Category: Sports

MUMBAI: Zee Sports has asked All India Football Federation (AIFF) for a review of its 10-year contract.

Zee Sports, which had acquired the 10-year rights for Indian football back in 2005, is understood to have written to the AIFF asking for a relook of the contract.

Zee Sports, sources said, has requested its payout to be reduced. It also wants any more properties that the AIFF introduces in the future to be a part of the on-going deal.

The AIFF has confirmed that Zee Sports had sent in some draft proposals and a special committee has been constituted to hold discussions with the channel.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd CEO Punit Goenka met the AIFF President in-charge Praful Patel and asked for a review. Patel has appointed a committee including AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco.

When contacted Zee Sports CEO Atul Pandey declined to comment on any specifics, saying that the broadcaster holds periodic discussions with the AIFF over future tournaments

.

MUMBAI: Before it started, people wondered if the Airtel Champions Twenty20 League would be able to match the popularity of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The answer for now is no.

Tam data (C&S, 4+) shows that the first six matches only delivered an average TVR of 1.16. This is despite the fact that an Indian IPL franchise featured in three of these matches.

The highest rating for this event was the opening match between Bangalore and Cape Cobras on 8 October which got a rating of 2.01 TVR. The match between the Deccan Chargers and Sussex Sharks on 10 October got a rating of 1.80 TVR while the contest between the Delhi Daredevils and Victoria Bushrangers fetched a rating of 1.43.

The matches not featuring an Indian side did not even reach a TVR of 1. Compared with this, the second edition of the IPL managed an average TVR of 4.2 despite the fact that it was played in South Africa.

The Twenty20 World Cup earlier this year, which again took place in South Africa, fared better than the Champions Twenty20 League, held in India, with an average TVR of 2.89. Around 37.1 million viewers have tuned in to this event so far.

For those who think that T20 delivers better than ODIs, that is not necessarily the case. The Compaq Cup which was a tri series ODI featuring India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand got an average TVR of 3 on Ten Sports.

MUMBAI: The Indian Organising Committee of the 2011 World Cup has announced the venues for India for the ensuing World Cup.

Matches will be played in Mumbai, Mohali, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Nagpur and Kolkata.

The World Cup final will be played at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai that is currently under renovation.

In addition to the final, two more matches will be played in Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium.

One of the semi-finals will be played at Mohali in Punjab while Sri Lanka will host the other semi-final and one quarter-final.

Besides the semi final, Mohali will play host to two other matches.

Bangladesh will host the opening ceremony on 18 February and two quarter-finals.

Ahmedabad has been given three matches including one quarter-final while Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Nagpur and Kolkata will host four matches each. These will include one India game.

India was originally scheduled to host 21 matches but after Pakistan was removed as a World Cup co-host due to security fears, India got eight of the 14 matches which were to be played in Pakistan.

As had been reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, India is in Group B along with South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland and the Netherlands.

The event will have 49 matches.

MUMBAI: Dave Whatmore will succeed John Buchanon as coach of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders.

Several candidates including Wasim Akram were interviewed by the team management but finally decided on Whatmore as its coach.

Whatmore led Sri Lanka to their only World Cup win in 1996.

MUMBAI:The Bombay Bombers (Percept Ltd) won the coveted ‘Goa Super Sixes‘ tournament beating Future Kings (Future Group) in the ‘Goa Super Sixes‘ tournament organised by Percept Ltd at Taj Exotica, Goa recently.

In the grand finale of the 5 overs a side match, Bombay Bombers put up a massive score of 86 runs in reply to which Future Kings could manage to make only 36 runs thus losing to the host team.

The Bombay Bombers started positively by winning the toss and elected to bat first. Atul Wassan scored 31 off just 8 balls. Wassan had three big hits to the fence and was joined by Shailendra Singh who scored 18 runs off 8 balls with 3 sixes. Aditya Motwane compounded Future King‘s misery by scoring a solid 20 in the end to help Bombay Bombers pile up a huge total.

Future Kings started on a disastrous note by losing quick wickets. Only Sandeep Patil managed to bring some respectability to the Future King‘s innings by scoring16 runs.

Ali Quli and Harindra Singh demolished Future King‘ batting order with each picking up 2 wickets to give the inaugural GSS Cup 2009 to the Bombay Bombers.

Top corporates from across India like Future Group (Future Kings), Bharti Teleservices (Delhi Devils), Ghodawat Group (Ghodawat Stars), Indian Television Academy (ITA Tigers), Maru Group (Cornish Pirates), Pinc Group (Pinc Panthers) and Percept Limited (Bombay Bombers) participated in the tournament.

MUMBAI: After a review process that started over nine months ago, the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) has announced that IEC in Sports (IEC) will become the new media partner of IAAF for Europe and Africa for the period 2010-2013. The agreement will cover all IAAF World Athletic Series competitions.

The IAAF and IEC will immediately begin the process of selling rights in the relevant territories, with priority given to the upcoming events of 2010, starting with the World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar (12-14 March).

IEC owned by Lagardere Sports having its headquarters in Stockholm, has offices in Lausanne, Dubai, Hong Kong and Sydney although 65 per cent of its turnover is generated from Europe and Africa.

It has the rights to more than 300 sports events a year and has a large experience in the field of media sales, distribution and production. But in particular, IEC has excellent experience in athletics and has worked on more than 50 events till date.

Said IAAF president Lamine Diack, “I am delighted to announce this new partnership with IEC who will bring a breath of fresh air, expertise and passion to the vital job of selling the media rights to the IAAF’s top competitions in the key markets of Europe and Africa.

“Following the marvelling performances of our athletes at the Olympic Games in Beijing and the World Championships in Berlin, I believe that our sport is on the threshold of a new golden age, and IEC will provide the dynamic and passionate support to make sure that we fully leverage our assets in the key TV markets.”

Averred IEC CEO Jonas Persson, “We are thrilled to have been awarded such a high profile set of rights. IEC’s commitment to Athletics has been second to none for more than a decade and we feel sure that this longstanding association with the sport, coupled with our dynamism to sales and experience in the industry were key factors in IAAF’s decision.”

The IAAF had earlier entered into a partnership with the European Broadcasting Union, the contract of which ends this year. The EBU was a partner of the IAAF in Europe and Africa since the first edition of the IAAF World Championships in athletics in 1983, offering broadcasting service through its members.

MUMBAI:The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session has voted that Golf and Rugby sevens be included in the 2016 Olympics that is to be held in Rio de Janeiro.

Following an evaluation by the Olympic Programme Commission of the seven sports seeking to enter the Olympics, the two sports were recommended by the IOC Executive Board (EB) in August.

Says IOC president Jacques Rogge, “Both Golf and Rugby are very popular sports with global appeal and a strong ethic. They will be great additions to the Games.

“The two sports, voted on separately in alphabetical order of the sports, Golf then Rugby, received a simple majority of votes cast by the members of the session. The result of the first vote was not revealed to the session until the vote for the second sport were taken.

International Golf Federation Secretary General Peter Dawson says, “The International Golf Federation is absolutely delighted by today’s results. We thank the IOC for the thorough process and are looking forward to playing our part as a member of the Olympic Movement. This is great for golf and we hope to be of great benefit to the Olympic Games as well.”

Says International Rugby Board president Bernard Lapasset, “I am so delighted and proud. My thanks to the IOC members for their wonderful support. Rugby is honoured to be a part of the Olympic Sports Programme and we are already looking forward to Rio 2016.”

MUMBAI: Though it did not take place in India, the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) could add to the taxman‘s kitty.

Media reports state that the IPL would fetch revenue under the tax deducted at source category. The income tax department feels that the tournament, was conducted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is registered in India.

Income tax authorities have been quoted in reports saying that the IPL was not registered as a separate organisation and would fetch revenue as section 194E of the I-T Act enables deduction at source.

The taxman earned Rs. 910 million from the first edition of the IPL.

MUMBAI: New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and Ford have formed a new commercial partnership which links the global car manufacturer with all levels of the game in New Zealand.

The new partnership will see Ford become the official team sponsor of the six Major Association teams competing in men’s domestic cricket.

In addition, Ford will be the official vehicle supplier to New Zealand Cricket, the BlackCaps and the White Ferns.

The Ford blue oval logo will feature prominently on the domestic teams playing kit and the BlackCaps training gear.

NZC CEO Justin Vaughan says, “The positive effect of our partnership will provide benefits from the grass roots all the way through to the White Ferns and BlackCaps. We are very confident that cricket in New Zealand is in a great position to capitalise on our growing popularity and Ford’s involvement will help us achieve this.”

Ford MD Trevor Auger says, “A key attraction to this sponsorship with New Zealand Cricket is the ability to be involved at all levels.

MUMBAI: Chivas USA president/CEO Shawn Hunter has joined the board of Total Sports Asia (TSA).

TSA says that Hunter is an authority in sports marketing and has held senior positions with some of the top US national sports franchises and corporate sectors in his career.

TSA says that this appointment and the recent investor partnership agreement with Nectar Capital of the UK signals its intention to be the dominant force in sports marketing in Asia for a long time. The company, which started in Malaysia, now has offices in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Mumbai and Delhi.

Hunter will shape the company’s overall strategic growth plans, and bring to bear his expertise in the business of sports, including venue naming rights, sponsorship, league formation, and television rights acquisitions.

Hunter was AEG Sports CMO, president. He oversaw AEG’s marquee sports events and eleven sports teams worldwide, as well as the AEG’s marketing partnership with Chivas USA.

On behalf of AEG, Hunter was instrumental in AEG’s acquisition and development of London’s O2 Arena. He also secured the Los Angeles Galaxy’s multi-million dollar jersey-front sponsorship following British football star David Beckham’s signing.

Hunter says, “This part of the world is exploding in the sports and entertainment areas and Total Sports Asia is poised for amazing growth.”

Nectar Capital Managing Partner Scott Rudmann says, “We look forward to Shawn’s expert advise to chart TSA’s future growth path. Asia will see tremendous growth over the next 10 plus years in the sports and entertainment field. TSA is uniquely positioned to take advantage of this development and we congratulate the company on this appointment.”