ITV enjoyed a record audience in Britain who watched Bradley Wiggins’ Tour De France win.

Bradley Wiggins’ Tour De France win sparked a 25% rise in the TV audience for the legendary cycle race.

A peak of 3.6 million watched the live coverage on ITV1 and ITV4 to see Wiggins lead the peleton home yesterday before teammate Mark Cavendish claimed a record fourth-consecutive final stage victory on the Champs-Elysees.

Wiggins became the first Briton to win the gruelling race.

Coverage on ITV4 – the TV home of the Tour De France – was up by a quarter on 2011 for the combined viewing figures for the live broadcasts, a nightly highlights shows and a morning repeat, ITV said.

A total of 16 Turkish clubs involved in the match-fixing scandal have been cleared by the Turkish Football Federation but action has still taken place against 10 players and officials.

 

“It was decided that there was no cause to apply sanctions since the elements constituting disciplinary infringement did not materialise, apoplectic ” the federation said on its web site late Sunday.The clubs involved included Fenerbahce, discount Besiktas, thumb Galatasaray and Trabzonspor.

 

The federation’s disciplinary committee on the other hand banned eight officials from the 16 clubs for one to three years and two players have been sidelined from playing in all competitions.

 

Fenerbahce official Ilhan Yuksel Eksioglu was banned for three years for trying to influence the result of three matches while two other senior management figures at the Istanbul club were suspended for a year.

 

Turkey international midfielder Ibrahim Akin, currently at first division Gaziantepspor, and Ankaragucu goalkeeper Serdar Kulbilge were banned from playing for two and three years respectively.

 

The investigation centres on 22 matches in the 2010-11 season. The punishments all result from matches involving Fenerbahce, who won the league that year with Trabzonspor in second.

 

The federation’s professional football disciplinary board inquiry is separate from an unprecedented criminal case resulting from the same allegations that began in February this year.Nearly 100 people have been charged with corruption, including Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim. They also saw their Turkish league cup trophy awarded to Besiktas.

For the fourth year in a row, the Minnesota Vikings have chosen eLayawaySPORTS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of eLayaway, Inc., to process their 2012 season ticket renewal payments for their fans.

The popular payment plan makes it possible for Vikings’ fans to pay over a period of time for their season ticket renewals. Season ticket owners can choose to have the payments automatically drafted from their checking account or pay cash at any MoneyGram location.

“The Minnesota Vikings’ decision to renew is a testament to the power and reliability of eLayaway’s technology,” said Sue Jones, COO of eLayaway.”We remain focused on growth and the generation of revenues through verticals such as eLayawaySPORTS. The program is great for both the fans and the team. Everyone wins!”

Over the years, sports fans have come to depend on eLayawaySPORTS to help them schedule and automate their season ticket payments. The Company’s enhanced payment calculator, scheduler, account manager and other program features make it an easy and convenient payment alternative for fans wanting to pre-pay for season tickets, merchandise, sporting goods and much more. Minnesota Vikings’ fans interested in using this powerful payment plan to renew their existing season tickets should visit Vikings.com/eLayaway or eLayawaySPORTS.com.

Steve LaCroix, Viking’s Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Chief Marketing Officer, said; “The Vikings organization is happy to, once again, offer the valuable service of eLayawaySPORTS to its fans. They provide a convenient and affordable payment alternative that helps our fans.”

by Ismail Uddin

Cardiff will stage the UK round of the Extreme Sailing Series, now in its sixth year, between the 24-27 August, 2012 after securing a three-year deal.

The Cardiff stage of the global sailing circuit is only one of four events with the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Special Event status, positioning the city alongside the other seven premium international sporting venues hosting an Extreme Sailing Series Act in 2012.

The host venue agreement with Cardiff City is backed by a Welsh Government grant for 2012-2014.

Since the circuit’s inception in 2007, the UK round of the Extreme Sailing Series has been staged during Cowes Week with the support of the Isle of Wight Council and Cowes Week Ltd, entertaining thousands of spectators along The Esplanade shoreline.

“We’ve had some great events in Cowes over the last five years and we’ve made significant investment as organisers to be there, but we just couldn’t afford to continue to subsidise it as a venue in 2012,” said Mark Turner, Executive chairman of the organising company behind the series, OC ThirdPole.”

He went on to say, “Whilst Cowes Week Ltd have accommodated us as best as they could both operationally and politically, we’ve never actually received a formal bid to host the event in Cowes.

“The circuit went global last year and requires significant commercial backing to stage 8 events across 3 continents, and we have worked hard to develop the circuit to attract iconic cities and venues from around the world who value the return on investment.

“Year on year the commercial value to the host cities of securing this event has steadily increased, and this is reflected in the 2012 developments. A pro-active and innovative host venue is critical to the success of the event, and we are very excited in this respect by the partnership with Cardiff and the Welsh Government.”

“Unfortunately, Cowes hasn’t been able to make a bid to keep the circuit here and it’s also disappointing for OC ThirdPole considering it’s home to one of our three international company bases. However, we remain very committed to the area and will continue to bring significant economic value to the Island as a business and through our other operations with our clients, such as, Artemis Investment Management and their extensive activity during Cowes Week itself.

“By 2011 our surveys indicated that there were many people traveling to Cowes specifically to watch the Extreme Sailing Series and we appreciated their support – we look forward to welcoming some of those existing fans to Cardiff along with a new audience the venue will bring us.”

A spokesperson for Cowes Week Ltd gave an explanation why the Cowes couldn’t stage the event.

“Cowes Week Limited and the Isle of Wight Council have worked very hard over the years to accommodate the Series within Cowes Week and the Series has always received a considerable amount of support,” the spokesperson said.

“From a commercial perspective, the normal commercial model that is in place for the Series has differed for Cowes Week. In most other situations around the world, the local authority provides funding for the Series in recognition of the visitors that these standalone events bring to a region.

“Given that Cowes Week has always attracted a significant number of visitors and that the event ensures it is one of the busiest weeks of the year for the Island anyway, the dynamics of holding the Extreme Sailing Series as an associated part of Cowes Week were always going to be different.”

Have your say on the matter, join our discussion: The perfect sailing venue?

LOCOG, London 2012’s organising committee, has added six more companies to its list of licensees for next year’s Olympic Games.

The six new products include maps made by A to Z Maps, limited edition fine art prints by Carl Freedman, London 2012 children’s Trunki suitcases by Magmatic, adult sunglasses by Oakley, children’s sunglasses by Zoobug and food gifts from Kinnerton.

In addition, LOCOG has signed Rainbow Productions to manufacture costumes and manage the personal appearances of mascots Wenlock and Mandeville.

Chris Townsend, LOCOG’s commercial director, said: “With just over a year to go until the start of the Games, it’s fantastic to see UK retailers embracing the once in a lifetime opportunity and joining in with the excitement of the Games.

“The wide variety of products on offer to the public means that everyone can show their support for the athletes, as well as take a keepsake of the Games home with them.”

The announcement of the new deals comes as LOCOG said it is set to award more than US$1.15 billion worth of contracts in the run up to the Games next year.

American businessman David Einhorn has agreed to buy a US$200m stake in financially troubled Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise New York Mets.

The announcement made yesterday, May 26, is subject to the completion of exclusive negotiations and League approval and comes in the same week as Mets chairman and CEO Fred Wilpon’s series of stark comments about the state of the team, both on and off the ballpark.

In statements made to Sports Illustrated, Wilpon claimed that the Mets are “bleeding cash” and could lose up to $70m this year alone, all amidst the fact that he, and team president Saul Katz, face a $1bn lawsuit by the trustee seeking to recover funds lost in Bernard Madoff’s notorious Ponzi scheme.

Einhorn appears to be ready to attempt to save the struggling side and the president of private investment firm Greenlight Capital Inc. has agreed to make a “minority, non-operating investment in the team” which is expected to be completed by late June. The sale is reportedly for less than 49 per cent of the club and will not include a share in SportsNet New York, the television network owned by the Mets.

Wilpon stated: “We are very excited about David joining our ownership group for several reasons. David’s investment immediately improves the franchise’s financial position. Equally important, David’s intelligence, integrity and success in both business and civic affairs provides us with another perspective in evaluating what is best for this organisation and our fans, and we welcome his input. In partnership with David, we look forward to achieving our ultimate goal of again becoming World Series champions.”

Einhorn added: “Having an opportunity to become part of the Mets franchise is exciting beyond my wildest childhood dreams. I spent my first seven years living in New Jersey and rooting for the Mets.” He added: “I have been a baseball fan for my entire life and have enjoyed teaching the game as the coach of my daughter’s Little League team. I look forward to partnering with the Wilpon and Katz families through the good seasons, the tough seasons and especially the championship seasons.”

The Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL) is to change hands in ownership after Pennsylvanian billionaire Terry Pegula, prostate a little over three months after his initial approach.

Pegula is to complete the takeover for a reported US$189m and was joined by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in holding his “first news conference as owner” yesterday morning, doctor February 22.

The NHL BOG approved the sale last week, generic and Pegula was “scheduled to inspect and tour HSBC Arena” on Monday, February 21.

Ted Black, who will be “named to an unspecified position within the organization,” was also on the podium yesterday.

This unlikely affiliation has arisen thanks to Robert Rich, sickness a Florida based tycoon who has more than lived up to his name to become the 488th richest man in America.

Rich was researching his family tree when he discovered his roots stemmed from the town of Bedlington, online a revelation which him acquire the title ‘Lord of Bedlington’.

Now the tycoon, cough who oversees a US $2.8bn frozen food empire, is keen to give the town a sporting chance by supporting the local club.

This has seen Rich reseed the teams pitch, sponsor the team shirts and even ship a $49k scoreboard from the States.

The club hope to acquire a cult following in the US by striking a merchandising deal that could pick up on the growing presence of football over the pond.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Premiership Rugby have settled their dispute over the compensation package for the World Cup.

It is now confirmed Aviva Premiership Rugby will start during the knockout stages of the Rugby World Cup, in order to complete the 2015-16 season by the end of May 2016 without having to play midweek matches.

It is also confirmed that in order to assist Stuart Lancaster with preparations for the England team, the EPS Squad for 2014/15 will be announced on 22nd October 2014 and for 2015/16 in August 2015. The RFU agreed to pay up to £13 million.

RFU CEO Ian Ritchie said: “It is a reflection of the strength of the partnership that once again, we have managed to come to an arrangement that benefits both the RFU and clubs.

“We are very happy to continue to invest significant sums into Premiership Rugby and to support their desire to be successful on and off the pitch. By the very nature of the deal, the more successful the RFU is, the more the clubs benefit, while it is good that Premiership Rugby continue to use Twickenham to develop their competition.

“It is also significant that there is an incentive to conclude negotiations swiftly around a new long term ‘Heads of Agreement’ that has proved so successful to date. This has been the envy of other countries, increasing not only the quality of players and the rugby in the Premiership but helping England teams too. With greater preparation for internationals and a strong England qualified player base, the future is bright for club and country.”

Premiership Rugby CEO Mark McCafferty said: “We have resolved a challenging issue in a mutually beneficial way through productive discussions over the last few months, largely behind the scenes. Today’s conclusion is a reflection of that desire to find solutions.

“This announcement underlines the partnership between Premiership Rugby and the RFU to help England’s bid to achieve our goals in 2015 and beyond, as well as to support the Premiership Rugby clubs.

“From the work that is being done in our Academies to develop young players to the strong bond between Stuart Lancaster and the 12 Aviva Premiership Directors of Rugby both bodies are focused on giving England the best chance of being successful and helping our clubs to achieve their goals domestically, and in Europe.

“We have seen a dynamic and compelling start to the Aviva Premiership Rugby season with increased attendances and a record number of tries so there is a feelgood factor sweeping through English rugby, this agreement adds to this. The delay of the announcement of the EPS Squad until 22 October has allowed the first six rounds of Aviva Premiership Rugby to be a live trial for players striving to make that EPS squad.”

Bulova, a luxury watch manufacturer and Official Timekeeper of Manchester United, has revealed it will adopt an out-of-home advertising campaign centered on the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Targeting affluent men and women who will travel to Brazil for the World Cup, this segment of Bulova’s Latin American strategy will place media in airports that are expected to see a high volume of travelers: Brasilia, Rio de Janerio and Sao Paulo. Airport terminals and surrounding areas will display Bulova advertisements for the duration of the World Cup’s festivities this June and July. These World Cup host cities will see record numbers of spectators and tourists alike during this period.

“The FIFA World Cup is without a doubt one of the most popular and competitive advertising arenas of the year. Millions will travel to Brazil from all over the world to watch the games and celebrate in the festivities,” remarked Saul Hernandez, Bulova VP Asia Pacific, Latin America & Travel Retail, “Bulova’s relationship with the soccer world has already enriched our identity in Latin America. It’s thrilling to bring our brand to the global stage at this world class event.”

“The World Cup is the premier sporting event of the world. It’s thrilling to bring a brand whose identity is so closely tied to soccer to this international celebration; it’s an honor to be entrusted with the coordination of advertising for this global stage,” noted George L. San Jose, chairman of The San Jose Network. “The recognition that Bulova will receive through these placements will add tremendous value to its brand and further strengthen its relationship with Latin America.”