were banned 24 and 20 months, respectively. Parisi is currently with Torino, while Rossi is with Cesena.

Juventus coach Antonio Conte is among those still under investigation, and he faces a 15-month ban for not reporting match-fixing in two games as manager of Siena in Serie B in the 2010-11 season.

The IRB Executive Committee has appointed its Chief Financial Officer Robert Brophy acting Chief Executive of Rugby’s global governing body and acting Managing Director of Rugby World Cup Limited.

Irishman Brophy will take up his new post on February 1 and the IRB has stated that he will “continue to drive forward the IRB’s core business while a thorough independent recruitment process for a permanent successor to Mike Miller is conducted”.

Miller is stepping down on January 31 after 10 years at the helm at the IRB and Rugby World Cup Limited, purchase as we reported last Friday.

Brophy will bring a wealth of experience to the caretaker role. He has served as the IRB’s Chief Financial Officer since 1996 and previously worked for KPMG and Diageo UK. He also has solid roots in the game; he represented Trinity College and Leinster at age grade during his playing days.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset stated, buy cialis “I am delighted that Robert has accepted the role of acting Chief Executive of the IRB and acting Managing Director of Rugby World Cup Limited. He has a massive wealth of experience in the organisation and global Rugby governance and is highly respected by the staff. I have every confidence that Robert will provide the continuity, stability and leadership required until a new permanent Chief Executive takes office”.

Brophy added, “It is an enormous privilege to be given this opportunity by the IRB Executive Committee. We have an excellent management team and I am looking forward to working with Bernard and Vice Chairman Oregan Hoskins to continue to drive the Game forward”.

Virgin Radio, symptoms has renewed its partnership with the eni FIM Superbike World Championship.

Virgin Radio follows closely the entire season, with special updates on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and as the official Radio of 2013 Italian World Superbike events will provide the fans with further updates by broadcasting live from the circuits. DJ Ringo – Artistic Director of the Radio, bike lover and performer – along with Giovanni di Pillo – radio speaker and TV commentator for the series – will be presenting the well-known program “Revolver” (on Thursday and Friday from 2pm to 4pm) directly from a dedicated workspace within the Superbike Paddock Show. 

Marc Saurina, WSBK Marketing and Commercial Director: “We’re happy to have Virgin Radio on our side again, a beloved radio station for our Italian fans because of its strong connection with Superbike. It’s no coincidence that just a few time ago “Rolling Stone” magazine acknowledged World Superbike as “the most rock sport in the world”! The coverage that Virgin radio provides to all World Superbike classes proves our common goals, audience and essence and the live presence in the paddock during the Italian races allows us to transmit the spirit of proximity with riders and teams, that is a unique characteristic of SBK.” 

For both Italian rounds, Virgin Radio will raffle off numerous tickets and 3-day paddock passes on its frequencies and on virginradio.it 

On virginradio.it a dedicated section was created with special content, not only about the technical side (riders, standings) but also about the atmosphere of Superbike, to discover riders’ backstage and secrets, with curious stories and everything that may connect the Superbike mood to that rock ’n’ roll universe. 

DJ Ringo said: “Once we marked Tony Cairoli’s gear with the star of Virgin Radio, now the same star will be on the World Superbike Italian rounds, as well as on ParkinGo Team’s MV Augusta fairings in World Supersport. We’re definitely a Superbike Radio!”.

Blackburn’s pre-season friendly with NEC Nijmegen scheduled for Sunday afternoon was cancelled due to the threat of fan violence.

The decision was taken by the police and the local authorities in Nijmegen after it was claimed that Rovers supporters had been involved in disturbances in Deventer on Friday and Saturday.

In addition to the friendly, Nijmegen had been set to host a fans’ open day, with the local authorities expecting around 8,000 visitors including families with young children.

A statement on the Gelderland-Zuid section of the politie.nl website read: “The deputy mayor of Nijmegen has decided to cancel the exhibition game between NEC and Blackburn Rovers. That match was due to be played today at 2.30pm during the annual open day of NEC.

“Supporters of the English club Blackburn Rovers were involved in rioting in Deventer on Friday and on Saturday there was a confrontation with supporters of NEC Nijmegen in the city.

“On the basis of serious signals to the police that a confrontation would take place again today, deputy mayor Henk Beerten in consultation with police, judiciary and mayor Hubert Bruls decided to cancel the match this afternoon.

“Today, some 8,000 visitors are expected at the open day of NEC which starts at 12.30pm, including many families with children.

“With the serious threat of unrest in the Goffertpark around the exhibition game, it is not sensible to play this game today.”

A statement on the Championship club’s official club website said: “Both clubs wish to express their disappointment that such a decision has been necessary.”

NEC said in a statement that they regretted the decision to cancel the match, but understood it was taken with regard to safety