Corbis Entertainment, viagra a division of Corbis, a Bill Gates company, today announced the acquisition of WSM Communications, a global-sports marketing and sponsorship agency headquartered in London. 

The announcement was made here today by Gary Shenk, Chief Executive Officer, Corbis. 

Over its 15-year history, WSM has helped brands like Unilever, MasterCard, British Airways and Aberdeen Asset Management enhance their business with integrated strategies in the world of sports – with an accent on sponsorship activation in golf, cricket, rugby, soccer, sailing and tennis.  To complement its London home base, WSM has offices in the U.S. and is working on exciting projects in both regions.

“Sports are a natural extension of the comprehensive entertainment marketing solutions Corbis has pioneered for leading brands across the world, from product integration to celebrities to rights and music clearances,” said Shenk.

“Bringing WSM, its clients and leading sports events and access into our business is an exciting development,” begins Mark Owens, Executive Vice President, Corbis Entertainment. “Sports are a natural extension of what we already offer our clients,” adds Owens, “another high-profile form of entertainment populated with its own celebrities and A-list events.  WSM’s long track record and unique depth in fast-growing worldwide sports like golf and soccer makes them a natural fit, with assets that we can leverage across all Corbis Entertainment Global Clients.

As a leading entertainment marketing group, Corbis Entertainment specializes in Brand Integration, talent negotiations, music licensing, rights clearance and representation as well as the recently launched Branded Entertainment Network (BEN).

“We’re delighted to be joining Corbis Entertainment,” adds Andrew White, Chief Executive Officer, WSM Communications.  “Corbis gives our clients and people the opportunity to work on a broader global stage and helps us to grow our expanding global business. The opportunities around sport, sponsorship and BEN are a real game-changer for WSM and the sports marketing industry as a whole.”

White continues, “Being part of a Bill Gates company, another independent and privately-owned business, allows us to grow our offering for existing and new clients. I’ve committed my long-term future to Corbis and I’m very excited about this new challenge.”

According to reports, NBA legend Magic Johnson is interested in buying the Los Angeles Clippers following the reported racist remarks from their current owner, Donald Sterling.

Magic Johnson and his billionaire backers, the Guggenheim Partners, want a chance to purchase the Los Angeles Clippers, league sources told Yahoo Sports. “Magic’s absolutely interested,” one source closely connected to Johnson’s business interests told Yahoo Sports on Sunday night.

The NBA is investigating a report that LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling made racist remarks by asking a woman not to broadcast her association with black people or invite them to games. 

Celebrity news website TMZ posted a recording who they say is Sterling, speaking to his girlfriend V. Stiviano after she posted a photo of herself with Magic Johnson. 

Although Sterling later told TMZ that the recording did not reflect his views, the NBA described the comments as disturbing and offensive. 

US President Barack Obama has also weighed in and called the remarks incredibly offensive racist statements. 

NBA spokesman Mike Bass confirmed they were conducting a full investigation into the incident, whilst  Magic Johnson took to Twitter to say he would never go to a Clippers game again as long as Sterling was the owner. 

A joint statement from Sterling and the Clippers said they did not know if the tape was legitimate, but they did know that the woman on the tape is the defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Sterling family.

Sponsors Depart

Sterling has been hit with a further blow after major partner State Farm pulled their sponsorship of the team. CarMax have also ended their Clippers’ sponsorship deal.

In a statement they said: “CarMax finds the statements attributed to the Clippers’ owner completely unacceptable.”

“These views directly conflict with CarMax’s culture of respect for all individuals. While we have been a proud Clippers sponsor for 9 years and support the team, fans and community, these statements necessitate that CarMax end its sponsorship.”

NBA sponsors Gatorade and Taco Bell say they have no immediate comment on the Sterling controversy.

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Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has today won his civil case against German media company Constantin Medien.

Despite giving the judgment in Ecclestone’s favour, Judge Guy Newey did rule that Ecclestone had paid a bribe as part of a “corrupt agreement” with former BayernLB banker Gerhard Gribkowsky.

F1’s chief executive had waited two months for the verdict following the civil case in London at the end of last year, in which Constantin Medien sued Ecclestone and other defendants for up to $144m, claiming that the sport had been undervalued when it was sold to the private equity company CVC Partners in 2005.

The 84 year-old, who has always denied any wrongdoing, can now prepare for the more serious court case in Germany in April, when he will face criminal charges, with the possibility of a 10-year prison sentence, in Munich’s state court.

There he will face bribery allegations, based on his payment of £27m to the former BayernLB banker Gerhard Gribkowsky, who was responsible for selling its 47% stake in F1 to CVC.

Ecclestone does not deny the payment but claims he was being blackmailed by Gribkowsky over his tax affairs. Gribkowsky was found guilty of corruption and tax evasion in 2012 and jailed for eight and a-half years.

In a ruling on Thursday morning the verdict was that the money was a “bribe” and that there had been a “corrupt agreement” with Dr Gribkowsky in 2005. But the judge said Constantin’s claim still failed because it had been “no part” of Mr Ecclestone’s purpose for shares to be sold at an “undervalue”.

“No loss to Constantin has been shown to have been caused by the corrupt arrangement with Dr Gribkowsky,” the judge added. “That fact is fatal to the claim.” Constantin are expected to appeal the decision.

Ecclestone last month stood down from F1’s holding company but still remains in control in the day to day running of the sport albeit under the supervision of the board’s chairman, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, and his deputy Donald Mackenzie.

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The National Football League (NFL) has taken a further stride in cementing their recent spike in international growth by revealing that three regular-season games will be played next year in London.

Jacksonville Jaguars, order Atlanta Falcons and Oakland Raiders will each play one home game in London next year at Wembley Stadium.  The dates of the games and opponents for each club will be announced later this season. 

“Our fans in the UK have continued to demonstrate that they love football and want more, stuff ” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said.  “Both of this year’s games in London sold out quickly.  The fan enthusiasm for our sport continues to grow.  By playing two games in the UK this year, we are creating more fans.  We hope that with three games in London next year we will attract even more people to our game.”

The International Series of regular-season games has increased NFL fan interest in the UK, with a current fan base of more than 12 million, including 2.5 million avid fans, a 30 percent increase in avid fans in the past two years.

The Minnesota Vikings’ thrilling 34-27 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in London on September 29 drew a crowd of 83,518 to Wembley.  The day before, more than 520,000 people attended a football festival on London’s famed Regent Street, enjoying football-themed games and attractions, including visits from Vikings’ and Steelers’ players and coaches.

Television ratings have shown substantial growth in the UK since 2006 – with Sunday viewership of NFL games almost doubling and the Super Bowl audience having increased 75 percent.  The league also has developed new and stronger business partnerships.

Participation in amateur football in the UK has risen since the start of the International Series, growing by approximately 15 percent per year since 2007.

The Jaguars, who face the San Francisco 49ers in London on Sunday, October 27, have committed to playing a home game in the UK until 2016 at Wembley. 

Jaguars owner Shahid Khan, said: “We made the right decision to commit to playing a home game in London each season through 2016.  The Jaguars have a broader worldwide fan base today and the anticipation for our London game later this month is shared by our loyal fans in Jacksonville, so it’s a perfect scenario for everyone. The energy and appetite for the NFL in the UK is incredible.  The Raiders and Falcons will see for themselves next season.”

Atlanta and Oakland next year will each play its first regular-season game beyond the borders of the United States.

“We are excited and honored to serve as ambassadors for our city, our state, and the National Football League,” said Falcons Owner and Chairman Arthur M. Blank.  “Playing in London will provide tremendous exposure to our team, as well as provide the opportunity to showcase the great international city of Atlanta. We are looking forward to representing the NFL on a global stage by playing in historic Wembley Stadium in what we are sure will be an entertaining game for NFL fans everywhere.”

The Raiders return to London for the first time since 1990 when they played in a preseason game at the old Wembley Stadium against the New Orleans Saints.

“We are excited and embrace this great opportunity to assist in building NFL popularity worldwide,” said Raiders Owner Mark Davis. “The Raiders are truly a global brand and we are looking forward to our home-field advantage at the new Wembley Stadium.”

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By Ismail Uddin

Australian Open’s renewed Lacoste partnership will help strengthen ties in Asia according to Tennis Australia President, unhealthy Stephen Healy. 

The French company are prominent in Asia and Healy suggests the partnership will add to Australian Open’s strong presence there. 

“One of Lacoste’s major markets is Asia and in particular China which is the Australian Open’s largest and most lucrative market, help ” he told iSportconnect exclusively. 

“This deep presence in Asia will ensure that the Australian Open receives significant exposure through the variety of activations that Lacoste engages in during the lead up to the first Grand Slam of the year.” 

Healy also revealed the different elements of the partnership which has been extended to 2018. 

He added:  “Lacoste throughout the region activates externally to promote its association to the Australian Open.  Lacoste brings a number of their key customers into Melbourne for the Australian Open. 

“We partner with Lacoste to also deliver three bespoke boutiques on site during the event which delivers significant sales numbers of the Lacoste brand.

“Our plans for the trophy tour will again see the Australian Open trophies visit multiple cities through Asia in 2013 where Lacoste will have the opportunity to partner in these activations at a public and VIP level including in their premier store locations in the region.” 

Read Stephen Healy’s exclusive featured profile interview here>>

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