The National Hockey League (NHL) is preparing to begin negotiations over a new US television rights deal, and chief operating officer John Collins has said the league is in a much stronger position than last time.

The League is currently in the final year of its contracts with Versus and NBC, and Collins is preparing to start talks on a future deal.

Collins said: “We have a lot of ideas of things that we’d like to see – that we think will make the business better.

“And I’m sure our partners have some ideas that they’d like to see to make our business better. We’ll start with that and see where it goes.”

There has been speculation over what the merger between Versus/Comcast and NBC will mean for the negotiations.

The last NHL season generated record television viewing figures during the play-offs and experienced a 66 per cent increase in advertising and sponsorship revenue, according to the league.

Fox Sports is also reportedly another potential bidder for the future cable broadcast package.

Sportswear manufacturer Nike, and LiveStrong, the Lance Armstrong cancer foundation, have expanded their signature clothing and apparel collection from the United States to Canada, France and the United Kingdom.

The new global collection of LiveStrong footwear, apparel and accessories launched on 1 July in the three countries with their new Fall 2010 collection.

Lance Armstrong, founder of LiveStrong, said: “I’m very proud to see LiveStrong further our mission internationally, build momentum and give people the resources and support they need to fight cancer effectively.

“We’ve found innovative ways to raise awareness, but the fight is far from over and so I’m encouraged to see LiveStrong make an impact in Canada, France and the UK.”

The Fall 2010 LiveStrong collection ranges from footwear to apparel and accessories. The collection has grown hugely since the popular yellow wristbands were first introduced in 2004, with more than 70 million of them having been distributed to date.

Since they teamed up in 2004, Nike has helped LiveStrong raise over US$80 million.

Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games organisers have selected Selex ES as its Official Protective Perimeter Security Provider. 

The agreement will see Selex ES, a Finmeccanica company, provide a wide range of physical perimeter security measures to secure over 20 Games venues, including the Athletes Village.

The programme will consist of security fencing, CCTV and security lighting as well as security management systems.

The design phase of the contract will begin immediately and all installations will be completed by early July 2014.

Glasgow 2014’s Chief Executive David Grevemberg commented on the new deal: “Glasgow 2014, along with Police Scotland and our Games Partners, is focused on delivering a safe and secure environment for all who will be part of the Games.

I’m delighted to have Selex ES – with their strong record of supporting the security needs of large events – bringing their expertise on board.”

Fabrizio Giulianini, CEO of Selex ES said: “For years, we at Selex ES have been bringing together innovative UK companies to deliver integrated and technologically advanced solutions. Providing major event perimeter security for this iconic event in Scotland’s sporting history will continue that tradition. We remain committed to contributing to the nation’s broader industrial legacy, enhancing the next generation of local skills to meet the security challenges of the future”.

Commonwealth Games Minister Shona Robison added: “Selex ES’s involvement in Glasgow 2014 is very welcome and their experience of big events will help deliver a safe, secure, and spectacular, Games.”

Selex ES is an international company with a 17,700 strong workforce, 2,000 of which are based in Scotland, and it has a supply base that includes 120 Scottish suppliers.

The VELUX EHF Champions League double feature on Eurosport recorded a huge success last Sunday as more than one million German TV viewers watched the live coverage of the all-German quarter-final duel SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs. HSV Hamburg.

The number averaged 330, shop 000 viewers throughout the match with figures reaching 460, impotent 000 at the peak.

Also the earlier match on Sunday broadcasted by Eurosport the duel of defending champions THW Kiel vs. MKB Veszprém KC generated impressive numbers as in total 890,000 TV viewers watched the coverage in Germany, the average number was 320,000.

Eurosport has been covering the matches of German clubs in the VELUX EHF Champions League as well as the VELUX EHF FINAL4 for a number of years.

Global sports revenues are estimated to grow to $145.3bn (£92.5bn) between now and 2015, growing at an annual rate of 3.7%, according to a new report.

Global professional services firm Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) said North America will remain the largest sport industry market during that period. It says an improved economy and rebound in TV advertising will drive growth.

The migration of sports to pay TV, and the resurgence of financial services and motoring companies to sponsorship, will also help, says PWC.

The firm added that after North America, the biggest market will by Europe; followed by the Middle East and Africa, and then Asia.Latin America will remain the smallest market.

Julie Clark, head of PWC’s UK sports practice, said: “North America is still the largest market and growth rates will significantly outpace Asia Pacific and EMEA (Europe Middle East and Africa).

“While the balance of power is shifting to some emerging markets which are hosting mega sports events over the next few years, the growth opportunities in the traditional developed markets are far from over.”

Latin America will have the highest growth rate, says PWC, followed by North America.

It has been predicted that the hotel industry in the UK will fare far better in the five years after the London 2012 Olympics compared to the five years preceding it, according to IBISWorld, the UK’s largest publisher of industry research.

IBISWorld forecasts that industry revenue will grow at an average annualised rate of 2.6% in the five years through 2016-17, to reach £18.0 billion ($20.6bn). Demand for accommodation from international visitors will be boosted by a global economic recovery. The London Olympics will be a key driver of growth leading up to and including 2012, when London is set to host one of the world’s greatest sporting events. IBISWorld also expects UK and global population growth to boost demand for local hotels and motels.

Over the past five years the financial crisis and subsequent recession have marred the performance of hotels and motels operating throughout the United Kingdom. The recession had a detrimental effect on household wealth across the United Kingdom and the globe, with corporate profits falling substantially as a direct result of the crisis.

Consequently, business travel budgets were slashed, while highly-indebted households found it increasingly difficult to finance trips and holidays. This has reduced domestic and international travel within the United Kingdom, from both household and business markets. IBISWorld estimates that over the past five years, UK hotel industry revenue contract by 1.1% on an average annualised basis, with revenue reaching £15.8 billion ($18bn) in 2011-12. Revenue is expected to grow by 3.8% in 2011-12, compared with the previous year.

Going forward, the UK hotel industry will be bolstered by a recovering UK economy, further aided by global economic growth that will see revenue from international tourists flow into the industry. A more prosperous domestic economy will allow businesses to increase their travel budgets to pre-crisis levels, meaning that more funds will be allocated to accommodation expenses. With unemployment falling at the same time and asset prices rebounding, individuals will also increase their expenditure on trips and holidays.

According to IBISWorld analyst, Zlatan Kapetanovic, the most significant event for the industry will be the London Olympic Games in 2012. “This will promote an influx of tourists into the region,” says Kapetanovic.

“Large numbers of both domestic and international visitors will help revenue grow rapidly in the period leading up to and including 2012.”

Much of this growth will be concentrated in the London region, with new enterprises and establishments entering the market to become involved in increased revenue and profits on offer. Population growth within the United Kingdom and the world over will also have a positive influence on demand, as there will be a greater number of tourists using hotel and motel services. According to IBISWorld, hotel industry revenue in the UK is expected to grow at an average annualised rate of 2.6% over the five years through 2016-17 to total £18.0 billion ($20.6bn).

allergist helvetica, sans-serif;”>Generate Sponsorship added to their growing list of clients by securing a deal with Surrey Sports Park to develop its PR offering and broaden the profile of Surrey Sports Park as an elite athlete and team training facility among national and international sporting federations, as well as high profile teams.

Generate’s specialist PR team has developed a PR strategy that includes media relations, event activity, direct marketing, and digital activity, showcasing the venue as a top athlete venue.

Surrey Sports Park, one of Europe’s top sports venues, will host Olympic and Paralympic teams next year, who will utilise the venue as a base for training, benefiting from the state of the art facilities including the 50m swimming pool and Human Performance Institute, as well as over 2,500 rooms located on site at the University of Surrey.

Other high profile teams who currently use the venue include Harlequins Rugby Union, Women’s GB Basketball, Surrey Storm, Guildford Heat, and the Women’s RFU.

Chief Executive of Surrey Sports Park, Paul Blanchard, said, “Since opening in April 2010, we have staged several successful large-scale events including the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup, GB Women’s Eurobasket, and Four Nations basketball matches, as well as hosting Olympic and Paralympic teams and athletes. The sports park offers an array of state-of-the-art sports facilities and performance support services, which based just 40 minutes from London Heathrow and Gatwick airports, provides a unique and convenient multi-purpose training and events venue.

“We have engaged Generate to help build our profile and with their expertise in the industry, we will work with them on continuing to position us as one of the UK’s top training facilities.”

Rupert Pratt, Managing Director of Generate Sponsorship, added: “We have developed a PR and digital programme of activity that will showcase the facility as a leading venue that hosts top athletes and teams.  Surrey Sports Park is a fantastic venue and we’re looking forward to working with them to achieve their objectives.”

The Football Association (FA) have announced that they will back any credible challengers to Sepp Blatter’s re-election campaign to become FIFA president for a fourth term in June, senior FA figures have revealed.

The FA board is yet to take an official position on the vote as Blatter seeks a fourth term but members are said to feel it is time for a change.

One FA member claimed that they would even consider writing to Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam to urge him to stand against Blatter, stating: “We would consider contacting him to offer our support. We think three terms is enough.”

An FA spokesman added: “The matter has not been discussed but will be considered by the FA board when nominations have closed and the FIFA congress agenda has been published.”

The FA reacted angrily to England’s treatment during their bid to host the 2018 World Cup, claiming promises were broken by a number of ExCo members. They also felt that they were strung along in the bidding process once FIFA revealed that they had intended to promote the game in new territories after awarding the 2018 and 2022 editions to Russia and Qatar respectively.

Bin Hammam is a former ally of the 75-year-old FIFA president, but the 61-year-old has hinted that he might stand against him after revealing some concerns regarding the way the organisation is run amidst corruption allegations.

In his most recent comments about the FIFA presidential elections, Bin Hammam said on his Facebook account that “competition is the best way to make the organisation vibrant and alive”.

Sepp Blatter announced last year that he would be running for a record fourth term and stated on Saturday, March 5: “We are now in an elected process and the race is open. I have received support from different national associations to stand again.

“If I win then OK, if lose I say ‘thank you’ then go away. You will have your new face and then we will see what will happen.”

The FIFA president went on to add that he was not happy with the way his organisation got its message across, saying: “I’m not happy with what we do, because we could communicate a bit better [than] what we are doing and then the perception would be different.

“I’m trying to bring some social and cultural impact. If there are some other candidates then we will face other candidates. That’s a democratic system.

“The world will not stop and football will not stop.”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has invited bids for the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) global internet & mobile rights and global broadcast rights excluding some key markets for a period from 2011 to 2014.

The BCCI released a public statement yesterday, March 7, stating: “The Indian Premier League , a sub-committee of the BCCI, invites bids in respect of global Internet and mobile rights along with certain television rights.”

The broadcast rights do not include key markets like the Indian sub-continent, Australia, South Africa, Middle East, Caribbean, Hong Kong  and Singapore. While, the radio rights are available for most of the markets excluding Middle East. The internet & mobile rights are available for all territories.

Entities also have the option of bidding for three packages of rights which includes all the rights including TV, radio, mobile & internet, or all the rights except worldwide mobile rights.

In the case of packaged rights and for the rights excluding mobile, each bid must include an entity which either is a cricket or a sports broadcaster in India, North America or UK, has an internet platform that meets ITT’s minimum criteria with respect to average monthly users and annual internet advertising revenues.

For entities interested in mobile rights each bid must include an entity which is a mobile network operator in India.