The UK’s Channel 4 have agreed a deal to broadcast the upcoming BT Paralympic World Cup, which takes place in Manchester from 23rd to 28th May, extending their support to Paralympic events after becoming host broadcaster for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The announcement will provide the BT World Cup with the strongest broadcast coverage ever received on UK television for a competition which will see elite international athletes competing in events such as wheelchair basketball, athletics and swimming, while boccia and sitting volleyball will be represented for the first time.  

Channel 4 has revealed they will show a two hour live programme on 28th May, with daily highlights on 26th and 27th, and live streaming from each sport will be available on the Channel 4 website. 

Deborah Poulton, sports editor for Paralympics at Channel 4, stated: “Alongside the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the BT Paralympic World Cup is another opportunity to help increase awareness of Paralympic sport and make the British viewing public the best informed and most engaged in the world. 

“We believe the combination of online streaming and TV highlights coverage will attract new audiences to the BT Paralympic World Cup and give the event and its competitors the profile they deserve.”

Pukka Pies have announced today a two-year sponsorship extension with British Basketball League (BBL) team, the Leicester Riders. 

The Leicester-based company and UK’s best-selling pie brand is supporting the oldest professional club in British Basketball for the second year, as part of a three-year agreement which sees Pukka Pies become a shirt sponsor for the upcoming season.

Sally Voss, Brand Manager at Pukka Pies, commented: “As a local Leicestershire business, we feel very proud to be supporting The Riders. Our company policy has always been to sponsor locally, so for us, this has been a great opportunity.”

“Leicester Riders won the British Basketball League in 2012-13 and came fourth in the 2013-14 season, so we know they’re a very talented and successful team! We wish the Leicester Riders the best of luck in the new season.”

Leicester Riders Commercial Manager, Ian Davidson, added: “We are delighted to have the support of Pukka Pies; a world-renowned brand and popular business based in our local community. The relationship has enabled fans of the team to enjoy Pukka Pies products on match nights and their support is sure to be a huge boost to the team; hopefully we will have another successful season in the British Basketball League.”

“Our sport has attracted much new attention recently, and with a new arena to look forward to, I think I can speak for everyone involved when I say that that we are all excited about our future.”

Sao Paulo-based agency Traffic, marketers for the media rights to major soccer tournaments, have completed a string of deals with European broadcasters for the television rights to major South American matches.

Among the competitions that Traffic market the rights for include the Copa America in Europe, and top European competitions – including England’s FA Cup – in South America.

An agreement has been reached in Portugal with Sport TV, who will broadcast the 2011 Copa America, the continental championship for national teams, as well as the biggest tournament in South American club soccer, the Copa Santander Libertadores, in 2011 and 2012. Sport TV will also air matches from the Copa do Brasil, the Brazilian domestic knock-out competition.

Sport1 of Germany, have secured TV and internet rights to this year’s Copa America. Meanwhile, Argentina’s home qualifying matches for the 2014 Fifa World Cup will be shown on TV2 in Norway and Supersport in a number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

As well as its operations in broadcast media and sponsorship activation, Traffic manages an investment fund worth just over US$24 million to take leading soccer players to new clubs. In January, this group was central to a deal that brought former Fifa World Player of the Year Ronaldinho home to Brazil from AC Milan to play for Rio de Janeiro club Flamengo.

The Delhi High Court has ruled in favor of ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd (ESIPL), after it filed a lawsuit for permanent injunction against cable operators across the country to prevent unauthorised broadcast of the ongoing International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup 2011.

The high court has restrained all cable operators from showing the tournament through their cable networks without authorisation after ESIPL argued that the defendants, approximately 144 cable operators, are taking unauthorised connections and accessing signals of the plaintiff without taking license from the company.

After this order anyone showing the broadcast ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 through any unauthorized means or any other channel will be held in contempt of court and liable for prosecution.

T Panesar, vice president – Affiliate Sales, ESPN Software India, said, “We are delighted with the verdict. The honorable High Court has made it clear that piracy will not be tolerated. We will have a team of observers across the country to ensure that piracy does not happen and in case we spot any, we will align with the police to bring the guilty to the book.”

Ricoh New Zealand have announced that it has extended its partnership with A-League’s Wellington Phoenix as shorts partner.

Ricoh has long been a background supporter of the Phoenix and felt the time was right to invest further in the club.

Ricoh’s Wellington Sales Manager, Clark McIntosh, says he is excited to be cementing the relationship further.

“The Phoenix has gone from strength to strength. They’ve had some great signings on-pitch for this season and we’d like to think that our involvement will enhance the team both on and off the pitch.”

McIntosh says that like many people, he’s watched with delight the build-up of football in New Zealand over the past few years.

“Hosting West Ham and Newcastle earlier this year was a real coup for football in New Zealand. It’s a rarity to watch two Premier League teams play back-to-back so we were pretty spoilt.

“We think this will be a break-through season for the Phoenix, which is perfect timing for Ricoh as we enter a new era with a focus on our Business Solutions and IT Services divisions,” he adds.

David Dome, General Manager for the Phoenix, says the Club is delighted that Ricoh has joined as a major partner.

“Ricoh has a proud history of supporting sport in New Zealand in general and Wellington in particular.

“We are thrilled that Ricoh has come on board as one of the Family of Five strip partners. Our relationship with them over the last few years has shown what a quality organisation they are to deal with and we are delighted that such a well-respected international brand has joined up in a major way with the Club.”

The first game of the season kicks off at 5pm on Sunday, 12 October against Perth Glory.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) have announced the conclusion of a broadcasting agreement in Italy, canada viagra by IEC in Sports, diagnosis IAAF’s exclusive media rights agency for Europe and Africa, with public broadcaster RAI, for the 2011-2013 IAAF World Athletic Series (WAS).

The deal with RAI covers all the IAAF WAS events through 2013 and provides strong extensive coverage for the 2011 and 2013 IAAF World Championships that will take place in Daegu and Moscow respectively.

This is the third broadcasting agreement that IEC has brokered with RAI on behalf of the IAAF following contracts covering the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha and 2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz.

RAI is the public Italian broadcaster with the largest audience reach, and until 2009 had been the IAAF’s broadcast partner in Italy, through the previous EBU broadcasting deal.

IAAF President Lamine Diack stated: “Following deals in the UK and France with Channel 4 and France Televisions, I am encouraged that the IAAF has now secured the third of the top five European territories.”

The IAAF now has confirmed deals in some 65 territories throughout IEC’s territory, and all but one of those concluded so far in Europe are with terrestrial broadcasters, with additional announcements expected in the near future.

The Liga de Fútbol Profesional (LFP) have signed an agreement with Sockatyes who will sponsor player socks in the Liga BBVA and Liga Adelante.

‘Sockatyes’ is a product that is functional for players, as well as providing new advertising space. The first club to use them will be Club Atlético de Madrid, in its match against RCD Espanyol on 19 October in the Vicente Calderón.

The presentation was attended by Adolfo Bara, the LFP’s director of marketing, Clemente Villaverde, Club Atlético de Madrid’s director, Stanley Yu, director of ‘Sockatyes’, as well as Russell Pointon, director and founder of ‘Sockatyes’.

Distribution agreements have been brokered by MP & Silva between the ACB Spanish basketball league for deals deals in Italy and Singapore for the remainder of the season.

Agreements have been reached with Sportitalia and Starhub, cough which have already aired games from the Spanish Copa del Rey basketball tournament.

The ACB has also added English commentary to the international feed in one of the two games broadcast abroad every weekend.

ACB chairman Eduardo Portela stated: “According to our ongoing internationalisation process, we have to see our competition as a global product, so it was the right time to add English commentary to our games.

“This service will improve the experience of our current audience and will increase the opportunity to reach new territories,” he added.

Australian Football League (AFL) team Essendon FC have renewed their partnership with Antler Luggage into 2015.

Antler Luggage has had an association with the Club since 2004 making it one of our longest serving Commercial Partners.

As a Premium Partner, Antler has continued to evolve its partnership with the club over the years and next year will be the official travel partner of the Bombers.

Antler is also a proud partner of the clubs current trip with young guns Dyson Heppell, David Zaharakis, Joe Daniher and Zach Merrett embracing all India has to offer.

Once again in 2015 Antler will be prominent on the media polo along with the club’s media back drop.

Essendon Chief Executive Officer Xavier Campbell welcomed the news of Antler’s ongoing involvement.

“The club greatly appreciates the ongoing support of Antler Luggage and Sonney Roth over the last ten years and look forward to it continuing into the future,” Campbell said.

“Antler’s involvement with the club has gone beyond just a financial commitment, it is a genuine partnership and we thank them for their ongoingsupport.”

“It is a great sign of commitment to our club and we sincerely thank Sonney and the team at Antler for their ongoing contribution to our club.”

Antler Luggage Managing Director Sonney Roth said Antler Luggage was excited to continue their association with Essendon Football Club.

“Antler and Essendon has been working closely for a long period of time and we know that the club needs our support now more than ever. We would like to see all members, supporters and the football public get behind the club and players after what has been a difficult period.”

“Essendon is a very proud club with a long history and heritage. We look forward to greater success in 2015 and hope Antler Luggage can be a part of this to contribute in helping get the club back on track to focus on playing a good brand of football moving forward.”