Sportsnet 960 The FAN today announced it has reached a seven-year exclusive broadcast rights extension with both the NHL’s Calgary Flames and Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen beginning next season.

The deal reinforces Sportsnet’s commitment to keeping fans connected to their home team first with more Flames games on radio and TV than any other broadcaster. 

The new agreement, which begins at the start of the 2013-14 NHL season and runs through the 2019-20 season, includes all Calgary Flames 82-regular season games each year as well as all pre-season and playoff games. Sportsnet 960 The FAN will continue to air a one-hour pre- and post-game show every game. 

Currently, Sportsnet 960 The FAN airs all Calgary Flames pre-season, regular season and playoff games. For the 2012-13 season, Sportsnet West will telecast a total of 34 regular season Calgary Flames games, more than any Canadian broadcaster. Sportsnet 960 The FAN has been broadcasting Flames games since 2002, while Sportsnet TV has been delivering coverage of Flames games since the network’s inception in 1998. 

“The passion that sports fans have for the Flames in Calgary is second to none,” said Kelly Kirch, Program Director, Sportsnet 960 The FAN. “We are proud to continue this important partnership with the Calgary Flames, and to be the voice that hockey fans trust. This deal demonstrates our unwavering commitment to delivering coverage of every goal and every update for every Calgary Flames game for years to come.” 

“Sportsnet 960 The FAN has been an outstanding radio partner for the Calgary Flames,” said Flames President & CEO Ken King. “We are thrilled with our new agreement and look forward to their high quality broadcasts, insightful coverage and powerful reach.” 

The new package also includes the broadcast rights for all regular season and playoff Calgary Hitmen games each season, which will be delivered on radio or online at www.sportsnet.ca/960, and will provide fans with extensive coverage of their favourite Western Hockey League team over the next seven years.

The Scottish Football League (SFL) are looking to sell the tv rights for 25 Division 3 games, involving Rangers.

The SFL’s media representative IMG, has approached broadcasters with a package to show up to 25 live Rangers matches in Division Three next season. The proposed deal includes the opportunity to broadcast all 18 of Rangers’ away league matches. 

However, any deal cannot be finalised until the Scottish FA grants membership to the new club. Rangers went into Administration in February, and in the process of Liquidation at the moment. Charles Green’s Consortium are setting up a new company (Newco) after the HMRC failed to grant a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).

The SFA want Rangers word they can clear all footballing debts, plus take the punishment from their old company to have a twelve month transfer embargo.

The proposed SFL TV deal subject to certain criteria, including fixture and scheduling clashes as well as policing. The new league season less than three weeks away so all parties want something settled fairly quickly.

Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic Games bid has taken on new momentum after three senior staff members of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) were appointed to serve as senior department directors given their experience with the Olympic Movement.

Yasuhiro Nakamori, JOC International Relations Director and Tokyo 2020 Executive Board Member was appointed Senior Director of Tokyo 2020 International Relations Department.

Toru Watanabe, JOC President’s Office Chief Manager will serve as Senior Director of Tokyo 2020 Marketing & Promotion Department.

Masa Takaya, JOC Communications Manager and former International Triathlon Union Media Manager, who also served as communications director of Tokyo 2016 will hold the position of Acting Communications Director also for Tokyo 2020.

Masato Mizuno, Tokyo 2020 CEO and JOC Vice President, said, “After studying the key factors in several previous successful bids, we have noted the importance of the involvement of NOCs in realizing a truly integrated bid team.

“NOC staff have a wealth of experience in dealing with the International Olympic Committee and various other international sporting bodies, and are able to make a valuable contribution to the overall bid.

“I am certainly glad that Tokyo 2020 is now able to draw on the expertise and experience of senior JOC members and position these at the heart of our bid,” he added.

This follows Japan’s House of Represenatives approving the bid last month.

The Breeders’ Cup and Churchill Downs today announced that tickets are on sale for this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Friday, November 4 and Saturday, November 5. For the second consecutive year, Churchill Downs will host the event under the two-day Championship format, which will begin on Friday at 2 p.m. ET and finish under the lights at approximately 7:30 p.m. with the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic. Saturday’s card will begin at 12:05 p.m. and conclude with the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Last year, a record total of 114,353 fans attended the two days of the Championships at Churchill Downs climaxed by the electrifying battle under the famed Twin Spires between Blame and Zenyatta in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

This year, fans will be able to purchase tickets in two ways:

Among the new ticketing options for this year’s Championships are:

“Together with our host, Churchill Downs, we look forward to another outstanding experience for our fans attending the Breeders’ Cup from around the world to enjoy the most spectacular two-days of racing at this year’s Championships,” said Tom Ludt, Breeders’ Cup Chairman. “We were delighted with the record turnout in 2010 and encourage fans to take advantage of the new seating options available this year.”

“The return of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships to Churchill Downs for a record eighth time will be very special for our neighbors in Louisville, the state of Kentucky and Southern Indiana that embrace Thoroughbred racing’s biggest events like no other region in North America,” said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack.  “Last year’s record-setting debut of the Breeders’ Cup as a two-day event at our track was filled with breathtaking performances, lasting memories and wonderful experiences.  After a record-shattering Kentucky Derby Day at our track, our team looks forward welcoming the world back to the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs – there’s always magic when the Championship returns to Kentucky.”

Der Anti-Korruptionsbeauftragte des Welt-Fußball-Verbandes (FIFA), pharm Mark Pieth, hat Bayern-Präsident Uli Hoeneß mangelnde Intelligenz vorgeworfen. “Ich habe Verständnis dafür, dass man Bedenken hat angesichts der Person von Herrn Blatter. Jetzt aber auf Leute loszuschießen, die man nicht mal geprüft hat, das zeugt nicht von großer Intelligenz”, sagte Pieth dem Radiosender NDR Info.

Hoeneß hatte zuvor die Ethik-Kommission scharf kritisiert und deutlich gemacht, dass er nicht daran glaube, dass Blatter noch einmal kandidieren werde bzw. die laufende Amtszeit überstehe.

Pieth glaubt zudem, dass in Kürze noch weitere Schmiergeldzahlungen aufgedeckt werden könnten: “Ich gehe davon aus, dass in der Vergangenheit und in der Gegenwart Neueres gefunden wird. Das ist angesichts der Struktur dieses Verbandes durchaus zu erwarten.” Die FIFA müsse sich laut Pieth dringend renovieren: “Es ist wichtig, dass man jetzt anerkennt, dass hier eine Struktur geschaffen und auch mit Personen besetzt worden ist, die in keinster Weise abhängig sind.”

Dies sei ein Reformprozess, für den der Weltverband aber offensichtlich Joseph Blatter brauche, um in seinem Verband Werbung für Aufklärung zu betreiben: “Das hat nichts damit zu tun, dass wir jetzt besondere Liebe zu Herrn Blatter hätten. Wir sagen ganz pragmatisch, es braucht deshalb Herrn Blatter, weil der in der Lage ist, Leute dazu zu motivieren, zuzustimmen. Der muss die Leute überzeugen, die Angst haben, dass sie selbst möglicherweise in die Untersuchung einbezogen werden”, so Pieth bei NDR Info.

Werner Augsburger is the new director of Swiss Volleyball Federation following his resignation as the Sochi 2014 Sports director earlier this month.

He will succeed Christian Bigler, click who took over the management of the sports ministry in Bern.

The 54-year-old will begin his reign in May 2012.

Augsburger left his Sochi 2014 role after citing problems with a language barrier in Russia, vialis 40mg and leaving his family behind to be based in Moscow according to Swiss daily Neue Zuercher Zeitung.

Augsburger was selected by Sochi Olympic organizers last April. He began his duties organizing events in September.

Augsburger was previously Switzerland’s mission chief at three Olympics. He joined the Sochi team after two seasons as chief executive of the Swiss ice hockey league.

Lucien Boyer, unhealthy President and CEO at Havas Sports & Entertainment, ailment has taken part in an exclusive Featured Profile interview with iSportconnect.

Boyer spoke of the experience he gained at ESSEC Business School and how he was somewhat of a ‘pioneer’ during his education. He stated : “Ten years later (after graduating) when ESSEC realized that sports business or communications/marketing through sport was a real business that could be taught, they came to me for ideas and feedback on their project to start the Sports Marketing chair which exists today.”

Mr Boyer went on to add how his skills in a variety of industry sectors including marketing, communications and sponsorship had helped him to found the Lifestyle Marketing Group (LMG) in 1991. Lucien claimed : “My time with the America’s Cup and Formula 1 allowed me to get hands on experience and really showed me how sponsorship can shape a brand’s messaging and can be an integral part of any event or company strategy.” He added that major events such as the Olympics in 1992 showed brands that they needed agencies to guide them, saying: “Really our business’ growth, particularly in France and Europe, has been anchored in major events- ’92 was the start, ’98 was the confirmation, then followed by the Track World Championships in 2003, and finally the Rugby World Cup in 2007.”

Speaking of Havas Sports & Entertainment’s (HS&E) backing of the Annecy 2018 Winter Games bid, Boyer confirmed: “Since the change of management in early 2011, we were asked to get more involved both by working within a broader scope and by participating at the international level,” adding “Havas Sports & Entertainment is currently committing all the necessary resources in France and internationally, through our network, to help bring the Annecy bid back as a real contender, fully prepared and reaching out to the right stakeholders and influencers.”

When asked as to the importance of HS&E launching its new office in Rio, Brazil, last year he added: “It is clear that the Brazilian market is growing in every sense of the word. Major sporting events, concerts, festivals and international celebrations are coming to this country at an accelerated rate.” Boyer feels that through opening its office in Rio, HS&E has positioned itself to “continue delivering strong, creative ideas to brands and federations looking to stand out in Brazil, and connect with consumers around these big events.”

Boyer admitted that branching into these emerging markets is crucial and added: “It’s clear that our specialist network still has some gaps to fill- as you mentioned, the Middle East is a key target for us, looking towards Qatar 2022, and more immediately as well to service clients in this region where sports business and entertainment is booming. We look to move into these markets within the coming years.”

Lucien confirmed that working with leading global brands such as Coca-Cola and Yahoo! is ‘a key component’ to HS&E’s global success. When it comes to the differences between working with brands and sporting organizations, Mr Boyer stated: “Organizations and Federations generally have slightly different goals and objectives than brands,” however he added “Our approach to their needs and campaigns may sometimes be a bit less business-minded, but that has started to change. Federations have begun to organize themselves as brands do, focusing on return on investment just as much as our consumer brand clients.”

When asked as to whether HS&E were keen to support the so-called lesser-known sports, Boyer said: “We all know that some sports are better known, receive greater media coverage and also offer star athletes as assets. Nonetheless, many times, these types of leading sports won’t get the job done for certain brands.” He stressed that smaller sports could be a better fit for a brands DNA, adding: “Lesser-known sports, or other engaging entertainment platforms such as music, art, or cinema, could be the right answer to anchor a communications campaign.”

Boyer had the final word on his association with iSportconnect and the incentives it brings, stating: “Platforms like this for sports industry professionals are a great way to not only stay in touch but also keep up to speed with trends, what everyone’s up to and what’s to come in our profession. Social communities, especially targeted ones such as iSportconnect, have really changed the face of networking. I am delighted to become a part of this community and hope to quickly make some new connections with the professionals on your site.”

About Havas Sports & Entertainment

Havas Sports & Entertainment is Havas Media’s global brand engagement network and operates globally through 25 offices across five continents.

Its 400 professionals connect brands to fans by helping them share who they are in relevant, meaningful and inspiring ways by developing great ideas. This could be in the form of sponsorship, content creation, partnerships, celebrity endorsement… In turn, they help take consumers, turn them into fans and ultimately into true brand loyal advocates – customers. The reason we are successful is because we listen, we empathize, we measure and we analyze the communities that fans belong to, to ensure that what they want and what brands want to offer is aligned. In so doing, we help enhance their passions.

Havas Sports & Entertainment’s international clients include:  Coca-Cola, adidas, Hyundai Kia, Castrol, Louis Vuitton, Orange, Veolia, Yahoo!, Allianz, Mars, Repsol, Areva, BMI, Santander, EDF & EDF Energy, Puig, Motorola, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Reckitt Benckiser and Lloyds Banking Group. Sports organizations include FIFA, the Argentinean Tennis Association, the English Premier League, the International Cricket Council, the 2011 Pan-American Games, the Annecy 2018 Bid Committee, the Ryder Cup 2018 French Bid, and media groups such as Sky TV and Bolloré Media. Havas Sports & Entertainment is the official organizer of the Global Sports Forum Barcelona, alongside the City of Barcelona.

Havas Sports & Entertainment incorporates the audio-visual production company Havas Productions (France), the event production company Havas Event (France), as well as brand entertainment pioneers Cake, set-up through offices in the UK and the US.

David Bernstein, the chairman of the Football Association (FA), is firmly against Sepp Blatter extending his spell as FIFA president.

Blatter, whose fourth term as president finishes in 2015, had said in 2011 that he would not run for the presidency again – but has since suggested that he could try to win a fifth term.

“I would not support that [Blatter seeking re-election], but I’m not going to call for resignations,” Bernstein told the Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s football governance follow-up.

“I stood up strongly last year in terms of the election itself and of proper governance, and I think that’s probably helped because I get a real feel of change and reform is taking place within FIFA.

“I’m genuinely encouraged by what I’ve seen over the past year. There’s a real desire and understanding that change has to take place.”

FIFA earlier today appointed Michael J. Garcia to lead prosecutor to investigate allegations of corruption in world football.

Jeffrey Ajluni has joined the Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment, clinic LLC as Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer.

Ajluni, capsule 43, clinic will oversee all Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment revenue operations, including corporate partnerships, ticket sales and service and suite sales and service.

He brings a broad and unique perspective to the organization, having spent 21 years in the sports and entertainment industry. Ajluni most recently served as Director of Corporate Partnerships and held positions of Director of Marketing & Business Development and New Partner Development for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he worked from 2000 to 2012. From 2006 through 2008, during his time with the Buccaneers, he worked for Manchester United FC, also owned by the Glazer family. Ajluni has also worked for the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers and Olympia Entertainment from 1991 through 2000.

“Jeff is a skilled sports partnership executive who brings a broad-based sports sales background to our organization,” said Dennis Mannion, President of Palace Sports & Entertainment and the Detroit Pistons. “Being a Detroit native, his knowledge of the local market will be an asset for us along with his proficiency in critical key areas such as consumer engagement and sponsor activation.”

“This addition to our executive staff represents a continuation of the business restructuring taking place at Palace Sports and Entertainment. We are excited about the new executives we have hired over the last four weeks including Lucinda Treat and Charlie Metzger and feel their expertise in the areas of business development and strategy, revenue, and marketing and communications align perfectly with our new vision for the future.”

Ajluni has a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northwood University and is a native of Bloomfield Hills, MI. He joins other recent executive additions that include Lucinda Treat, EVP of Business Operations and Strategy and Charlie Metzger, EVP – Chief Marketing and Communications Officer.