National Basketball Association (NBA) side, the New Orleans Hornets and FOX Sports New Orleans, have announced the 2012/13 broadcast schedule that will feature a franchise-high 75 live regular season home and away Hornets games.

FOX Sports New Orleans is available statewide on cable, satellite and telco providers.

The schedule begins on 31 October against the San Antonio Spurs and will go on to feature 38 home and 37 away games.

Dennis Lauscha, President of the Hornets said: “We are proud of our relationship with Fox Sports and excited to be part of the launch of a new network that will bring Hornets basketball not only to New Orleans but to all our fans throughout the Gulf South with a franchise-record 75 broadcasts,”

Highlights of the schedule include both games against Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the World Champion Miami HEAT on Dec. 8 in Miami and Mar. 29 in New Orleans, all four games against Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Western Conference Champion Oklahoma City Thunder (Nov. 16, Dec. 1, Dec. 12, Feb. 27), all four games against Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Steve Nash and the Los Angeles Lakers (Dec. 5, Jan. 29, Mar. 6, Apr. 9) and all four series matchups against division-rivals Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.

John Heidtke, Senior Vice President/General Manager, FOX Sports New Orleans added: “We’re anxious to get the season started and to begin our new partnership with the New Orleans Hornets.

“We look forward to what promises to be an exciting season.”

Hornets’ coverage on FOX Sports New Orleans will include ‘Hornets Live’ pre-game and post-game show and additional Hornets programming.

FOX Sports New Orleans

FOX Sports New Orleans will become the 21st regional sports network in the FOX Sports Networks family. The network will offer a robust lineup of local sports programming, including SEC football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, Olympic sports and coaches’ shows. Other regional programming on FOX Sports New Orleans will feature Big 12 and Conference USA collegiate events, Texas Rangers baseball and Dallas Stars hockey. FOX Sports New Orleans will be available to over 1.6 million cable and satellite TV homes throughout the Hornets territory.

FOX Sports is the nation’s leader in offering hometown NBA coverage through FSN, the largest owned-and-operated regional sports network group in the country. FSN serves as the local television home to more than half of all NBA teams, producing more than 1,000 live NBA telecasts per season.

Garry Cook has quit as the chief executive of Manchester City after claims he emailed defender Nedum Onuoha’s cancer-suffering mother ridiculing her illness.

Cook offered his resignation after an investigation by City found “there is foundation” to the allegations. He had denied sending the message, claiming his account was hacked and tampered with. Chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak accepted Cook’s resignation and apologised to Dr Onuoha.

Defender Onuoha’s mother, who acts as his agent, had previously sent a message to Marwood and Cook, explaining that while she was “ravaged with cancer” it would not prevent her negotiating on behalf of her son.

Dr Onuoha then received an email, allegedly from Cook and addressed “Brian”, which apparently ridiculed her use of language in describing her illness.

The email is reported to have read: “Ravaged with it!!…I don’t know how you sleep at night. You used to be such a nice man when I worked with you at Nike. G”.

Dr Onuoha told the Sun the email had left her “humiliated and devastated”.

The claims led City’s board to launch an investigation and, following its findings, Cook offered his resignation and Khaldoon wrote to Dr Onuoha “to apologise for any distress caused”.

In the statement, Khaldoon said: “Garry has made a remarkable contribution to Manchester City Football Club over the past three years. His judgement in this matter should in no way lead to his accomplishments being overlooked.

“On every level, the club is unrecognisable from the organisation which he inherited and our staff and supporter services, community outreach and commercial activity have seen unparalleled growth under his direction with yet more projects to be realised on the horizon.

“On behalf of Sheikh Mansour and the Board, I would like to thank him for his energy and tireless commitment to serving all those connected with the football club. He will always be welcome at Manchester City.”

Cook said: “I am privileged to have held my position at Manchester City Football Club and to have experienced the opportunities that it has presented. The privilege is in part offset however by the significant personal focus which has at times, detracted from the magnificent achievements of those working at the football club. It is that factor, together with my error of judgement in this matter that has prompted me to reach this decision, which I believe is in the best interests of the football club.”

City director John MacBeath will assume the role of temporary chief executive officer while a replacement is found.

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) has announced that there is a possibility that National Rugby League (NRL) matches will be streamed on mobile devices in 2013.

The news comes only one day after the announcement of a historic billion dollar broadcasting deal with Channel Nine and Fox Sports.

Shane Mattiske, Interim Chief Executive at the ARLC said: “A key element of what was held out of the broadcast deals was our ability to deliver a stream that’s simultaneous to the broadcast signal to people for viewing over mobile devices.

“We’re in discussions now in terms of those media rights, we’re talking to a range of parties and we’re also considering whether or not the game should exploit these rights on its own rather than granting them to a third party.

“I think it’s something fans can expect to see in the 2013 season.”

Under the current broadcasting deal, live streaming is only allowed overseas, leaving Australian audiences to wait 24 hours after a game has finished.

English soccer club Birmingham City owners, Birmingham International Holdings Ltd plans to borrow as much as $10.3 million from its newly appointed deputy chairman.

The Hong Kong-based company entered into a two-year loan agreement with Yang Yue Zhou, who was appointed executive director and deputy chairman yesterday, according to a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange.

Birmingham shares have been suspended since June 30 when Chairman Carson Yeung was charged with money laundering in a Hong Kong court. Earlier this year, the company said its liabilities exceeded assets by about HK$348 million. Birmingham City was relegated from England’s Premier division last season, three months after winning the League Cup, its first major trophy in 48 years.

Castor Pang, Hong Kong-based head of research at Core-Pacific Yamaichi International Ltd, said: “The loan is borrowed at a very high interest rate and it clearly shows that Birmingham is short of cash. The company has difficulties generating sustainable cash flow, especially after the football club’s relegation.”

Proceeds from the loan will be used for the repayment of debt and as general working capital, the company said in today’s statement. Birmingham International generated 95 percent of its HK$375.4 million in revenue from its football operations in the six months ended Dec. 31, 2010, according to the company.

 

Spike TV has formed a partnership with K-1, price the world renowned kickboxing organisation, ambulance to broadcast a series of live events.

In the agreement, the cable TV channel will broadcast four live events on Spike.com and a series of televised events in 2013.

The US World Grand Prix Championship in Los Angeles on 8 September and events in Tokyo, New York and Athens will be available online.

Doug Kaplan, CEO of K-1 said: “K-1 is excited to join forces with Spike TV, a powerful and highly experienced cable network known nationally for its combat sports programming, presenting our live K-1 events.

“Spike is the perfect television home and stage to introduce our K-1 warriors and the fast-paced, aggressive style of K-1 fighting to fight fans across America.”

Jon Slusser, Senior Vice President, Sports and Multiplatform Events, Spike TV added: “We are thrilled to be in business with the world’s preeminent kickboxing organization.

“Spike has the most passionate and knowledgeable fans of combat sports and we are confident that they will enjoy the high-action of K-1, which serves as the perfect complement to our Bellator coverage next year.”

The Football League have published their latest report on agent fees during the 2010/11 season for all the clubs in the three divisions below the English Premier League.

A staggering total of $27.2 million was dispersed to agents during the 2010/11 season. Championship clubs accounted for $23 million (84.6%) of this total, with League 1 and League 2 clubs spending $3.75m (14.1%) and $0.45m (1.3%) respectively.

Clubs committed to pay agents in 570 (19.6%) of the 2,910 player transactions that took place. Only eight clubs did not spend any money on agents’ fees at all (Accrington Stanley, Barnet, Cheltenham Town, Crewe Alexandra, Hartlepool United, Macclesfield Town, Stevenage and Stockport County). 

After seeing the figures, Football League chairman Greg Clarke said: “This highlights the importance of the work Football League clubs are doing to establish a ‘breakeven’ business model across all three divisions. No-one is trying to prevent clubs from paying agents where they feel it is appropriate, however we must make sure that clubs are not spending money they simply do not have.”

 

English Premier League (EPL) side Manchester United have formed a partnership with Fuji TV to launch Manchester United Television (MUTV) in Japan.

The three-year deal allows Fuji TV to broadcast MUTV content to viewers in Japan, unhealthy including matches, viagra usa interviews and behind the scenes footage.

United’s commercial director Richard Arnold said: “MUTV is a must for any Manchester United fan, therapy offering up-to-date and exclusive news, interviews and archive footage.

“The dedicated channel has a reach of 60 million worldwide and the club is delighted to be partnering with Fuji TV, one of Japan’s major TV channels, to bring MUTV to Japan.

“This partnership further demonstrates Manchester United’s global reach and allows us to engage with the almost four million followers we have in Japan.”

MUTV is managed and produced by United and includes matches from the Barclays Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League. Fuji TV ONE, TWO and NEXT will broadcast all Reds matches in full from the kick-off to the final whistle.

Other than match action, Fuji TV also plans to broadcast pre-match preview shows and post-match interview specials, as well as documentaries on developments at Old Trafford and archive programmes as the club’s former stars look back on their playing days.

The deal comes on the back of manager Sir Alex Ferguson signing Japan international Shinji Kagawa in the summer transfer market.

Danish Club, FC Midtjylland have sold a 34% stake in the club and academy for a return of $17.3 million by Goa-based Dempo Group.

Besides 34% stake Dempo will also have presence on the board F C Midtjylland Holdings A S, the holding company for Herning and Ikast based club.

The Share Subscription Agreement shall take effect after the final approval of the shareholders of FCM Holdings A S at an Extraordinary General Meeting to be held on 15 September.

The deal is a long-term commercial and technical partnership between the parties, with Dempo investment strengthening the FCM capital base, and FCM committed to providing technical know-how to Dempo, which owns Dempo Sports Club, a first division I-League club.

The company is hoping the club can share its football expertise with an Indian club, and establish an academy in football-crazy Goa, in collaboration with Dempo.

Søren Bach, FC Midtjylland CEO, said: “It’s a historic day for FC Midtjylland and the start of a new era for the Club. The agreement enables us to add value to the continuity of our soccer team and retain our own playing talent longer. We can enhance the level of talent development, and begin truly to internationalize the Academy.”

Dempo Group chairman Shrinivas V Dempo said the agreement was aimed at raising the standard of Indian soccer.

“The investment marks the moment when intent turned into commitment. It’s kick-off time for the Dempo foray into truly international football. Our agreement is aimed at raising the playing standard of Indian soccer, and this tie-up with a first-rate European academy and team shall spur the development of the game even faster,” Dempo an avid football fan said.

Soren Bach, added: “This is how we capitalise on the football professionalism that FCM is known for. We must, among other things, help the Indians with technical support of their youth and senior players, exchange programmes for coaches and players between the two clubs and coaching and development in sport management.”

The deal has been facilitated and coordinated by the sports management company, New World Consulting, which specializes in bringing investments to sports. New World Consulting will be working closely with both FC Midtjylland and Dempo in Europe and India over the next two years to maximize the benefits to both sides from this investment.

“In fact, I see this agreement as historic also in terms of an era of commercial cooperation opening up between India and Denmark”, adds Shrinivas Dempo.

FC Midtjylland has been runner-up twice in the Danish Cup final, and finished second twice and third twice in the Superliga.

FIFA along with Coca Cola and in collaboration with Bogota City Council, pills Cali City Council, health Colombian government and Inter-American Development Bank (BID) are donating an estimated $1.1m to 1, story 400 children in both cities.

The donation will be channelled through the Colombianitos Foundation in Bogota and the SIDOC Foundation in Cali.

FIFA, Coca-Cola and the Inter-American Development introduced their Football for Hope programme with help from the Colombian government, supporting 1,400 underprivileged children aged between five and 18 and living in the neighbourhoods of Ciudad Bolivar in Bogota and Comuna 20 in Cali.

Local children will have the opportunity to play football in their free-time and start their life projects, develop social skills, lead a healthy lifestyle and acquire social values.

A team of psychologists, social workers and physical education instructors will be on hand to identify and tackle the problems afflicting these communities such as drugs, juvenile delinquency and domestic violence. The work they carry out will indirectly benefit over 5,000 people, including parents, other family members and neighbours.

Federico Addiechi, FIFA’s Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, said: “Thanks to the role it performs, its values, popularity and its universal appeal, football has a major responsibility to society as a whole, it is a pleasure for FIFA to join forces with committed organisations and to support programmes that promote togetherness, social integration and access to health and education services for children and youngsters in disadvantaged areas of Colombia.”

Ricardo Cortes, Coca-Cola’s Director for the Andean Region, commented: “Ciudad Bolivar and Comuna 20 are deprived neighbourhoods where social problems have been identified and which impact on violence and crime rates, the children who live in these areas have no sports facilities they can use or access to recreational programmes encouraging them to adopt a healthy way of life. Through Football for Hope we aim to make a difference and it is our pledge to develop these vulnerable communities by promoting active lifestyles, which are an essential component of our global platform Live Positively.”

Canal+ and Mediapro agreed a three-year deal to share the television rights ending a stalemate which threatened to delay the start of the La Liga season.

Spain’s secretary of state for sport Miguel Cardenal oversaw the negotiations, which settled the numbers of games each company could show on their individual platforms each week.

Mediapro will continue to show one match on their free-to-air channel each week and will control the international rights for La Liga.

“The agreement…establishes a viable model for the Spanish league and presents a stable scenario for football fans for the seasons 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15,” Mediapro said in a statement.

“The professional football league (LFP), for their part, guarantee the new agreement signed by both operators.”

A group of 13 first division sides had forced a meeting with the LFP on Tuesday to call for a settlement of the dispute saying that it created “a situation of serious legal insecurity”, and had threatened to postpone the season’s start.

The new La Liga campaign kicks off this weekend with champions Real Madrid at home to Valencia and Barcelona hosting Real Sociedad, both on Sunday.