UEFA completes number of EURO 2012 & 2016 media right deals

UEFA has today announced that it has concluded a number of media rights deals for UEFA EURO 2012 and 2016 sales outside of Europe. These agreements reaffirm the UEFA European Football Championship as a compelling global property with significant interest and viewership outside of Europe. They further reflect UEFA’s continued long-term strategy to achieve the best possible media platform in individual markets by dealing directly with local broadcasters or, if and when appropriate, by using sports marketing agencies. The deals also include media rights for the 2011 and 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship as well as for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2013.

The mix of contracted partners provides an broadcast platform, delivering a combination of free to air and pay TV coverage and ensuring extensive distribution of these competitions. The media rights licensed include, live and delayed broadcast windows and, thanks to the platform neutral approach undertaken by UEFA, internet and mobile rights for all matches.

Commenting on the agreements, UEFA Director of Marketing, Guy-Laurent Epstein, said:

“We are extremely pleased to enter into long-term partnerships with these major broadcasters. This secures a depth of top quality coverage and gives the UEFA EURO 2012 and 2016 final tournaments extensive distribution in ex-Europe, thus ensuring even greater promotion of European football throughout the world.”

These direct deals add to the existing relationships with Al Jazeera Sport in the Middle East and North Africa region and Globo TV in Brazil. Media rights in the United States of America, the Caribbean and Canada as well as free-to-air rights in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) are yet to be awarded.

This announcement also follows the appointment of SPORTFIVE for selected territories in Asia and Oceania, and Dentsu in Japan, for media rights sales of UEFA EURO 2012.

The media rights deals announced today are:

Central and Latin America

Mexico              OTI

Venezuela         Meridiano TV

Rest of Latin America (excluding Brazil)       Televideo Services

Sub Saharan Africa SuperSport International

Asia

Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam                Astro

Indonesia          RCTI and Indovision

Simon Jersey Becomes Official Formalwear Provider of Team GB

Corporate clothing manufacturer Simon Jersey has been named the official formalwear provider of Team GB heading into Rio 2016, sales the British Olympic Association (BOA) has announced today.

Simon Jersey will be provide Team GB with a bespoke suiting range, healing which will be worn at official events in both the UK and in Rio in the lead up the Olympic Games. They will also be dressing the team for the Closing Ceremony.

BOA CEO Bill Sweeney, said: “Our preparations for Rio are on track and confirming our formalwear provider shows that we’re now getting into the detailed elements of that planning. Simon Jersey is a well-respected UK-based company which has a very strong background in providing quality clothing for organisations and we are thrilled to be welcoming them to the Olympic family.”

James Saunders, Managing Director at Simon Jersey, said: “We’re extremely excited to be a part of the Olympics journey for Team GB and can’t wait to follow the team on their path to success at the 2016 games. Having watched the London 2012 Olympic Games take place on British soil and bring the nation together, we’ve well and truly got Olympic fever. As a British brand working with our home team, it’s an incredible opportunity for Simon Jersey to show our support.”

VME acquires US Hispanic broadcasting rights for WSB

U.S. Spanish network Vme has acquired the rights to broadcast the World Series of Boxing (WSB) in the U.S. Hispanic market and Puerto Rico. Carriage of the WSB will be the first sporting event to be broadcast by Vme on an ongoing basis.

Vme will begin broadcasting WSB coverage on November 20th and will continue to carry weekly matches throughout the first season. The network is also creating a WSB news and commentary program, Sexto Round, and will air this weekly on Thursday nights. 

“Vme has made a commitment to present the best international programming to its audience. The WSB is an extraordinary example and we are pleased to bring it to the Hispanic community that has a long tradition of boxing fans. The importance of this tournament and the fact that it is supported by AIBA and the International Olympic Committee made it a must in our schedule,” said Guillermo Sierra, Vme’s senior vice president.

Ivan Khodabakhsh, chief operating officer of the World Series of Boxing, said “I am delighted that Vme has acquired the U.S. Hispanic Broadcasting Rights for the WSB. Given the location of our teams in Los Angeles, Memphis, Mexico City and Miami, the Hispanic market is extremely important for WSB. I also welcome Vme’s commitment to support the launch of the first season with extensive promotion on their network.”

The World Series of Boxing is a new global boxing series that is an initiative of AIBA, the International
Boxing Association, under the leadership of its president Dr. C.K. Wu.The WSB comprises 12 city-based Franchise teams spread across three regional conferences: Asia, the Americas and Europe. During the regular season (November 2010 to March 2011), teams in each conference will compete against each other over two home and two away legs (a total of 12 matches per team).

Dow Chemical Becomes Official Carbon Partner of Rio 2016

Organisers of the Rio 2016 Olympics have today named The Dow Chemical Company as the Official Carbon Partner of the next Olympic Games.

Worldwide Olympic Partner Dow becomes the first partner of Rio 2016’s “Abraça (‘Embrace’) Sustainability”, the program developed by the Organizing Committee to promote and stage the Games with low environmental impact and a positive social legacy.

As the Official Carbon Partner of Rio 2016, Dow will mitigate 500,000 tons of CO2 equivalents (CO2eq) from organizing and hosting the Games through 3rd party-verified emissions reductions. Dow and Rio 2016 will also work to generate an additional 1.5 million tons of CO2eq in climate benefits by 2026, addressing other Games-related emissions.

“More than being the Official Chemistry Company of the Olympic Games, Dow is a global leader in low-carbon technology solutions, which makes Dow a natural fit as our partner in the ‘Abraça Sustainability’ platform,” says Renato Ciuchini, chief commercial officer, Rio 2016. “The guiding principle for ‘Abraça’ is to maximize sustainability within the Games. Our actions should be good for the environment, good for people and good for business. The partnership with Dow is fully aligned with our goals and expectations, as it opens doors for different businesses and industries to lower their carbon footprints and ultimately contribute to one of Rio 2016’s key sustainability goals, which is the mitigation of its own emissions.”

Building on the expertise and success of the “Sustainable Future” program implemented at the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Dow designed a tailor-made program to address the technology needs for Brazil while generating climate benefits for the mitigation of the carbon footprint of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

“We are honored and proud to join Rio 2016 as the first partner of the ‘Abraça Sustainability’ platform,” said George Hamilton, vice president, Dow Olympic Operations. “This is an additional proof of our commitment, as the Official Chemistry Company of the Olympic Movement, to help deliver higher-performing and more sustainable Games.”

“For Dow Brazil, the legacy that we deliver through our partnership with Rio 2016 represents the perfect way to commemorate our 60-year anniversary in the country – to be celebrated with the first-ever Olympic Games in Brazil, in 2016,” added Pedro Suarez, president of Dow in Latin America.

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MP&Silva extend FIVB Club World Championship deal

MP & Silva has agreed a deal for the international media rights distribution of the FIVB Club World Volleyball Championship 2010, featuring eight of the world’s top men’s teams and six of the leading women’s teams.

This year, world volleyball’s top club competition has been expanded to include a women’s tournament, for the first time since 1994. Men’s and women’s matches will alternate throughout the event, which runs from 15 to 21 December in Doha, Qatar. The tournament will have a round-robin format to determine the overall ranking and classification before semifinals and final.

Under the terms of the agreement, MP & Silva will undertake the global media distribution responsibilities – with the exception of Middle East and North Africa – for all telecommunication platforms and formats, including terrestrial free-to-air television, satellite and cable television, IPTV, mobile television, mobile, and internet and broadband television.

Lycamobile to Sponsor University of East London’s Sports Teams

Low cost international calls provider Lycamobile has agreed a partnership with University of East London (UEL) to become a kit sponsor for UEL’s 26 sports teams.

The new partnership, was unveiled today at Lycamobile’s Canary Wharf headquarters, and is the first ever kit deal secured by UELSports.

Under the terms of the exclusive branding deal, the Lycamobile logo will be displayed on the chests of 26 UEL team shirts across 12 sports, including football, rugby, cricket, and netball.

As well as displaying the logos, the deal means that Lycamobile will be the exclusive retailer of Sim Cards on all UEL campus sites, and will also provide UEL graduate students with employment and internship opportunities.

Lycamobile Chairman, Subaskaran Allirajah added: “Lycamobile’s  sponsorship of the UEL sports teams demonstrates our commitment to excellence in sport and development through sporting endeavour. We also very pleased to be able to provide UEL students with everything they need to stay in touch with friends and family while at UEL, no matter where they are in the world.”

Lord Kamlesh Patel of Bradford, UEL’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, said:  “The UEL a long and proud tradition of supporting development in East London. Thus there is a natural synergy with Lycamobile, a company that started in East Ham just 14 years ago. They, like us, are based in East London, but with an international focus. Together we are expanding our global reach.”

SET secures 4-yr IAAF broadcasting rights

IEC in Sports, IAAF’s media rights agency for Europe and Africa, has concluded a deal with Sports Extra Time (SET) for the Sub Saharan African territory for the period 2011 to 2013.

Under the terms of the deal, SET will acquire a package of media rights including terrestrial, free to air and pay TV satellite rights as well as internet and mobile rights for the IAAF World Athletics Series till 2013 in the territory.

The deal covers all of terrestrial Sub Saharan Africa with the exclusion of South Africa and Ghana, where IEC has already concluded agreements.

SET has under contract a network of terrestrial broadcasters and has provided to IEC and the IAAF considerable terrestrial broadcast guarantees across Sub Saharan Africa.

SET is a Swiss based company active in the field of sponsorship and media rights acquisition and distribution and already has a contract with the Confédération Africaine d’Athlétisme (CAA), the IAAF’s continental association for the territory of Africa. Notably with regards to the 2010 CAA African Championships, SET recently achieved the best distribution of the media rights in the history of those championships.

DHL Named Official Logistics Partner of 2014 IRB World Rugby ConfEx

The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced DHL as the official logistics partner for the 2014 IRB World Rugby Conference and Exhibition (ConfEx) taking place at Hilton London Metropole on November 17-18.

As part of its role as official logistics partner of Rugby World Cup 2015 in England, find DHL transported the iconic Webb Ellis Cup from 2011 winners New Zealand to the IRB in Dublin for the official trophy handover ceremony in November 2013. And it has since continued to support logistics requirements by taking the trophy so far to Japan, online Australia, Fiji, Madagascar and South Africa as part of England Rugby 2015’s Rugby World Cup trophy tour in partnership with both Land Rover and DHL.

IRB Chief Executive Brett Gosper said: “We are all looking forward to welcoming the sporting community to share knowledge, network and build relationships at what will be a crucial international gathering. To have a globally recognised company like DHL is a boost for ConfEx and I would like to thank them for their continued support.”

Global Sponsorship Manager DHL Express Fiona Taag said: “DHL has a great history working in Rugby, delivering services for Rugby World Cups, British and Irish Lions tours, Rugby Unions, clubs and teams around the globe.

“As the world’s leading provider of logistics services, we look forward to working with the IRB World Rugby Conference and Exhibition again and strengthening our relationship with the international Rugby community, helping to connect Rugby nations around the world and build the excitement and anticipation for RWC 2015.”

World Series in TV blackout spat

Source- BBC News:A dispute between US cable TV firm Cablevision and pay-TV outfit Fox may deprive Cablevision’s customers of coverage of baseball’s World Series.

The firms disagree on how much New York-based Cablevision should pay to carry Fox, which owns the baseball final rights, on its cable network.

With the World Series just hours away, Cablevision made a new offer to Fox.

However Fox declined, calling the offer “incomplete”. Fox has now been off-air to Cablevision viewers for 11 days.

In its latest offer Cablevision, which has three million subscribers, said it was willing to pay the same rate as rival Time Warner Cable in a one-year deal.

“This is higher than the rate we pay any other New York broadcast station,” Cablevision said in a statement. “This solution is in the best interest of not only baseball fans but of all Cablevision customers and Fox viewers.”

But Fox responded in a statement: “We remain committed to negotiating a fair deal with Cablevision, but today’s incomplete proposal is not acceptable. Cablevision is seeking a discounted ‘package rate’ without buying the entire package.”

The 106th World Series will see the San Francisco Giants take on the Texas Rangers.

On Tuesday, James Dolan, boss of Cablevision, had written to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), urging it to call a meeting between the two firms in an attempt to find a solution before the World Series begins.

But a Fox Network spokesman called Mr Dolan’s letter to the FCC a publicity stunt.

The best-of-seven MLB final brings together two teams who have not been known for recent successes.

The Giants have not won the championship since 1954, four years before moving from New York to San Francisco.

Meanwhile the Rangers are in the first World Series in their history.

Esh Group Eagles Partner with Local Honda Dealership

British Basketball League (BBL) team Esh Group Eagles has agreed a partnership with Vertu Honda Newcastle.

The Scotswood Road dealership is currently sponsoring the basketball team in a one year deal as part of its commitment to supporting the local community.

Members of the Eagles first team have benefitted from the sponsorship deal, capsule which provides them with a number of brand new Honda cars.

Neil Fox, anesthetist General Manager at Vertu Honda Newcastle, denture said: “Supporting the local community is very important to us and the people of the North East are very passionate about sport. Providing the team with efficient Honda vehicles will allow them to get to training sessions and games more easily.

“We are proud to be associated with the most successful sports team in the North East.”

Paul Blake, Managing Director for the Newcastle Eagles, said: “We are very pleased to be working with Vertu Honda this season. The team at Vertu are passionate about the local community and sport which fits perfectly with our own values as an organisation. Fab and the team are over the moon with their new cars and really looking forward to working with Vertu Honda in Newcastle and the North East.”