The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has announced the signing of a new four-year contract with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) that will run through to the end of 2014.

The deal guarantees television coverage of equestrian sport in and around Europe and is the third successive four-year contract between the FEI and the EBU.

The new contract includes coverage of the FEI World Equestrian Games 2014, discount HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships and  FEI European Championships in the other two Olympic disciplines of Dressage and Jumping in 2011 and 2013, impotent the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Finals 2011-2014 and the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Finals 2011-2014 .

Carsten Couchouron, FEI Executive Director Commercial, welcomed the renewed contract with the EBU: “The FEI is delighted to have reached a new agreement with the world’s largest association of national broadcasters. Thanks to the EBU and its members, our most prestigious events will once again be presented to our huge fan base, as well as those outside of our already established community, enabling us to further grow our unique sport.

“The new agreement is an important element in fulfilling our ongoing objective of increasing the coverage and popularity of our sport, as the FEI’s most important events will be broadcast throughout the 56 countries covered by the EBU through pan-European and national channels. We are very pleased to continue working with the EBU to enhance both the value and image of our flagship events.”

Stefan Kürten, Director of EBU Sports & Business Department said: “I am very pleased that the EBU has been chosen to be the broadcast partner of FEI for another four years. This demonstrates our commitment to support federations aiming to reach the largest audiences in Europe.”

Julien Ternisien, Head of Sports Rights – Summer Sports added: “We have already had a very fruitful partnership with the FEI over the past years and are very much looking forward to continuing it in order to enable the further development of equestrian sports across Europe.”

FLASR, the 4-oz. pocketsize, portable spittoon, will join NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Reed Sorenson and his No. 36 Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) team as the primary sponsor partner for the Cup Series race weekend at Phoenix International Raceway, from Nov. 7-9. The race will take place Sunday, Nov. 9.

“We’re thrilled to team up with Reed and TBR for the launch of our all new bottle design and sizes during Phoenix race weekend,” said Everett Dickson, Chief Executive Officer of FLASR. “Our product has been purposely built to use anywhere, engineered for one-handed operation. We know the NASCAR fan base and community can appreciate engineering on the go. They’re going to love it.”

“It means a great deal to us that FLASR will join us for Phoenix,” said Sorenson. “This group of guys at TBR have been working hard on the No. 36 car all season and for someone like FLASR to join us is proof that we’re doing what is needed to attract good partners. Now, it’s on us to make sure we give the FLASR folks a great race.”

“We’re happy to welcome FLASR to our race team,” said Tommy Baldwin, owner of TBR. “They’re a company on the rise, just like we’re a team on the rise, so we view it as a great fit.”

US Pay-TV company Dish Network has has signed deals to broadcast the entire Indian Premier League (IPL), including playoffs and finals in high definition, for the next four seasons.

Additionally, the broadcaster has also signed agreements to launch Nimbus Communications’ promoted Neo Cricket and serve as the exclusive US provider of Zee Group owned Ten Cricket channel, giving Dish access to a total of nine cricket boards – the largest lineup of cricket programming in the US.

The IPL tournament in India, which entered its fourth season last week, features a new format with 10 teams, where a new play-off system will see the top two sides in the league standings play each other to determine the first finalist. The sides finishing third and fourth will then meet to determine which side plays the loser of the first play-off for the second final place.

The network will in turn air all 74 IPL tournament matches live this year on pay-per view – including exclusive TV coverage of the playoffs and finals in high definition.

On Tuesday, April 12, Dish also announced the launch of Neo Cricket, which has rights to all BCCI matches, Indian domestic cricket including the Ranji, Irani and Duleep Cups, and the Asia Cup as well as the launch of Ten Cricket, owner of four cricket boards including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe.

The combination of Neo Cricket and Ten Cricket with previously-launched Willow Cricket gives Dish customers access to the most cricket coverage in the United States and Chris Kuelling, vice president of International Programming for Dish, stated: “Dish Network’s carriage of the IPL and the launch of our Cricket Pack will offer our customers an anticipated 300 or more days of live cricket over the next year.

“Nowhere else can customers access more than 75 South Asian channels, watch every heart-stopping play in the IPL, and get year round coverage of their favorite cricket teams.”

S Venkatasubramanian, president of Neo Broadcast America, Inc., added: “We are glad to partner with Dish Network to continue our commitment toward providing world-class cricket.”

Suresh Bala, CEO of Asia TV USA LTD said: “We are thrilled to deliver Ten Cricket to fans in the US, who now can enjoy live coverage of four of the most popular cricket boards including Pakistan and Sri Lanka.”

First Command Financial Services, viagra cheap | Inc., announced today its sponsorship of the 39th Marine Corps Marathon (MCM), continuing the company’s proud history of supporting “The People’s Marathon.”

About 30,000 runners are expected to take part in this year’s marathon on Oct. 26 in Arlington, Va. And First Command’s sponsorship dollars will support several popular elements of the annual event.

First Command is the presenting sponsor of the Carbo Dining In, the MCM’s annual pre-event pasta dinner at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. The company will also participate in the marathon’s Health & Fitness Expo, a three-day event that is expected to attract more than 100,000 runners and visitors.

“Again this year, First Command is proud to play a supporting role in this outstanding athletic event,” said Scott Spiker, CEO of First Command. “We consider it a great honor to be affiliated with ‘The People’s Marathon,’ and we look forward to joining the tens of thousands of volunteers and fans who will be cheering on the runners as they make their way through the heart of our nation’s capital. We view our ongoing support of this event as a clear demonstration of the sense of partnership we feel with all of the armed forces.”

First Command’s relationship with the MCM began in 1998 when more than 170 First Command employees and their families volunteered to assist nearly 15,000 runners. 

Fox Sports Media Group has secured a broadcast deal with the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Big 12 Conference in the United States, a college athletic conference of twelve schools located in the Central United States, in a deal worth an estimated US$1.1bn over 13 years.

The 12 schools compete in a variety of different sports for both men and women including baseball, basketball, cross-country, American football, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball and wrestling.

Under the terms of the agreement, Fox will air 40 American football games each season from late 2012. The conference’s overall TV revenues, including the eight-year, $480m deal with ABC and ESPN that runs through to 2016, will increase to an average of about $150m per year for the competition.

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe stated: “In the total context of media arrangements, we think we’re in an as favourable position as anyone in the country.”

Fox Sports Networks president Randy Freer added: “There is no question that there is upward pressure on the value of sports rights. Sports and college sports have been undervalued comparatively to other content in the marketplace, and this is going to create the opportunity for collegiate sports to create a better marketplace.”

The agreement increases the number of games covered per season on Fox by 20, although Freer has not confirmed whether the new deal includes the option of sub-licensing games to networks such as ESPN and Versus as currently allowed under the existing deal.

Buffalo Wild Wings, buy Inc. has announced a partnership with Florida Citrus Sports to title sponsor the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida.

The 2015 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl airs live on ABC on New Year’s Day at 1:00 p.m. (ET) in the new Orlando Citrus Bowl stadium. The game is in its first year of a new cycle, pitting top non-College Football Playoff teams from the Big Ten (or Atlantic Coast) conference against a top non-CFP Southeastern Conference team.

“Buffalo Wild Wings is a brand for the fans and we’re excited to continue to bring our unique Buffalo Wild Wings experience to college football fans across the country through this sponsorship,” said Bob Ruhland, vice president of marketing at Buffalo Wild Wings. “We are proud to be the title sponsor of this progressive property as it aligns our growing brands and provides tremendous opportunities to interact with our guests.”

In addition, Buffalo Wild Wings’ GameBreak, will feature an interactive game-day Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl promotion for fans watching the game at any one of the 1,043 restaurants throughout the country.

“This sponsorship is another unique way to connect with our guests – creating the ultimate social experience for our sports fans – and allowing the fans not at the game to be a part of the action as well,” added Ruhland.

As part of the multi-year deal beginning in 2015, Buffalo Wild Wings receives national exposure through television, radio, social and digital media, and in-broadcast, outdoor and print advertising throughout Central Florida. The company will also enjoy a presence on in-stadium signage and at the entire week’s schedule of Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl-related events.

“We are honored to add Buffalo Wild Wings as a title sponsor and business partner,” said Steve Hogan, chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Sports. “We’re fortunate to begin an exciting new era for Orlando’s New Year’s Day tradition with a partner who is as committed to the fan experience as we are.”

This year’s Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl marks the 69th year of the game, the seventh-oldest of all current college bowl games, but the first in the new Orlando Citrus Bowl stadium. It has been a New Year’s game since 1987 and has consistently been one of the top-performing games each year in television ratings. This will be the first edition played under the “Citrus Bowl” moniker since 2003.

According to leading research firm Nielsen, ESPN and ABC are on pace to deliver their highest-rated and most-viewed National Basketball Association (NBA) seasons as the 2010-11 campaign concludes today, April 13, on ESPN.

ABC is averaging a 3.1 rating; 3,607,000 household impressions; and 5,268,000 viewers through 14 broadcasts, while ESPN is averaging a 1.5 rating; 1,543,000 household impressions; and 2,025,000 viewers.

ABC’s highest-rated and most-viewed season to date, since its return to the sport in 2002-03, was a 2.6 rating; 2,826,000 household impressions; and 3,761,000 viewers. ESPN’s highest-rated season was 2003-04 (1.3 rating) and most-viewed season was 2008-09 (1,299,000 household impressions and 1,680,000 viewers).

The NBA on ABC is up 43 per cent in viewership (3,694,000), 36 per cent in household impressions (2,643,000) and 35 per cent in ratings (2.3) over last season’s 15 broadcasts. ESPN is up 29 per cent in viewers (1,571,000), 27 per cent in household impressions (1,218,000) and 25 per cent in ratings (1.2) compared to last year.

The NBA’s pre-game shows on ESPN and ABC are also experiencing double-digit gains this season with ABC’s Buick Regal NBA Countdown averaging a 40 per cent spike in viewership (1,636,000 vs. 1,168,000), a 30 per cent jump in household impressions (1,206,000 vs. 929,000) and a 25 per cent increase in ratings (1.0 vs. 0.8).

Additionally, ESPN’s Kia NBA Countdown is posting gains of 33 per cent in ratings (0.8 vs. 0.6), 24 per cent in viewership (960,000 vs. 775,000), and 22 per cent in household impressions (784,000 vs. 641,000).

The global internet, mobile and audio rights’ partner for the Indian Premier League (IPL), Indiatimes, announced a deal yesterday, April 12, to partner with Google, enabling it to stream all 74 matches of Season 4 of the inaugural Twenty20 cricket competition on both ipl.indiatimes.com and on its dedicated YouTube channel, youtube.com/indiatimes.

Google has become a non-exclusive partner for IPL content for two years under the terms of the agreement, in which both Google and Indiatimes will seek to capitalize upon individual brand strengths and collaborate on monetization efforts both in India and rest of world markets.

In addition to web video streaming, the agreement will also enable YouTube to offer catch up clips to users on the mobile platform.

Rishi Khiani, CEO, Times Internet, stated: “The DLF Indian Premier League is a key property for Indiatimes and our endeavor is to offer users a world class online IPL experience. Partnering with YouTube is step forward for us in creating supplementary distribution channels for Indiatimes to reach out to cricket fans world over.” 

Commenting on the agreement, Gautam Anand, director Content Partnership JAPAC – Google added: “After the phenomenal response last year, we are delighted to bring back all the action from DLF Indian Premier League Season 4 to our users across the globe. Long form sports content has been a big focus area for us, and we’re excited to partner with Indiatimes to bring live action from IPL Season 4 to cricket fans on YouTube and set a new benchmark in distribution of sports content online.” 

As per the usage terms of the deal with the IPL, the web streams of the matches will have a 5 minutes delay in India, match-length delay in US and live webcast for rest of the world. Match highlights and other catch-up clips will be made available after the matches.

In other news, Times Internet has also signed a deal with Apalya Technologies for mobile distribution, with Khiani telling The Times of India: “We are also launching mobile applications and are tying up with partners in global markets like the UK, the US, Middle East and Australia.”

Khiani said advertisement spots on the portals, both for YouTube and team websites, were being sold by the company. Times Internet has signed advertising deals with Kerala Tourism and Maruti Suzuki.