IOC to Stream London Olympics to 64 Countries on YouTube

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said, sale on Wednesday, anesthetist | that it will provide live coverage of the London Olympics to 64 countries in Asia and Africa, drugs on YouTube.

The coverage is aimed at countries where digital broadcast rights have not been sold by the IOC.

The IOC says it will live stream 2,200 hours of coverage on its YouTube channel. The free coverage will include live sports events and highlights and can be accessed online or on smartphones and devices.

The countries include Afghanistan, Pakistan, Thailand and Singapore in Asia, and Angola, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia and Zambia in Africa.

The live stream will consist of English language commentary. It will include 10 live feeds from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. London time and a 24-hour broadcast of the Olympic News Channel.

Euro Soccer Clubs Unhappy with CAF ’12 Cup of Nations Dates

A number of major European soccer clubs were unhappy with the schedule of dates released for next year’s African Cup of Nations by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The event will be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea will be played between 21 January and 12 February, with reigning Champions Egypt hoping to retain their crown.

The tournament will begin over a week later than 2010 edition with the opening match played in Bata in Equatorial Guinea, while the final will take place in Libreville.

The one-week delay is not favourable by those European sides who play in leagues which take a winter break. This is because an earlier start to the tournament would have meant that many Europe-based players could compete at the finals without missing domestic matches.

The CAF is yet to fix a date and venue for the draw for the 2012 Nations Cup but FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, laws state that clubs must release their players for the Nations Cup up for 14 days before their opening match.

LA Kings Agree Major Broadcast Deal with Fox Sport West

Los Angeles Kings have agreed a long-term deal with Fox Sports West.

Financial details were not disclosed but a source told the Los Angeles Times it was worth about $250 million and runs through 2024.

The Kings are currently competing in the Stanley Cup Finals against the New Jersey Devils. 

Under the terms of the new contract, Fox Sports West will televise about 75 regular-season Kings games, depending on what games are selected to be shown nationally, and a number of early-round playoff and preseason games, the network said.

“We’re pleased that the Kings will be a part of the Fox Sports family for a long time to come,” Fox Sports Networks Executive Vice President Jeff Krolik said in a statement. “Their amazing playoff run has energized this town and we couldn’t be more proud to be partners with them.”

Fox Sports West and its sister channel, Prime Ticket, have been struggling to keep as much of its team inventory in place as it can in the wake of two new regional sports networks that will be launched Oct. 1 by Time Warner Cable. The Lakers, Galaxy and Sparks have already jumped from Fox to the new networks (one of which will broadcast in Spanish), and the Dodgers’ contract with Prime Ticket expires after the 2013 season.

The Angels used the leverage of that situation to negotiate a new contract with Fox late last year, said to be worth $3 billion over 20 years and said to involve an ownership stake in Fox Sports West. The Kings’ new deal reportedly does not.

Fox Sports West has carried the Kings since 1985. Play-by-play announcer Bob Miller has called Kings games for 39 seasons. Analyst Jim Fox has been his partner for 23 seasons.

“The L.A. Kings are very excited and proud to continue what has been an extremely rewarding partnership with our friends at Fox Sports West,” Kings President Luc Robitaille said.

Plymouth Co-Owner Makes ‘Survival Money’ Injection

Tokyo-based co-director Yasuaki Kagami of English League One soccer club Plymouth Argyle is believed to have made an injection of funds to help the cash-strapped club.

The club, which is believed to have debts of around £10m (US$16.2m), were docked 10 points last week after issuing a notice of intention to appoint an administrator.

American director at Argyle George Synan described the funds as “survival money” and added that he was determined “to get the mess sorted”.

In an interview with BBC Spotlight, Synan stated: “It is not the full amount but it is the first piece of the money that we have said we will invest.

“We are working with the directors on how the cash situation can be resolved.”

Mr Synan, who has not been seen in Plymouth since November, added: “I am trying to arrange a schedule and I hope to be in Plymouth on Wednesday or Thursday.

“This is from Mr Kagami’s personal funds. We are in real estate and we have to let go of assets.”

The co-owner stated that he and Mr Kagami were still keen to play their part in the League One club, adding: “We have a pretty substantial sum invested and we want to get the mess sorted.”

ECB Extends Broadcast Deal with ESPN Star Sports

The English Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a new seven-year deal with ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) for the exclusive multi-platform rights to broadcast ECB’s domestic and home international programme across all the broadcaster’s territories in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.

ESS are the ECB’s current broadcast partner in the region, having held the contract for the past five years.

The new agreement, which runs from 2013 to 2019, will encompass more than 300 days of live international cricket, including India’s next two tours to England in 2014 and 2018 and three home Ashes series scheduled for 2013, 2015 and 2019.

As well as covering all England’s home Investec Tests, NatWest Series and NatWest International T20 fixtures, the deal will also give ESS the right to transmit 60 days’ coverage every season from all ECB’s key domestic competitions: the LV=County Championship, Clydesdale Bank 40 and Friends Life t20 competitions plus selected England Lions, England Under-19s and England women’s matches.

ECB Chief Executive David Collier said: “This new agreement demonstrates the enormous appetite for cricket worldwide and the global pulling power of a successful England team and a vibrant county game.

“In a challenging economic climate with all sports facing tough competition for funding streams, it will also provide an important source of additional revenue for funding the development of our game at all levels.

“TV audiences for cricket are expanding rapidly in Asia and the Middle East and we look forward to working closely with ESS to give both our international and county teams the widest possible TV exposure over the next seven years.”

Manu Sawhney, Managing Director, ESPN STAR Sports, added: “We are delighted to further extend our partnership with ECB with whom we have shared a very strong relationship over the past two decades.

“Over the years, we have continued to showcase the best cricket action from around the world to fans from the India sub-continent and this acquisition further re-affirms our position as the leader in cricket broadcasting.”

SPL CEO Hopes for SFL Merger ‘Sooner Rather than Latter’

Neil Doncaster, chief executive of the Scottish Premier League (SPL) has revealed that he remains hopeful that a merger with the Scottish Football League (SFL) will happen “sooner rather than later”.

Speaking after meeting managers to explain SPL plans to move to a top tier of 10 and second tier of 12, Doncaster stated: “I think moving to a different league structure will take more time and that certainly won’t be for this summer. But my hope is that we can move forward as one league structure sooner rather than later.”

The SPL’s present 12 clubs met on Monday, after which Doncaster’s working party has been assigned the task of revise the plan so that it can be put to a vote. As of yet it is unknown as to whether the few clubs whom previously opposed the 10-team top flight have now been persuaded to fall into line.

Doncasted spoke of the successful talks early this week, adding: “I was impressed with the quality of the discussion that we had. Ultimately, this whole plan is about people putting aside vested interests and trying to achieve something for the common good.

“And I re-emphasise the point that the model being put on the table is the only model that looks after all 42 clubs.

“While there was good debate and people had different points of view on the detail, I think the thrust of it was that people appreciated that we are trying to something on a bigger scale for the whole of Scottish football.

“On some issues some people have strong issues and on other small issues some people have views against and ultimately it is about taking a package and not dealing with things piecemeal.”

SFL chairmen last week voiced their opposition to proposals for a regionalisation of Divisions Two and Three – and Doncaster did not wish to speculate on how the SPL’s vote would go.

IOC Launches Tender Process for Broadcast Rights in UK

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have launched the tender process for the sale of the broadcast and exhibition rights for the territory of the United Kingdom for the Olympic Winter Games (2014) in Sochi, clinic Russia, prescription and the Olympic Games (2016) in Rio de Janeiro, doctor Brazil.

The tender also provides the opportunity to make a bid for the Olympic Winter Games(2018) in PyeongChang, South Korea, and the Games of the XXXII Olympiad (2020) in a city to be selected by the IOC. 

The tender issued by the IOC provides organisations interested in acquiring the rights with specific guidelines relating to bid submissions. The IOC has asked for bids to be submitted by 5 p.m. (CET) on Friday 29 June 2012. 

The IOC will assess bids on their ability to meet the highest standards in broadcast quality, their capacity to reach the broadest possible audience, their commitment to promoting the Olympic Games and the values of the Olympic Movement, as well as on the financial offer.

Man Utd Spokesman Confirms ‘No Change of Ownership’

According to a spokesman for English Premier League soccer giants Manchester United, prostate the club has confirmed to the Premier League that the Glazer family still owns 100 per cent of the club.

There had been speculation over recent months that the American owners may have sold a stake to pay off their controversial £220m (US$357m) PIK (payment-in-kind) loans, and the Glazers recently set up a new parent company registered in Delaware, where there is no requirement to reveal ownership details.

However, in an interview with BCC Sport, a club spokesman stated: “There has been no change of ownership.”

The Glazers acquired the club in 2005, against the wishes of many of United’s supporters and have continued to be disliked by large sections of the sides fanbase.

Despite denials from both parties, Qatar Holdings LLC has been repeatedly linked with a takeover of the Barclays Premier League club.

GolTV to Broadcast Argentina-Brazil Game

GolTV, capsule the exclusive 24/7 bilingual TV network and online community, will broadcast the highly anticipated Argentina vs. Brazil match live on Saturday, June 9 2012 at 2:30 p.m. ET from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The South American rivals will play in front of a sellout crowd of 82,000 fans.

The last time the Argentinean national team played on GolTV (Feb. 26 vs. Switzerland), the game received the highest rating for an international FIFA match in network history, a feat surely to be exceeded Saturday.

“International soccer’s popularity is growing at an incredible rate, and the ability to showcase two of the world’s most accomplished teams leading up to the 2014 World Cup provides GolTV’s passionate viewers the fast-paced and exciting soccer they demand,” said Rodrigo Lombello, COO, GolTV.

In addition to offering national team matches, GolTV delivers exclusive league action from each country. Brazilian play includes games from the emerging Brasileirão championship league and Campeonato Paulista, while Argentinean matches include the weekly “Clasico” from the Argentine Football Association. The network also airs a weekly highlights show for league play from each country, Foot Brazil and Fútbol Argentino.

Plymouth Face Successive Relegations After 10-Point Deduction

English nPower League One soccer club Plymouth Argyle have been deducted 10 points with immediate effect after they issued a notice of intention to appoint an administrator.

In a decision which breaks Football League sanctions and commands, a 10-point deduction was inevitable with the notice classed as an ‘insolvency event’.

The League One strugglers now find themselves bottom of the league and 10 points from safety after relegation from the Championship last year, having been the subject of three winding-up petitions from HM Revenue & Customs this season.

A statement on the club website said: “The directors of Plymouth Argyle Football Club have today issued a Notice of Intention to appoint Brendan Guilfoyle, Christopher White and John Russell of The P&A Partnership as administrators.

“This action gives the club protection from insolvency action from creditors.

“This does not mean that the club is in administration today nor does it assume that it will necessarily enter into administration at a future date.”

With his side now facing the stark reality of dropping into English soccer’s fourth-tier next season, Argyle manager Peter Reid told BBC Spotlight: “From a football point of view it’s a massive blow to the club.

“You’ve just got to get on with it. It’s going to make it really difficult but we’ve just got try and start the fight back against Brighton.

“Hopefully the board of directors can sort out the financial problems and hopefully this is the lowest ebb and we can start rising from this situation.”