The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC), which recently gave English Premier League soccer club West Ham their support as preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium, has appointed Victoria O’Byrne as its new chief of media and external affairs.

O’Byrne has left her post as a consultant at the Institute for Public Policy Research, after working as director of internal affairs for the company, in order to join the OPLC.

Additionally, O’Byrne has also held communications roles in and around government over the last ten years, most recently working as special adviser to Tessa Jowell MP, where she was responsible for the then minister’s London and Olympic briefs.

Her responsobilities will now involve leading the Olympic Park Legacy Company press, public affairs, and website operations, working with executive director for marketing and communications, Karen Webb.

Mediacom have agreed a new partnership with the Iowa State Athletics Department for the College’s Cyclones sports programming to be added to it’s channel list.

Through the partnership, Cyclones.tv produced programming will be available to Mediacom’s Digital Family cable subscribers. The channel, MC22, is set to go live December 9 at 1 p.m. as the Cyclone women’s basketball team host Fairfield and at 6 p.m. when the men play against the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

“The Big 12 Conference has given individual schools the ability to distribute their third-tier television rights and we are capitalizing on an opportunity that is unique to our conference,” Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said.

Mediacom Group vice president Steve Purcell said: “This is a wonderful way to elevate visibility for ISU as the Cyclones strengthen their presence in the Big 12 Conference. At the same time, it’s a big win for Mediacom customers who gain another option for following their favourite Cyclone teams.”

“Quality programming is produced by Cyclones.tv, and we know that a lot of online viewing occurs in households that use the always faster speeds of Mediacom Internet. Now, many fans will also welcome the television option that is an exclusive benefit to Mediacom subscribers.”

Wie das Magazin „Sponsors“ berichtet, sales hat sich Robert Schäfer auf der Mitgliederversammlung des TSV 1860 München zur finanziellen Lage des Vereins geäußert. Der Geschäftsführer des Fußball-Zweitligisten prognostizierte für die Saison 2012/13 einen erneuten Verlust. Schäfer sprach für die laufende Spielzeit von einem Defizit in Höhe von sechs Millionen Euro. Dieses werde sich zwar in der kommenden Saison auf etwa zwei Millionen Euro minimieren, see lässt sich jedoch trotz deutlicher Einsparungen und dem damit verbundenen Stellenabbau nicht komplett verhindern.

Bereits kurz nach dem Amtsantritt von Schäfer im November 2010 – damals schrieb der Verein noch einen Verlust von rund 8, search 5 Millionen Euro – begann beim Zweitligisten der Personalabbau. Unter anderem musste Mediendirektor Robert Hettich den Club verlassen, genauso wie Pressefrau Claudia Leupold. Im Zuge von Personalkürzungen will der Club rund 150 000 Euro im Jahr einsparen. Auch im Amateurbereich soll es Einsparungen geben. Für die U23 stehen künftig nur noch 600 000 Euro statt der bislang investierten 1,6 Millionen Euro zur Verfügung.

Von den Umstrukturierungen unberührt bleibt die Stelle des Leiters Fußballabteilung. Auf der Mitgliederversammlung wurde Robert Reisinger in diesem Amt bestätigt. Reisinger übt diese Funktion bereits seit drei Jahren ehrenamtlich für den Zweitligisten aus. Erik Altmann wird stellvertretender Abteilungsleiter. Er folgt auf Daniel Bauer, der nach Ablauf der dreijährigen Amtsperiode nicht mehr kandidierte. Thomas Probst bleibt Kassenwart des Clubs.

Sponsorship consultancy Redmandarin have confirmed that former executive at advertising and marketing giant WPP, Nick Walford is to join the company as a partner as of tomorrow, March 1.

Walford founded a sponsorship business at JWT before working within WPP-owned Mindshare. Since leaving that position, Walford has assisted in the set-up of Equipio.com, a social networking and shopping website.

Walford stated: “The decision to join Redmandarin was surprisingly easy. My original agency vision was to build an expertise in sponsorship which attracted a group of people who really wanted to see sponsorship ‘done properly’ – that is, planned and executed with the same rigour and expertise as, for example, established creative and media disciplines, and integrated within an overall brand plan.”

Walford added: “It’s the archetypal agency vision but very difficult to achieve as part of an international network. The networks will always be there – but the potential for the specialist agency which offers direct accountability, excellence and acts as though it has skin in the game, has never been greater.”

Redmandarin CEO Shaun Whatling added: “There are very few people in the world of marketing whose judgement I respect and trust as comfortably as Nick’s. Hopefully Nick will give potential clients the assurance that our distinctive approach and sponsorship campaign planning processes are second to none.”

AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships Yerevan 2012 Semi-finals and Finals to are to be broadcast live on YouTube

Taking place in the Armenian capital, cialis Yerevan, no rx the 2012 AIBA Youth World BoxingChampionships has brought together the very best boxers aged 17 and 18 from around the globe. This edition saw over 360 athletes from 70 countries participate. As the competition heats up in the race to see who is crowned AIBA Youth World Champion, we are pleased to be able to bring you LIVE coverage from the tournament via our YouTube channel.

Held at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex, located on the Tsitsernakaberd Hill which dominates the Western part of Yerevan, the competition has seen boxers displaying amazing skills throughout the past six days of action.

“This AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships Yerevan 2012 is already the tenth AIBA competition we streamed through AIBAboxingtv.com and we will carry on this way in the next years. We are delighted to witness how passionate boxing fans are and it is AIBA’s mission to bring the sport of boxing to the widest audience possible,” AIBA president Dr Ching Kuo-Wu told iSportconnect.

Boxers have been battling it out for one of the most prestigious prize in boxing. Who will make history and be crowned AIBA Youth World Champion? Follow the climactic end to this electric competition as the future stars of the sport look to make their mark on the world stage, all LIVE on www.AIBAboxingtv.com.

The English Premier League (EPL) is considering making dramatic changes to selling it’s broadcast rights across Europe which will force fans outside Britain to pay more to watch matches.

The rights to the world’s richest football league have previously been sold to broadcasters in each nation individually. The Premier League has been trying to stop viewers in Britain from watching games via foreign broadcasters using cheaper services than it sells.

The European Union’s highest court has ruled that rights-holders can’t block foreign viewers from watching those games via cheaper overseas broadcasters.

The ruling came after an English pub landlady started showing football games to her patrons using a Greek decoder, costing her about one-tenth of the price she would have had to pay to BSkyB. The British network paid more than $2.5 billion for the current contract.

Some British homes also have large satellite dishes that can pick up foreign broadcasts, including the Saturday 15:00 games that are not aired in their country.

The result is that the Premier League is considering selling its next set of television rights on an Europe-wide basis. That would allow the winning bidders to set the subscription costs for viewers in each country throughout the continent, either by launching channels in territories where they do not already broadcast or by sub-licensing the rights to local networks.

If BSkyB and ESPN – the current broadcasters of live matches in Britain – bought the European rights, a monopoly could be created.

“One of the implications of the (European Court of Justice) decision is that we are still working on whether we might sell the rights on a pan-European basis,” Scudamore said. “We are still actually deliberating whether … with the freedom of movement it’s actually more applicable and you would actually get better protection or a better return if you sold on a pan-European basis.”

The latest three-year broadcasting rights deal for Britain raised £1.8 billion, and the league plans to send out tender documents to broadcasters for the rights from 2013 between April and June.

The Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN has also said it is a “realistic prospect” that Qatar-based broadcaster Al-Jazeera could enter the British market after buying the rights to screen a majority of the French league matches in France.

“Think of Europe as one territory, think of Europe as the United States – we sell to one organisation in the US,” Scudamore said.

“Certainly if we decide to sell it that way it won’t be good for the local indigenous broadcast partner. In a small European country, you can’t possibly step up and buy the whole of Europe.”

by Ismail Uddin

The former head of communications at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Mark Dolley, has been appointed to replace Tiffany Granfors as the new chief executive of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD).

Dolley will begin his new role with the organisation from March 1, having worked for the IOC between 2003 and 2006 and also as a consultant to the successful London 2012 bid. He replaces Granfors who has been the chief executive for the past 10 years.

ICSD President Craig Crowley spoke of the appointment: “ICSD is faced with immense challenges and I’m grateful that Mark Dolley will now be bringing his high-level experience of sport, sports policy and his vital Olympic Movement professionalism and ‘ethos’ to the ICSD.

“A stronger organisation and a more robust calendar of competitions must be put in place. 

“ICSD must deliver on its core objective of serving deaf athletes, via successful Deaflympics, if we are to ensure greater recognition by sports organisations, business, the media and Government. 

“These are the things ICSD is working toward. 

“And we are very confident that Mark Dolley is the best person to lead the delivery of ICSD’s work, for the benefit of Deaf athletes everywhere.”

Dolley added: “I’m profoundly honoured to be joining the ICSD at an absolutely critical time in the organisation’s development.

“The ICSD has had a long and proud history of serving the needs of deaf sport.

“I have no illusions about the scope of the task ahead. 

“But a sound strategic plan has been established by the ICSD’s Executive Board. I am convinced there are still opportunities ahead. 

“I look forward to working with all of deaf sport, to ensure a rich future is added to ICSD’s rich history, despite the current challenges.”

Crowley then spoke of the outgoing Tiffany Granfors, stating: “On behalf of the Executive Board, staff, delegates and athletes everywhere, I would like to thank Tiffany for her sterling contribution.”

ESPN have inked a new deal to air the NBA in the UK until the end of the season concluding a blackout for British fans.

The coverage begins on Thursday night with New York Knicks versus Miami Heat and will include three live games per week, check NBA All Star Game, doctor First and Second Round NBA Play-off coverage, cough Western Conference Finals, and NBA Finals.

It comes after Commissioner David Stern took a personal interest in ending the blackout. It is understood the league also held talks with Sky Sports but have, so far, been unable to reach an agreement.

“Through our continued partnership with ESPN, fans in the UK and Ireland can look forward to weekly games and an array of NBA programming for the remainder of the 2012-13 NBA Season,” said Dan Markham, Vice President, NBA Media Distribution & Emerging Markets.

Simon Potter, head of programming and production, ESPN EMEA, added: “We’re very pleased to have the NBA returning to ESPN this season, and are looking forward to getting straight into the action and bringing UK and Ireland fans the world’s top basketball league with some great early match-ups.”

Den Start der Europameisterschaft 2012 am 8. Juni nutzt DFB-Partner Bitburger auch in diesem Jahr wieder für eine Verkaufsförderungsaktion. Der DFB-Partner begleitet die deutsche Nationalmannschaft und ihre Fans schon seit 20 Jahren. Ab März gibt es in Handel und Gastronomie erneut das Bitburger DFB-Fan-Shirt mit den gedruckten Unterschriften des Nationalteams sowie mit Wunschnamen und -Rückennummer.

„Es ist immer ein besonderes Ereignis, sale wenn die deutsche Nationalmannschaft spielt. Die Fans stehen zusammen: ob man sich kennt oder nicht, ob man der gleichen Vereinsmannschaft zujubelt oder nicht, ob man zu Hause ist oder in der Lieblingskneipe. Auch das Bitburger DFB-Fan-Shirt ist etwas Besonderes: Mit dem eigenen Namen ist es ein deutliches Bekenntnis zur Mannschaft und zur Gemeinschaft der Fans. Es ist ein Shirt, das eine Geschichte erzählt”, erklärt Dr. Werner Wolf, Sprecher der Geschäftsführung der Bitburger Braugruppe.

In den Besitz dieses Trikots mit individuellem Namen und Nummer gelangt, wer innerhalb des Aktionszeitraums vom 19. März bis 12. Mai Bitburger kauft – zum Beispiel für die Fußball-Party mit Freunden – und Kassenzettel für acht Kästen sammelt und einsendet. Das DFB-Fan-Shirt gibt es in der Farbe weiß und in den Größen L/XL und XL/XXL. Angerechnet werden alle Bitburger Sorten im 20×0,5l- oder 24×0,33l-Kasten: Bitburger Premium Pils, Bitburger Alkoholfrei 0,0%, Bitburger Radler Alkoholfrei, Bitburger Radler, Bitburger Cola und Bitburger Light. Einsendeschluss ist der 14. Mai 2012. Wer seine Kassenzettel bis spätestens 7. Mai einsendet, erhält sein Shirt sicher bis zum ersten Spiel der deutschen Fußball-Nationalmannschaft. Teilnahmekarten sind im Handel erhältlich. Weitere Informationen ab Aktionsstart auch auf www.bitburger.de.

Auch, wer das Fußball-Fest gerne in der Lieblingskneipe feiert, hat eine Chance auf das Fan-Shirt. Wer in teilnehmenden Gastronomien Bitburger bestellt, erhält im Aktionszeitraum vom 5. März bis 9. April dazu je einen Aktionsbierdeckel mit einem Rubbelfeld. Hierunter verstecken sich Zahlen, die zusammen die drei Jahre der deutschen EM-Titelgewinne bilden. Wer alle drei Titeljahre gesammelt hat, kann sich über den Wirt eines der begehrten DFB-Fan-Shirts bestellen.

Die Partnerschaft zwischen Bitburger und dem DFB sowie seiner Nationalmannschaft besteht seit 1992 und wurde kontinuierlich ausgebaut. Der erste TV-Spot für Bitburger Alkoholfrei mit der Nationalmannschaft ging 1998 on Air. Seitdem gibt es in jedem WM- und EM-Jahr eine gemeinsame Kampagne. Highlights während der inzwischen fast 20 Jahre langen Partnerschaft waren der Gewinn der Europameisterschaft 1996, der Vize-Titel bei der Weltmeisterschaft 2002 und 2008 sowie natürlich das Sommermärchen 2006 in Deutschland und der dritte Platz bei der Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft 2010 in Südafrika.

Leading sports marketing agency Sportfive has appointed Shaila-Ann Rao, formerly of French broadcaster TF1, as the chief operating officer of the company’s International Business Unit, based in Geneva.

Rao will begin her role at Sportfive from the March 1 after building up an impressive track record in the media business. During her 12 years at leading French commercial broadcaster TF1 she actively participated in and led the acquisition of rights to key sports properties in football, rugby and Formula One.

Rao will now be responsible for managing legal, compliance and quality in her new role, and will be involved in the strategic planning of the International Business Unit and its future acquisitions.

Chief executive of Sportfive International, Vincent Tong Cuong stated: “We are delighted to welcome Shaila-Ann on board. I have every confidence that she will use her vast experience to add great value to our international business.”