ESPN Deportes and impreMedia announced a content and promotion agreement dedicated to providing Hispanic sports fans in the United States with expanded coverage across both companies’ media platforms.

Through the alliance the two Spanish-language multimedia brands will share content, and execute cross promotional activities. Both brands will provide featured content for their online properties, impreMedia’s print publications and ESPN Deportes TV programming. In addition, the two media companies will co-produce consumer promotions that will be available through each other’s various platforms including print, online, mobile and social media.

“We are excited to join forces with impreMedia to expand our sports news and information content among a wider audience with a leading Hispanic publisher in the US,” said Lino Garcia, General Manager of ESPN Deportes. “This dynamic agreement provides an additional platform for us to share our unrivaled sports coverage with impreMedia’s audience and better serve the U.S Hispanic sports fan.”

Hilda Garcia, Vice President of Multiplatform News and Information for impreMedia noted that: “The partnership is unique in that it pairs up two of the most recognizable names in sports news and information across a variety of platforms. The original content from ESPN Deportes coupled with our sports journalists, trusted brands and national platforms reinforce our strategy of engaging our audience and giving them access to great content whenever and wherever they want it.”

Among the features expected to be launched, content from impreMedia’s products will be incorporated within studio broadcasts of Juego Cruzado, Jorge Ramos Y Su Banda and NacionESPN. impreMedia’s sports writers will also appear on NacionESPN¬- and videos will be available to impreMedia.com and ESPNDeportes.com’s users. 

ESPN Deportes will provide daily Juego Cruzado video clips and live soccer matches to impreMedia.com and the impreMedia online properties. On Fridays, ESPN Deportes will share special video segments that highlight upcoming weekend sporting events to be broadcast on the sports network.

Breaking news, podcasts, blogs and related content around sports stories will also be available across the two brands on multiple platforms. In addition, a regular feed of news from ESPN Deportes will be available on all impreMedia websites.

by Ismail Uddin

UEFA have announced Viet Nam Television has bought the broadcasting rights for UEFA Euro 2012 in Vietnam.

All 31 matches will be shown on VTV 2 and VTV 3. The station will also produce daily newsletters, ambulance reports and commentary of their journalists in Poland and Ukraine, abortion the co-hosts of Euro 2012.

Four years ago, 14 TV stations fought over the Euro 2008 media rights, which ultimately went to VTV for US$2 million. This year, the Ministry of Information and Communications appointed VTV as the only station to negotiate Euro broadcasting rights and asked them to share the matches with others if they succeed.

British Eurosport has secured rights to televise the Fed Cup tie between Great Britain and Sweden in April.

After their successful Euro/Africa Zone Group I wins over Portugal, doctor Netherlands, patient Israel and Austria in Eilat, viagra Israel in February, the GB Fed Cup team captained by Judy Murray will play Sweden away in the World Group II play-offs on April 21-22.

British Eurosport agreed a deal with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) to broadcast the Sweden tie.

British Eurosport also covers all of Great Britain’s 2012 Davis Cup ties and exclusive coverage of the World Group, as well as the Australian, French and US Open tournaments, selected ATP events including the AEGON Championships at Queen’s and all 21 WTA Premier events.

Eurosport UK managing director David Kerr said: “We are delighted to have been able to add coverage of the Fed Cup tie against Sweden to our extensive tennis coverage on British Eurosport.

“The victories in Israel were great for British tennis and we wanted to make sure that we gave our tennis viewers the chance to continue to support Judy Murray and the team in Sweden as they seek to qualify for World Group II in 2013.

“British Eurosport will show over 1,200 hours of blockbuster tennis in 2012, including the Australian, French and US Open tournaments, ATP and WTA events and the Davis, Fed and Hopman Cups.”

Jan Menneken, executive director commercial for the ITF, said: “This is great news for British Fed Cup fans who will be able to watch their team compete against Sweden live on British Eurosport with the winner achieving promotion to Fed Cup World Group II.”

Coverage of the Great Britain versus Sweden Fed Cup tie begins at 1pm on Saturday April 21 on British Eurosport 2, continuing the next day on British Eurosport from 10am.

by Ismail Uddin

British broadcaster Channel 4 has secured exclusive four-year rights to broadcast the Grand National, Derby and Royal Ascot from 2013 making it the only terrestial channel to show British Horse Racing. 

BBC put in as “competitive a bid as possible” to maintain the rights but lost out.

“Our coverage this year will mark the end of a partnership covering some of the key events of British racing that extends over 50 years,” said Barbara Slater, BBC director of sport.

The BBC has shown just 13 days of live racing since 2010 and has now relinquished all of its live televised interest in the sport due to reported budgetary cuts.

Instead, BBC funds will be directed towards retaining events such as the Six Nations rugby union and Formula One, which they now share with Sky.

Channel 4 can now add what are seen as the “crown jewels of the sport” to their schedule after winning the bidding rights to expand its current portfolio.

Jamie Aitchison, Channel 4 sports editor, said: “I am delighted Channel 4’s 28-year association with racing has now arrived at the point where the industry has demonstrated such confidence in our ability to showcase its complete portfolio.

“This is an opportunity for us to work together to grow the sport, painting the full picture of both the flat and jumps seasons to attract new viewers whilst rewarding those loyal viewers we value so highly.

“Channel 4 fully understands the heritage and cultural importance of British racing, but also the sport’s thirst for a bright future, and we relish the challenge ahead.”

Richard FitzGerald, chief executive of Racecourse Media Group (RMG), who headed Channel 4 racing’s negotiating team, added: “Channel 4 has shown a total commitment to our sport.

“This new deal will not only deliver increased revenues for British racing, but with all of our sport’s crown jewels in its portfolio, Channel 4 offers a compelling vision to innovate the way racing is broadcast.

“They have also committed to use diverse programming platforms to promote our sport more widely. This is a great opportunity for racing in the long-term.

“The BBC has been a fantastic partner for British racing and helped the sport to grow its attendances and TV audience in recent times.

“We look forward to continuing to work together through radio, online and TV news coverage over the next four years until the next TV negotiation period.”

The deal means British Champions Day at Ascot, the culmination of the season-long British Champions Series, will also feature on Channel 4 for the first time.

Charles Barnett, chief executive of Ascot, said: “This is a tremendous announcement for racing.

“The sport is in a great place at the moment and the editorial appeal and popularity of both codes has been apparent through what has been a competitive tender process.

“A one channel scenario will enable us to tell our stories clearly and consistently, and obviously Royal Ascot is fundamental to that.

“I would personally like to thank BBC Television for everything they have done for racing and we look forward to continuing to work with their other platforms.”

The BBC said it was “disappointed” to lose the televised rights, but still looked forward to its coverage in what is Diamond Jubilee year for the Queen.

A statement from the BBC read: “The BBC are proud of their long heritage of broadcasting horse racing and did put in as competitive a bid as possible in the current climate.

“We are of course disappointed that we have lost the rights, but we are pleased that all the races in the contract remain free to air.

“We of course still look forward to broadcasting the Grand National next month and then of course the Derby and Royal Ascot which have special significance in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year.”

by Ismail Uddin

Whats your take on BBC losing out again on TV rights. Click here to have your say.

Rogers Sportsnet has been awarded the 2012–15 UEFA Champions League media rights in Canada and will provide live match coverage of the action as well as showing highlights.

Rogers Sportsnet will broadcast three live matches each matchnight on Sportsnet, allergist Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet World as well as a highlights programme each matchweek on Sportsnet ONE.

All rights have been granted on a platform-neutral basis, with the rights also being exploited on the internet via sportsnet.ca and on mobile.

FOX Soccer Plus, store America’s premium television network dedicated to delivering the world’s best soccer and international sports, is the new U.S. television home of the Australian Football League (AFL).

With origins dating back to 1858, the AFL is Australia’s most-attended domestic sporting competition and the highest level of Australian Rules Football in the world. 

This exclusive media rights agreement brings coverage of live matches to FOX Soccer Plus beginning March 24, lasting through the 2014 season. Additionally, the network is carrying the AFL’s showcase event, the Grand Final, in September live from the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“The Australian Football League is one of the world’s unique sporting spectacles, and Australia’s most popular domestic competition,” said David Nathanson, General Manager of FOX Soccer. 

“We are proud to bring fans across the United States access to this exciting game, with rivalries and traditions that match the passion of other elite leagues on our family of networks.”

AFL Chief Operating Officer, Gillon McLachlan said: “The AFL is thrilled to announce a three-year partnership with FOX Soccer Plus in the United States that will see unprecedented live coverage of our game across the Premiership Season, Finals Series and Grand Final.”

Combined with FOX Soccer Plus’ recent acquisition of Australia’s National Rugby League, the AFL agreement gives fans access to the most exciting sporting properties of the Southern Hemisphere. FOX Soccer Plus’ first AFL contest takes place on Saturday, March 24 when GWS Giants host Sydney Swans (4:00 a.m. ET). Coverage continues on Friday, March 30 as Hawthorn plays Collingwood (4:30 a.m. ET).

FOX Soccer Plus is carrying two AFL matches per week throughout the season, along with weekly hour-long highlight shows to recap each round of play.

Comprised of clubs from five Australian states, the AFL features 18 teams in 2012, as Greater Western Sydney Football Club begins play in the topflight. Starting in late March, the AFL season lasts for 23 rounds and culminates in an eight-team playoff that determines the two Grand Final participants. This contest is Australia’s most-anticipated annual sporting event, with the winner claiming the AFL Premiership.

A fast-paced and physically imposing game, Australian Football is unique to the sporting landscape of the Southern Hemisphere. Each side is composed of 22 players, with 18 individuals permitted on the playing field at any given time. Players are divided into three groups – forwards, midfielders and defenders – with a heavy emphasis on kicking for field position and points. 

Tackling is also an essential skill, as the AFL is known for its physical style. Players compete on an elliptical-shaped field over four thirty-minute quarters, with stoppage time added at the end of each interval.

by Ismail Uddin

Time Warner Cable have reached a multi-year broadcast partnership with the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks.

Beginning with the season opener May 18, 10 Sparks games during the 2012 season will be shown on KDOC and 12 on Time Warner Cable SoCal 101, before transitioning to a minimum of 25 games per year, starting in 2013 on Time Warner Cable Sports’ new L.A.-based English and Spanish language RSNs, which will launch in fall 2012.

The company plans to seek agreements with all satellite, cable and telco distributors in the Sparks’ territory to carry the new Regional Sports Networks.

Mark Shuken, senior VP and GM for Time Warner Cable Sports Regional Networks, said: “We are excited to announce our partnership with the Los Angeles Sparks,one of the most accomplished franchises in women’s professional sports. 

“The Sparks are a great addition to our roster of marquee programming partners, and we look forward to offering their fans access to more in-depth coverage of the team they love.”

by Ismail Uddin

Sheffield Wednesday has confirmed that Milan Mandaric has completed the takeover of the club with his company UK Football Investments for £1 (US$1.55).

Mandaric has negotiated terms to wipe out the clubs debt which totals at around £30m ($46.59m). Sheffield Wednesday had owed £23m ($35.71m) to the Co-operative Bank of which the new owner has paid £7m ($10.87).

The takeover means that Mandaric, allergist 72, will now leave Leicester City after a 4-year reign as owner of the Midlands club. Sheffield Wednesday chairman, Howard Wilkinson in now keen to put all their financial woes behind them after relegation last year was followed by the club reaching the verge of administration.

Wilkinson spoke of the deal, “I believe this to be one of the most important days in the recent history of our great club,”

“Our trials and tribulations have been well documented, but I can now see a brighter future for Sheffield Wednesday.

“Our club has been on the brink of administration and if this were to happen then so many people around our club would have suffered.”

The takeover has come just in time after a winding-up hearing at the High Court on November 17 ordered payments of £1.4m ($2.17m) to be made within 28 days to avoid administration.

Even after shadow left by Rangers over the Scottish Premier League, advice they have still manageg to go about securing commercial deals with the announcement that Fox Soccer is adding the SPL to its schedule to go along with the top leagues of England, Italy and France.

Fox said Tuesday it had reached an agreement to televise the SPL on its Fox Soccer Plus (FSP) network in the U.S. and Caribbean through the 2013-14 season. Its first game will be between Rangers and Dundee United on Saturday, and it will televise its first the Old Firm derby between Glasgow rivals Celtic and Rangers on March 25.

Celtic leads Rangers by 25 points. Rangers, who feature Americans Carlos Bocanegra, MauriceEdu and Alejandro Bedoya, have been in financial turmoil after filing for bankruptcy last month.

FSP plans to televise up to two Scottish matches per week and a half-hour highlights show.

by Ismail Uddin

Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan is confident that there will be no repeat of the referees’ strike.

Category one officials withdrew their labour at the weekend.

And Regan told BBC Radio 5 live: “We have recognised that we do need to support referees more and we have made a certain number of offers to do that.

“If we can put those measures in place, we can satisfy the referees that we are taking their point seriously.”

On Saturday, all four Scottish Premier League matches went ahead with foreign officials in charge but 10 Scottish Football League games were called off.

“Our understanding is it’s one weekend to make a point. Hopefully they’ll be back next week,” Regan added.

Scottish referees have already made it clear that they will be working as usual next weekend.

They are unhappy that their integrity is being continually questioned and, despite assurances from the SFA that it would take a firm line with critical clubs, the officials refused to call off their strike at the weekend.

And Regan is determined to push ahead with the promises made to the disgruntled match officials.

“We will be very tough on any player who challenges or abuses referees in a way that is unacceptable,” he continued.

“There is a process in place already for dealing with anybody from any club that steps out of line. Those individuals are dealt with through the various committees that operate within the SFA and that will continue.

“But obviously we will take a much tougher stance, going forward.

“I came out last week and said that I sympathised with the position referees have found themselves in.

“Over a period of weeks they have taken an awful lot of stick in the press. Their integrity had been challenged, lots of questions had been asked about them.

“A number of them had received threats, which is really not on.

“As a governing body, we met with the referees and proposed a number of areas of improvement but, unfortunately, they wished to have a weekend of action to make a point, which I personally didn’t agree with.

“That’s why we had to go elsewhere to bring in referees.”

Referee John McKendrick told BBC Radio Scotland: “It was always our intention to take a time out, have a moment of reflection, then get back to normal next Saturday.

“We’ve had an understanding response from everybody involved in football.

“Hopefully, next weekend there will be a different atmosphere towards referees and we’ll move away from referees being the centre of attention.

“We’ve had a check on the ridiculous over-the-top criticism, which is based on nothing to do with points of play.

“Things won’t change overnight. We have to work towards a climate where we can have an open discussion with clubs and players.”