Deltatre to Provide Champions League Results & Broadcast Services

UEFA have re-appointed sports media services company, drugs Deltatre, denture  to provide the UEFA Champions League results and broadcast services until 2015 and will continue providing UEFA with solutions to deliver a great football experience to football fans around the world.

Under the new agreement, adiposity deltatre will provide a range of services, including live data gathering, TV graphics, official print-outs, commentator information systems, stadium giant screens and hospitality TV feeds.

“Deltatre has been supporting UEFA since 1994, managing more than 2,000 Champions League matches. In a fast-evolving market this long-lasting relationship is even more valuable and shows that the constant search for innovations and the high reliability of our services are at the base of a successful partnership,” said Giampiero Rinaudo, deltatre CEO and Founder.

“We are delighted to have been re-appointed and to continue our journey with UEFA with the aim of helping them stay ahead of the game. Projects such as the upgrade of our results system (MaTRICS), the construction of 16 brand-new digital sports vans and the provision of HD stereoscopic graphics are perfectly in line with this philosophy.”

Daniel Marion, UEFA Head of Information & Communication Technology, commented: “UEFA is always looking for the latest technology to provide fans and professionals with the best and most accurate football experience and we have chosen to re-confirm deltatre not only because of their long-lasting experience on delivering these services but also because they have proven themselves capable of providing cutting-edge technology.”

by Ismail Uddin

Ghana hit by World Cup bonus row

(Source: BBC Sport):None of the players has received the $63,000 promised to each member of the Black Stars because of a procedural dispute with the Bank of Ghana.

The central bank is insisting on paying the players by depositing money in their individual accounts.

But the players are up in arms because they want to be paid directly in cash as has happened in the past.

“The Bank states it serves customers in accordance with the Bank’s operational guidelines and that it is against prudent operational practice to make payments to individuals in excess of $10,000 (ten thousand dollars) in over-the-counter transactions,” the Bank of Ghana said in a statement.

The statement went on: “Accordingly, the Bank has informed the Ministry of Youth and Sports that the Bank would pay the foreign exchange amounts in question either to the bank accounts of the Black Stars players, or by cheques drawn on the Bank’s external account.

“This is in line with international best practice and with various security considerations.

“The Bank has therefore requested the Ministry to furnish it with a list of the names of the players and the respective amounts to each player to enable it to make the payments.

“The Bank is still expecting a response from the Ministry.”

The central bank was forced to issue the statement after accusations last week that it was responsible for the delay in the payment of the players bonuses.

The bonus row overshadowed Ghana’s last African Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan.

A deadline of 15 October set by deputy Sports Minister Nii Nortey Duah passed without a single penny being paid out to anyone.

Vodafone steigt aus Bieterverfahren um Bundesliga TV-Rechte aus

Wie die „Zeit“ berichtet hat sich Mobilfunkbetreiber Vodafone frühzeitig aus dem Bieterwettkampf um die Übertragungsrechte für die Fußball-Bundesliga verabschiedet. „Nach reiflicher Überlegung haben wir vorletzte Woche entschieden, apoplectic nicht als strategischer Bieter aufzutreten”, physician wird Vodafones Deutschland-Chef Friedrich Joussen in der WirtschaftsWoche zitiert.
Joussen hält die Fußballrechte für maßlos überbewertet und spricht von einem “weit verbreiteten Irrglauben”. Die Rechte seien “viel zu teuer, pills um sich auf Vollkostenbasis zu tragen”. Die Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) erwartet bis zum 2. April Angebote der Unternehmen, die an der Übertragung der Bundesliga ab der Saison 2013/2014 interessiert sind. Bis spätestens Mitte April sollen die Rechte für knapp 500 Millionen Euro vergeben werden.
Gegenüber dem Magazin „Sponsors“ äußerte sich Joussen, dass auch andere Anbieter wie Bezahlsender Sky, der „eine dreistellige Millionensumme für das Live-Übertragungsrecht verteilt auf ein, zwei oder drei Millionen Pay-TV-Kunden“ ausgibt, es seiner Meinung nach nicht schaffen, eine Rendite auf den Erwerb von Fußballrechten zu erwirtschaften. „Als Ergebnis sehen Sie tiefrote Zahlen“, sagt Joussen. „Die Fußballrechte sind viel zu teuer, um sich auf Vollkostenbasis zu tragen.“
Vodafone plant in Deutschland vielmehr eine andere Strategie, verrät der Vodafone-Chef. Der Mobilfunkanbieter wolle „36 Millionen Haushalte in Deutschland“ ansprechen, für die Fußball nicht so entscheidend ist, und habe daher unter anderem „Verträge mit eigentlich allen großen Hollywood-Studios abgeschlossen“.
Doch auch Bewegtbilder der Bundesliga im eigenen Programm hält er nach wie vor nicht für ausgeschlossen: Nach Abschluss der Ausschreibung will Joussen mit den neuen Rechtehaltern über mögliche Kooperationen verhandeln. Als möglicher Kandidat zur Sublizenzierung von Bundesligarechten gilt Sky. Deutschland-Chef Brian Sullivan hatte sich jüngst offen gezeigt, mit anderen interessierten Plattformanbietern zusammenzuarbeiten.

Wie die „Zeit“ berichtet hat sich Mobilfunkbetreiber Vodafone frühzeitig aus dem Bieterwettkampf um die Übertragungsrechte für die Fußball-Bundesliga verabschiedet. „Nach reiflicher Überlegung haben wir vorletzte Woche entschieden, nicht als strategischer Bieter aufzutreten”, wird Vodafones Deutschland-Chef Friedrich Joussen in der WirtschaftsWoche zitiert.

Joussen hält die Fußballrechte für maßlos überbewertet und spricht von einem “weit verbreiteten Irrglauben”. Die Rechte seien “viel zu teuer, um sich auf Vollkostenbasis zu tragen”. Die Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) erwartet bis zum 2. April Angebote der Unternehmen, die an der Übertragung der Bundesliga ab der Saison 2013/2014 interessiert sind. Bis spätestens Mitte April sollen die Rechte für knapp 500 Millionen Euro vergeben werden.

Gegenüber dem Magazin „Sponsors“ äußerte sich Joussen, dass auch andere Anbieter wie Bezahlsender Sky, der „eine dreistellige Millionensumme für das Live-Übertragungsrecht verteilt auf ein, zwei oder drei Millionen Pay-TV-Kunden“ ausgibt, es seiner Meinung nach nicht schaffen, eine Rendite auf den Erwerb von Fußballrechten zu erwirtschaften. „Als Ergebnis sehen Sie tiefrote Zahlen“, sagt Joussen. „Die Fußballrechte sind viel zu teuer, um sich auf Vollkostenbasis zu tragen.“ 

Vodafone plant in Deutschland vielmehr eine andere Strategie, verrät der Vodafone-Chef. Der Mobilfunkanbieter wolle „36 Millionen Haushalte in Deutschland“ ansprechen, für die Fußball nicht so entscheidend ist, und habe daher unter anderem „Verträge mit eigentlich allen großen Hollywood-Studios abgeschlossen“. 

Doch auch Bewegtbilder der Bundesliga im eigenen Programm hält er nach wie vor nicht für ausgeschlossen: Nach Abschluss der Ausschreibung will Joussen mit den neuen Rechtehaltern über mögliche Kooperationen verhandeln. Als möglicher Kandidat zur Sublizenzierung von Bundesligarechten gilt Sky. Deutschland-Chef Brian Sullivan hatte sich jüngst offen gezeigt, mit anderen interessierten Plattformanbietern zusammenzuarbeiten.

Man United fans group agrees Sharp sponsorship

Fans pressure group Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) says it wants to build partnerships with brands looking to “connect directly with fans” after Sharp agreed to sponsor the latest alternative team shirt.

The group, health which wants to force a change of ownership of the club, cialis wants Sharp to be part of a portfolio of alternative partners keen to align themselves with fans rather than the club’s owner, prostate the Glazer family.

Manchester-based consumer and professional electronics maker Sharp, which sponsored Manchester United from 1982 to 2000, will lend its name to a new alternative green and gold team shirt. Proceeds from the sale of the shirts will go to the Prostate Cancer Charity.

Must hopes that the shirt and other alternative merchandise will take revenue away from the club’s current owner. MUST is angry at the £700m debt the US family has saddled the club with.

As well as signing alternative backers, the group will continue to lobby official sponsors such as Aon and Nike.

A spokesman for the group says: “In effect we’re asking them [existing sponsors] and potential sponsors to choose between the fans or the Glazers.”

The Sharp partnership follows a recent agreement with another former Manchester United sponsor Betfred.

The green and gold top is the second alternative team shirt to be released. Proceeds from the first went to the British Heart Foundation.

San Jose Earthquakes Expand Broadcasting Deal

The San Jose Earthquakes are set to receive a boost of TV exposure this year thanks to an expanded broadcasting deal.

The Major League Soccer team said all 34 of its regular-season games this season are slated to be televised, cough the first time since the club was re-born in 2008.

Comcast SportsNet will televise 29 games regionally this season. In addition, NBC Sports Network will carry four games nationally, and ESPN2 will broadcast one game across the U.S.

Two of the games on Comcast this year will also appear nationally on Galavisión, a Spanish-language cable network, the Quakes said.

The team described its broadcasting deal with Comcast as the “most comprehensive regional television schedule in the team’s history.”

Last season, Comcast showed 23 Quakes games and ESPN2 aired one, said Frank Stranzl, a team spokesman.

by Ismail Uddin

Sheffield Wednesday takeover falls through

English soccer club, Sheffield Wednesday have suffered a major setback in their battle against a High Court winding-up petition after the major financier in a proposed takeover withdrew his interest.

The club is due in court on November 17 over their debts to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, with a fear of going into administration should no takeover be completed before that date.

A deal looked likely when the club announced three weeks ago that £2million of funding was to be advanced by a consortium led by Kevin Mundie, a senior executive at Certified Oilfield Rentals, which was seen as heralding a full takeover to follow.

But a spokesman for Mundie told the Yorkshire Post: “For business and personal reasons which are wholly unconnected with the club, Kevin Mundie and COR have regrettably felt they must withdraw from further involvement in the proposed purchase.

“Other consortium members are continuing to discuss further involvement and a statement will be made shortly.”

The Co-operative Bank had provided £800,000 to stave off a previous winding-up petition against Wednesday in September.

Former chairman Dave Allen, now majority shareholder at Chesterfield, says he is prepared to give up his 9.5% holding in Wednesday for nothing and also waive interests on his loans to the club as they bid to push through a deal.

He said: “If I get the £1.5m I loaned to the club back, without interest, I will give them my shares. In total, I’m owed about £2.4m but I’m prepared to take £1.5m.”

Mazda Partner with Discovery Velocity Channel to Broadcast Playboy MX-5 Cup

Mazda’s admiration for the Playboy MX-5 Cup has led to the company inking a deal with the Discovery Velocity channel to broadcast the racing-car series..

Along with the Playboy Cup, the Mazda Motorsports Hour will feature the Star Mazda series and the U.S. F2000 Championship.

“Hardcore fans know that some of the most intense action can be found in the Playboy MX-5 Cup, Star Mazda and Cooper Tires U.S. F2000 Championship,” said Jim Jordan, alternative marketing manager, Mazda North America. “But if you weren’t at the race, you are left to take our word for it. Now, thanks to a partnership with Velocity, and Carolinas Production Group, fans can enjoy the action on a regular basis from their living room.”

Rick Benjamin, an award-winning motorsports broadcaster, will host the show, while the Carolinas Production Group will take care of the technical stuff. Benjamin will be joined in the booth by Randy Pobst for the MX-5 Cup and by James Hinchcliffe on Star Mazda and U.S. F2000. Todd Lewis will be the pit reporter.

The broadcast will be an hour-long program once per week. It will be shown on tape delay from April to November. Mazda says the three series are part of the MazdaSpeed Motorsports Ladder, while the Star and U.S. F2000 championships are also a part of the Mazda Road to Indy.

by Ismail Uddin

George Best’s 1968 medal sold for £156,000

Football legend George Best’s European Cup winner’s medal has sold for £156,000 (US $250,000) at auction reports BBC Sport.

The 1968 medal was among 13 items belonging to the Manchester United and Northern Ireland star to be sold at Bonhams in Chester on Wednesday.

It was expected to fetch up to £120,000 and the auction house described the final price as “staggering”.

Proceeds of the sale, which totalled about £200,000, will go to the late footballer’s sister, Barbara McNally. George Best died in November 2005, aged 59. The Belfast-born forward made 470 appearances for United between 1963 and 1974, scoring 179 goals.

ARD & ZDF Get German Rights to Euro 2016

ARD and ZDF have secured the exclusive broadcastinhg rights in Germany for all UEFA EURO 2016 matches, following a tender process launched in 2011, UEFA have announced.

This is the first media rights agreement to have been concluded in Europe for the 2016 tournament, which will be held in France. UEFA EURO 2016 will have a renewed format with 24 participating teams and a total of 51 matches.

ARD and ZDF are UEFA’s established public-broadcast content partners for national team competitions in Germany and they will ensure extensive live free-to-air coverage of UEFA EURO 2016. Dedicated magazine and highlights programmes will complement both broadcasters’ offerings. In addition, coverage of the competition will also be made available on the internet, radio and mobile devices.

Guy-Laurent Epstein, marketing director of UEFA Events SA, said: “National team football is continuously enjoying massive popularity in Germany, also reflected by exceptional television ratings in recent years. In the run-up to UEFA EURO 2012, we are delighted to have extended our long-standing relationship with ARD and ZDF. Both broadcasters have an exceptional track record of broadcasting major international sporting events and they are the perfect home for the UEFA European Championship.”

by Ismail Uddin

Blatter congratulates new president of Brazil

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has congratulated Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff, medic the first-ever woman elected to run the 2014 World Cup host country.

Rousseff, anesthetist a member of the ruling Worker’s Party, won the run-off election on Sunday to succeed Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a four-year mandate that will see her through the end of the World Cup.

“I am sure that the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil will provide a trigger for long-term and sustained social, cultural and educational development and that the power of our game will have a positive impact on the Brazilian society,” said Blatter.

One of the new president’s priorities will be to speed up infrastructure works that will benefit the 2014 tournament and which were put on hiatus pending on the election results.