Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has ridiculed Liverpool’s plans for clubs to sell their own television right, suggesting the move “would kill off half the Premier League”.

Liverpool’s managing director Ian Ayre earlier this week stated that the Merseysiders were prepared to lead a bid by Premier League clubs to negotiate their own individual overseas TV deals, though the idea that has already been met with open criticism.

The league’s broadcast rights outside of the United Kingdom are presently sold in a joint package, which is worth £3.2 billion ($5bn) for 2010-13 to be shared equally among the 20 clubs.

But Ayre believes the system is unfair on the higher-profile clubs, arguing they attract more viewers and more subscriptions, and advocated the adoption of the Spanish model whereby individual clubs have the freedom to negotiate their own packages.

But Whelan, who has led Wigan’s rise from the fourth tier of English football to the Premier League, has dismissed the idea totally.

“It is absolutely scandalous,” Whelan said. “It is the ‘American Dream’, this. They are thinking ‘How can we get more money’?

“But you won’t get more money by killing the heart and soul of the Premier League and of football in England. It would kill Wigan Athletic. It would kill Blackburn. It would kill off half the Premier League.”

Whelan is not alone in his opposition to Liverpool’s plans, with Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea all stating they would rather collectively sell tv rights.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) today announced a new two-year deal with SKY TV for the broadcasting of all home domestic and international cricket matches.

The new agreement runs through to March 2014 and will include highly anticipated tours by England, here West Indies and India. Part on the new commitment from SKY TV is to broadcast a number of domestic HRV Cup matches in the highly rated Friday night time slot.

NZC Chief Executive, buy David White, viagra said: “New Zealand Cricket has enjoyed a strong relationship with SKY and we are thrilled to be extending our agreement,” said White.

“SKY’s commitment to cricket is highlighted by their offer to broadcast HRV Cup matches on Friday evenings, helping extend the reach of our highly entertaining Twenty20 competition.

“Part of NZC’s mission is to have more people playing and more people watching cricket. The partnership with SKY will play a key role in delivering on that vision.”

Richard Last, Director of Sports Content, SKY Television said: “We are thrilled to further extend our partnership with New Zealand Cricket with whom we have developed a very strong relationship over a long period.

“We are especially excited about the introduction of Friday night HRV Cup matches where we will have the opportunity to provide even greater exposure for cricket in this country.

“There are some of important international tours coming up, including England and India, and we are looking forward to showcasing top international cricket from New Zealand to fans around the world.

“We very much look forward to continuing this association over the next two years.”

England’s failed 2018 World Cup bid cost £21 million ($32.8m) – £6 million ($9m) more than had been widely speculated, according to the latest Football Association accounts.

The bid for the tournament ended embarrassingly last December with only two FIFA members’ votes including that of British FIFA vice-president Geoff Thompson.

The FA accounts have for the first time provided details on the total spending and income of the bid. They show that although net spending was £14 million ($21.8m), the total expenditure over two years was £21 million ($32.8m).

The spending was offset by some public money – local authorities from bidding cities provided £2.5 million – plus a further £4.5 million coming from sponsors.

Until now it had been thought the expenditure on the bid had been £15 million (£23.4m), including the public money. That was also the sum mentioned by sports minister Hugh Robertson last week at the Leaders in Football conference in London.

Robertson said he regretted the money that had been spent on the 2018 bid because FIFA had been intent on taking the World Cup to new territories.

The minister said: “When I look back on it now, I wish we had the gumption or the knowledge to realise at a very early stage that FIFA wanted something fundamentally different than what we were putting on the table. I wish we had had foresight to appreciate that earlier in order to stop the investment of £15 million.”

England’s spending per vote won was the worst of any bidding country apart from Australia, who spent £28 million ($43.7m) on their 2022 campaign and won just a single vote.

To see the figures of the report click here

Eurosport has agreed a four-year TV rights deal to the NextGen Series tournament that showcases the next generation of stars in European club football from 2012/13 through to the 2015/16 season. 

A minimum of 18 games will be televised live on the Eurosport channel each season, including the group stages, playoffs, quarter finals, semi-finals and the final. 

Eurosport viewers will be able to follow the rising stars of various leading European clubs, including Arsenal, Juventus, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and last year’s NextGen winners Inter Milan. 

The 2012/13 Series kicks off with the youngsters of Tottenham Hotspur taking on the mighty FC Barcelona in a group stage clash on September 13.

NextGen chief executive Marcus Keane said: “This deal will now enable millions of fans from across Europe to watch the next generation of footballing stars compete live for the NextGen trophy. 

“This is a great step forward for the tournament and we are delighted to have signed with such a major broadcaster.”

Eurosport Group director of broadcasting and programmes Julien Bergeaud added: “The NextGen Series is an exciting property added to our international youth football offering. 

“We have broadcast the best FIFA and UEFA national team youth competitions for many years and now we have the best youth offer for clubs. We look forward to bringing the next generation of world-class footballers to our viewers in Europe.”

Former Brazil football star now turned congressman Romario has criticized Fifa for attempting to change Brazilian law ahead of the 2014 World Cup

Romario, 45, believes laws that guarantee half-price tickets to students and pensioners should not be dissolved. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and Fifa President Sepp Blatter have been debating this issue for a while and other similar subjects.

The former World Cup winner spoke while he was visiting Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium, which is being refurbished for the tournament.

“If Fifa is not put in its rightful place it will soon have more power than our president,” he said.

Romario said Fifa could bear the brunt of maintaining discounted tickets for students and pensioners during the tournaments estimated at around $100m.

He added: “Fifa could earn a little bit less so that the Brazilians can take part.” Fifa have said the money it makes from World Cup tournaments is reinvested in football.

Romario continued the issue on his twiter page.

“Brazil needs to stop this business of becoming a slave of Fifa,” he tweeted. “The sovereignty of the country must be respected”.

Romario also warned that infrastructure projects needed for the tournament, including airports and urban transport, were behind schedule.

“Brazil is certainly not going to stage the best World Cup in history as some have said,” he warned.It is not going to be a World Cup for the Brazilian people.”

Last month the head of Fifa Sepp Blatter wrote to to express concern over delays in the construction of stadiums and infrastructure for the World Cup.

Fifa has also been pressing for the rapid approval of the World Cup law, which also covers the protection of trademarks, television rights and the sale of alcohol in stadiums. The Brazilian congress is currently debating a bill that would meet Fifa’s conditions for the tournament.

Major League Baseball’s (MLB) New York Yankees and WCBS 880 announced on Thursday that they have agreed to extend their radio broadcast agreement through the 2013 season.

Broadcasters John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman are expected to return to the booth for the ’13 season. They have called games together since 2005.

The radio station will carry all regular and postseason games, as well as broadcast select Spring Training contests. WCBS 880 has been the team’s flagship station since 200

Manchester United chief executive David Gill has given his vedict for the first time about the “potential” in floating shares on the Singapore Stock Exchange with the Glazers seemingly now valuing the club at a unprecedented £2.57 billion ($4bn).

The Glazers paid £790 million ($1.23bn) to buy Manchester United – although the final bill amounted to £850 million ($1.33bn) including the legal and advisory costs – and they recently rejected offers of £1.5 billion ($2.34bn) from China and Qatar as, it is now clear, they fell well short of their valuation.

The Glazers are seemingly planning to float 25% of Manchester United on the Singapore Stock Exchange at a value of $1 billion (£643 million), which would value Manchester United at $4 billion. If the shares are sold, they could carry voting powers of only 12%, which would fall well below the 25% threshold that allows shareholders to contest decision-making.

“It’s a potential,” Gill told the Sunday Telegraph. “I think the finances of the club are in robust health in terms of the bond interest against the EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization] that we do have, so in that respect I am not concerned.

“But it was an opportunity, and is a potential opportunity, to strengthen them even further. If the proceeds were by and large used to pay down the bond debt then that would take some of the interest costs out.”

The Glazers’ advisory team – including Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, and Credit Suisse – will inform the owners when the time is right to press ahead with the plans and, given the parlous state of the global economy at present, it appears they will have to wait.

Gill added: “It is not officially on hold but the owners will be taking appropriate advice from the advisors and determining what the markets are telling us. “But I don’t think it’s the level of the market – it is the sheer volatility. That’s the challenge.”

United generated an operating profit of £110.9 million ($173.5m) for the past financial year, has been speculated to have payed down the bond debt instead of been used for investment into the squad. Gill, though, denies Sir Alex Ferguson has been significantly hindered.

“The owners have never been anything other than 100% supportive on delivering to Alex or me the players we need to keep ourselves going, but people don’t believe us.

“If you look at it, we are spending £13 million ($20m) revamping Carrington [the training ground] and we have just completed this summer at Old Trafford our box redevelopment. There has never been any money that we have needed to develop the club that hasn’t come forward.”

Burghley Horse Trials have announced the extension of their relationship with BBC Sport for four years leading up to the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympic Games: thereby ensuring the broadcasting of Burghley on the BBC up to and including 2016.

This year’s broadcast on Sunday 2 September on BBC Two and the BBC HD Channel between 3.15pm and 5.15pm also marks the first ‘High Definition’ production of The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

Elizabeth Inman, cough Event Director for Burghley Horse Trials, said: “Burghley is one of the world’s top three Eventing competitions and having the BBC as our principal broadcasting partner is a vital element in our constant quest to create the best test of Eventing for both the sport’s participants and fans.”

Philip Bernie, BBC Head of TV Sport added: “We’re delighted to extend our broadcast deal with Burghley Horse Trials for another four years. Burghley is a highlight of the international three day eventing calendar – one of the Olympic sports that enjoyed Team GB success at London 2012 with a team Silver medal. We’ve brought it to viewers on the BBC for many years and are very pleased to continue this relationship.”

Ivan Gazidis, capsule Arsenal Chief Executive Officer, believes the English Premier League team’s finances can survive not qualifying for the Champions League.

The Gunners have appeared in Europe’s top elite competition for 14 straight seasons, but are off to their worst start to a season since 1953 after losing four of their opening seven Premier League matches.

That run, which includes a 8-2 defeat at Manchester United, has led to fears among fans  that the club will not reach the top four in the Premier League to qualify for the Champions League. Arsenal got 30 million euros ($40 million) in prize money after reaching the round of 16 last season.

Arsenal last month announced its fiscal-year profit fell 79 percent to 13 million pounds ($20 million) as the club sold fewer apartments at its former stadium and paid more to its players. Revenue declined by a third to 255.7 million pounds, while its debt was reduced by 28 percent to 97.8 million pounds.

“We would rather qualify for it,” Gazidis told reporters at the Leaders in Football conference in London. If the club doesn’t qualify, “we have got a really stable model that could not just cope but do well and compete.”

“It would be very foolish to build a business model that relied on being in the Champions League for perpetuity. I don’t think any clubs do that, and if they do then they probably aren’t being run as responsibly as they should be.”

Wie das Magazin Sponsors berichtet, order lizenziert die Deutsche Volleyball-Liga (DVL) für die Saison 2012/13 erneut regionale private Fernsehsender. Die Bewegtbilder werden interessierten Sendern kostenfrei angeboten.

Im der letzten Saison berichtete beispielsweise Regio TV Bodensee mehr als 25 Stunden über die Spiele der Männermannschaft des VfB Friedrichshafen, mind Regio TV Stuttgart hatte die Frauen des MTV Allianz Stuttgart knapp 20 Stunden im Programm. RTF.1 strahlte rund 18 Stunden von Partien des TV Rottenburg aus und Generali Haching war circa zwölf Stunden auf München.tv präsent. Regelmäßige Volleyballberichte hatten auch Center.tv Aachen, rx Center.tv Köln, Hamburg 1, Potsdam.TV, Regio TV Schwaben, Rhein-Main TV, Rhein-Neckar-Fernsehen und TV.Berlin sowie VIB24.tv im Programm.

Der DVL-Vorsitzende Michael Evers sagt: „Es war uns beim Abschluss unseres neuen TV-Vertrags ein besonderes Anliegen, die Lizenzierung der regionalen privaten Fernsehsender weiter zu ermöglichen.“ Sie seien in der überwiegend regional aufgestellten Sponsorenlandschaft der Sportart ein wichtiger Faktor für die Clubs. „Die Präsenz der Volleyball-Bundesligen auf möglichst vielen Plattformen halten wir für den richtigen Weg, die öffentliche Wahrnehmung des Volleyballs weiter zu verbessern“, sagt Evers.

Mit dem umfangreichen TV-Konzept, das erst durch den Produktionskostenzuschuss der Clubs in Höhe von 100 000 Euro möglich wurde, erhofft sich die Liga einen weiteren Anstieg der Reichweite und Relevanz der Sportart Volleyball. Thomas Krohne, neuer Präsident beim Deutschen Volleyball-Verband, verfolgt ähnliche Ziele: Der Geschäftsführer der Agentur The Sportsman Media Group hofft, dass der Volleyball zu den momentan noch vor diesem liegenden Sportarten Handball, Basketball und Eishockey aufschließen wird.