It has been confirmed that Channel Nine’s Wide World of Sports will broadcast live Intrust Super Cup (ISC) matches on Sundays.

The government sponsored broadcaster ABC will continue to televise ISC games on Saturdays meaning viewers will get added exposure to American National Rugby League players.

The announcement coincides with an exciting new era for the Queensland Rugby League (QRL), prescription which has recently undergone a change of leadership and restructure.

QRL chief executive Robert Moore said the state’s governing body and the Intrust Super Cup clubs had worked side by side in a concerted effort to get the partnership with Channel Nine off the ground.

“From the clubs’ point of view, discount they’ve got a piece of this as much as we have got a piece, ailment ” Moore said. “We will be able to forge a very healthy relationship on the back of it.”

He said the new alliance with Nine could pave the way for valuable commercial opportunities, with the potential spin-offs to provide a genuine boost for the competing clubs and the game of rugby league itself.

by Ismail Uddin

 

First Tee has announced that Golf Channel will become the youth development organization’s Proud Media Partner in 2012.

Golf Channel will provide exposure to The First Tee in an effort to build awareness and educate and encourage involvement by its TV and online audience. Golf Channel will support The First Tee through on-air and online programming, denture plus promotion to support multiple initiatives, anesthetist including The First Tee Campaign for 10 Million Young People. The Campaign launched in July 2011 with the goal of raising $100 million to enable the organization to reach 10 million new young people by 2017.

“Golf Channel’s benevolence and desire to see young people positively impacted through golf will create an incredible opportunity for The First Tee—through increased exposure—to further our reach, ed ” said Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., chief executive of The First Tee. “The relationship is very important to our current strategic plan and our goal to reach 10 million more young people.”

Mike McCarley, president of Golf Channel, added: “As a growing company and an engine that can help drive the growth of the game, Golf Channel has a very real responsibility to give back to the game and the community we serve. Our ability to tell the stories of these remarkable young people involved in The First Tee is a commitment in which we take great pride.”

Golf Channel’s involvement in The First Tee will include coverage the first Wednesday of every month beginning next Wednesday, March 7 throughout 2012. Additionally, Golf Channel will have expanded coverage of the organization’s annual participant events and will showcase stories of how The First Tee is impacting the lives of young people through the game of golf. Golf Channel will also draw attention to unique aspects of their programs, including the Nine Core Values and Nine Healthy Habits.

“The Golf Channel’s support of The First Tee is unprecedented and will be instrumental in sharing the positive impact The First Tee has on millions of young people,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “That support can only help The First Tee grow and reach an additional 10 million young people.”

The First Tee, is a nonprofit youth development organization whose mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. With its home office at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., The First Tee reaches young people on golf courses, in elementary schools and on military installations.

Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the game of golf and its values to more than five million young people in all 50 United States and six international locations. The First Tee is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation and its Founding Partners are LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA. Former President George W. Bush serves as honorary chairman.

by Ismail Uddin

With UFC 144 only five days away, erectile a Tokyo-based station has announced plans to broadcast a portion of the event on Japanese terrestrial television.

TV Tokyo, discount a free-to-air channel which specializes in anime programming, announced Tuesday that it will air a tape-delayed, 90-minute version of UFC 144 “Edgar vs. Henderson” on Sunday at 3:15 a.m. local time. The last-minute broadcast represents a free alternative to the UFC’s live airing on Japanese cable channel Wowow.

While TV Tokyo is the smallest of Japan’s major networks, its reach is considerably larger than that of the UFC’s cable partner Wowow. According to a 2011 release, TV Tokyo is viewable by over 32 million households, or about 70 percent of the Japanese population; Wowow reaches approximately 20 million households.

The Octagon was last seen on TV Tokyo in March 2010, when UFC Fight Night 21 aired in primetime via tape delay. The event, which saw former Pride Fighting Championships lightweight star Takanori Gomi take on Kenny Florian, reportedly drew between 3.5 and 5.25 million viewers.

by Ismail Uddin

Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan’s investment in the club has gone past the half billion pound mark after he injected an additional 80 million pounds into it.

Since buying City in 2009, he has invested over 573 million pounds, The Guardian reports.

According to documents released to Companies House last Monday, Mansour purchased 37,547,169 new shares in the Eastlands club on September 30, each costing him 2.12 million pounds.

It amounted to 79.6 million pounds of fresh investment.

The sum raises fresh questions about City”s capacity to meet new regulations coming in to force from next season.

UEFA”s financial fair-play rules require that no club should make an aggregate loss of more than Euro45m (about 39 million pounds) over the three seasons from 2011-12, or it will face being excluded from European competition.

Australian Rules tournament, South Australian National Football League (SANFL) and ABCTV are set to agree a deal this morning to continue to broadcast one SANFL game per weekend.

Fears were held for the future of SANFL broadcasts in South Australia after the ABC renegotiated deals around the country for the coverage of state-based leagues, with the Tasmanian league unable to meet increased production cost demands recently.

SANFL will sign a deal with ABCTV this morning to continue to broadcast the games.

Darren Chandler from SANFL said the league’s commitment was a sizable increase from last year’s $70,000 contribution, but was not willing to discuss the agreement publicly at this time.

The SANFL season commences 23 March 2012.

by Ismail Uddin

Paul the octopus, who shot to fame during this year’s FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa for his flawless record in predicting game outcomes, has died, his aquarium in Germany said today.

“Management and staff at the Oberhausen Sea Life Centre were devastated to discover that oracle octopus Paul, who achieved global renown during the recent World Cup, had passed away overnight,” the aquarium said in a sombre statement.

Paul beat the odds during the FIFA World Cup by correctly forecasting all eight games he was asked to predict, including Spain’s 1-0 win over the Netherlands in the final.

Paul’s body is now in cold storage while the aquarium decides “how best to mark his passing.”

“We may decide to give Paul his own small burial plot within our grounds and erect a modest permanent shrine,” said Sea Life manager Stefan Porwoll.

“While this may seem a curious thing to do for a sea creature, Paul achieved such popularity during his short life that it may be deemed the most appropriate course of action.”

Modern Times Group-owned pan regional broadcast group Viasat Broadcasting has extended its deal to air the National Football League (NFL) across Scandinavia.

The five year deal will include live broadcast rights on free television and pay television as well as live simulcast rights on mobile phones and online. ?In Sweden, viagra viewers will be able to watch live games from the regular season, the playoffs and the Super Bowl on free-to-air network TV10 and premium pay channel Viasat Fotboll HD.

In Norway, games will be show on Viasat 4, Viasat Sport and Viasat Sport HD. Finnish viewers can see games on the Nelonen Pro sports channel, while Danish fans can watch on free-to-air channel TV3 Plus and TV2 Sport 2 Denmark, its joint venture pay TV network.

“The NFL is a premium worldwide sports right and the Super Bowl is one of the most watched events of the sporting calendar. The sport has a loyal following in the Nordic region and we are delighted to have extended our successful five year partnership for another five years,” said Peter Nörrelund, head of sports for Viasat.

Julie Moeller, NFL director of international media and business development, added: “Viasat has supported the NFL and its fans in the Nordic region for many years, and we are pleased to be extending our partnership.”

by Ismail Uddin

English soccer club, Blackburn say a takeover by the Venky’s group, which would make Rovers the first Indian-owned Premier League club, is set to be completed in November.

Rovers chairman John Williams said: “A series of meetings, including discussions with the Premier League, have followed an extensive due diligence process.

“Both parties are hopeful that the transaction will be completed in November.”

Venkys chairperson Anuradha J Desai added:“We expect to be the first Indian company to acquire a Premier League team.

“And we are particularly delighted that the team is Blackburn Rovers, with whom we believe we have many shared values and ambitions.”

Speaking last week, Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce welcomed the prospect of the sale and new investment into the team.

He said: “The club has been for sale for some time and new investment would be most welcome.

“Investment is needed at every football club and investment here has dried up somewhat because of the club being up for sale.

“We have a strong base at Rovers, a very good club which is run and managed very professionally indeed.

“Blackburn Rovers have a strong history and it could have a bright future given the right sort of investment.”

Al Jazeera has continued its assault on football rights in France by acquiring the rights to air Europa League matches for the next three seasons.

Commercial broadcaster M6 obtained the right to air the best match from the competition on its W9 channel and to air the semi-final and final.

The rights are currently held by pay TV operator Canal Plus, arthritis which airs about 90 Europa League matches per season. Al Jazeera has already secured rights to some Ligue 1 games in France and the majority of Champions League games, medstore all previously held by Canal Plus.

UEFA said: “UEFA is pleased to announce the continued partnership with the M6 Group for the UEFA Europa League and to further develop its relationship with al-Jazeera in the French market.”

Also UEFA announced Global Media Group have attained the Georgian rights to the Europa League.

Pay television operator Global Media Group has been awarded all rights to the rest of the 2011/12 UEFA Europa League season. At least two live matches per kick-off slot will be broadcast on GMG Football and GMG Sport 1, with GMG Sport 2 showing a third match live during the quarter-finals.

by Ismail Uddin