FIFA to provide closing address at Sport and Technology: The Conference 2006
Sport and Technology is delighted to announce the addition of Marius Schneider, Head of Information Services at soccer’s world governing body FIFA, to its strong line-up of speakers at Sport and Technology: The Conference 2006, in association with BT Media and Broadcast, taking place on 23 February at BT Centre in London. Following in the footsteps of International Cricket Council’s Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed, who brought the highly-acclaimed 2005 event to a fitting close, Schneider will provide the conference’s closing address. His address will be entitled ‘FIFA - An ultimate content provider?’ and will use the 2006 FIFA World Cup as a timely case study, highlighting how one of the world’s largest federations will manage its flow of content when its showcase event kicks off in Germany in June this year. Tickets are strictly limited to 172 and at the time of this release, only 30 places remain. Due to exceptional demand and many finance departments closing over the festive season, Sport and Technology has extended the early-bird registration deadline to Monday 16 January, enabling delegates to save £100. See www.sportandtechnologyconference.com for further details and to register for the must-attend event of 2006.
Clintons Solicitors join forces with ArkSports and Sport and Technology
Sports consulting and research company ArkSports Limited is delighted to announce that leading media, entertainment and sports law firm Clintons Solicitors has signed up as its new Legal Partner. In return, ArkSports will become Sports Technology Consultants to the company. As well as representing ArkSports in its legal matters, Clintons Solicitors has become the new Legal Sponsor for ArkSports’ industry leading e-newsletter Sport and Technology, and the Legal Partner for Sport and Technology: The Conference 2006, in association with BT Media and Broadcast. Clintons Solicitors’ Sports Practice has recently been boosted by the arrival of Mel Stein as a Consultant and Malcolm Murray and Tom Frederikse, formerly of The Simkins Partnership, as a Partner and Solicitor respectively. Mel Stein brings with him many years’ experience, being one of the first English solicitors to be regarded as a specialist sports lawyer. He has represented soccer players such as Chris Waddle, Paul Gascoigne and Alan Shearer as well as many clubs and is currently the legal adviser to the Football Conference. Malcolm Murray brings his particular experience in sponsorship and the commercial arrangements surrounding sports leagues, having worked extensively on the establishment and operation of the Zurich Premiership in Rugby. Tom Frederikse brings specialist expertise in the digital technology sector. Speaking about the new partnership with ArkSports, Philip Stinson, Partner and Head of Clintons Sports Practice says: “Clintons Solicitors is excited about our new relationship with ArkSports and its associated brands and we look forward to working closely with the team there to strengthen our position in the sports marketplace globally.” Rachael Church, Managing Director of ArkSports and Editor of Sport and Technology, says: “Clintons was top of our list when it came to finding a new Legal Partner, and not just because they represent the Football Conference, home of my beloved Exeter City FC! The firm’s expertise and contacts are second-to-none, and we are thrilled to be working with them in a number of areas that will be unveiled over the coming months.”
Tickets.com signs up Chelsea FC
Leading ticketing supplier Tickets.com has announced details of a new ticketing partnership with Barclays Premiership champion Chelsea Football Club in England. This ground breaking agreement will see Tickets.com technology installed to manage ticket sales from the club’s ticket office and also in realtime from the club’s official website www.chelseafc.com. Staff training on the new system is already underway with data transfer and go-live date scheduled for February. As part of the agreement Tickets.com will also be integrating with the club’s access control and loyalty card scheme provided by Chelsea’s long term business partner - TeamCard.
Fox gets interactive at Australian Open
The Australian Tennis Open 2006 gets underway from Monday 16 January and Fox Sports will be there to provide comprehensive coverage and the latest in digital technology. Fox Sports Active Tennis will once again be available in Australia to Foxtel Digital, Austar Digital and Optus TV digital subscribers throughout the Australian Open 2006, changing the way fans watch the tournament. Some of the features will include a choice of two different matches on offer (often both live), different audio, news and views from press conferences and player interviews, plus a wide range of current and historical statistics.
Betanwin.com goes soccer crazy
Betandwin.com Interactive Entertainment has acquired the exclusive international marketing rights to the German Soccer League and the Second Division for the next three seasons up to and including 2008-09. The media rights acquired include all international television broadcasting as well as online and mobile rights. The Sportsman Media Group will act as Betandwin's exclusive distribution partner for these rights in close cooperation with the German Soccer League. Betandwin intends to exploit its rights to the first and second German divisions internationally, streaming the games of both divisions live on its online platform www.betandwin.com.
New Super League Rugby Club reveals innovative ticketing for fans
New Super League rugby club Catalans Dragons has announced that it is using the award-winning online sales and marketing service Ticketingsolutions to sell match tickets for the 2006 season. Ticketingsolutions will handle all online, phone, walk-up and merchandise sales for the Club's Super League fixtures this year. Catalans Dragons, based in the southwest French town of Perpignan, was selected ahead of Toulouse and Villeneuve to enter the 2006 Super League. The team will play its first league game of the season against Wigan Warriors at the Aimé Giral stadium in Perpignan on Saturday 11 February 2006. With the Ticketingsolutions service in place, supporters of Catalans Dragons, including many from the UK, will now be able to buy both match and season tickets online for the first time via the club's new website www.catalansdragons.com.
FIFA World Cup in South American deal
Infront Sports & Media has signed an agreement with Telefónica for an extensive package of new media broadcast rights covering all 64 matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup; for almost all territories in Latin and South America. The rights, which consist of mobile telephony and internet rights, allow for the transmission of an unlimited number of near-live and/or delayed video clips of key match footage such as goals over the web and via mobile networks to mobile phones, geo-blocked for user access only within the territories won. The rights apply also to archive video material of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Lastminute.com in hoops deal
Euroleague Basketball has reached an agreement with Lastminute.com, making the internet leader in travel and leisure activities the Official Online Travel Agency for the highest level European club basketball competition. By way of this agreement, basketball fans will be able to acquire in the Lastminute.com website interesting travel packages, with hotel and tickets guaranteed, for the Euroleague Basketball Final Four that takes place in Prague from 28-30 April.
Ladrokes.com poker cruise sets sail
The Ladbrokes Poker Cruise sets sail on 14 January for a 10 day cruise that will visit the British Virgin Islands, Antigua and St Maarten. Six hundred of Europe's finest poker players will play on board one of the world's most luxurious cruise ships, the 682ft, 45,000 ton Zenith. With an estimated prize pot of $2m and a first prize of $750,000 up for grabs in the No Limit freeze-out main event, players such as Ladbrokes Poker Million winner Tony Jones, legendary poker writer Tony Holden and current Ladbrokes.com World Darts Champion Phil 'The Power' Taylor will all be soaking up the Caribbean sun. At $5,500 buy-in, the No Limit freeze-out tournament is the main attraction (along with the stunning Caribbean beaches). Players at Ladbrokespoker.com were able to qualify for the cruise via $5 satellite tournaments.
51pegasi acquires MPlus
51pegasi, a sports software provider, has acquired MPlus, a French 2m euros sports result management company enjoying prestigious multi-year contracts which include the Tour de France, the Paris Marathon and the international cycling event Paris-Nice. 51pegasi will benefit from the expertise of MPlus and its detailed knowledge of the sport media networks to enhance the company’s software solutions. 51pegasi will also draw on MPlus’ extensive network of industry partners to market its complete packaged sport software offering which caters to sport events, sport governing bodies and media companies alike.
Page from ArkSports' Sport and Technology (www.sportandtechnology.com) on 2008-11-21 : News - January 2006 : http://www.sportandtechnology.com/news/0338.html
Sport and Technology is delighted to announce the addition of Marius Schneider, Head of Information Services at soccer’s world governing body FIFA, to its strong line-up of speakers at Sport and Technology: The Conference 2006, in association with BT Media and Broadcast, taking place on 23 February at BT Centre in London. Following in the footsteps of International Cricket Council’s Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed, who brought the highly-acclaimed 2005 event to a fitting close, Schneider will provide the conference’s closing address. His address will be entitled ‘FIFA - An ultimate content provider?’ and will use the 2006 FIFA World Cup as a timely case study, highlighting how one of the world’s largest federations will manage its flow of content when its showcase event kicks off in Germany in June this year. Tickets are strictly limited to 172 and at the time of this release, only 30 
The Australian Tennis Open 2006 gets underway from Monday 16 January and Fox Sports will be there to provide comprehensive coverage and the latest in digital technology. Fox Sports Active Tennis will once again be available in Australia to Foxtel Digital, Austar Digital and Optus TV digital subscribers throughout the Australian Open 2006, changing the way fans watch the tournament. Some of the features will include a choice of two different matches on offer (often both live), different audio, news and views from press conferences and player interviews, plus a wide range of current and historical statistics.
Euroleague Basketball has reached an agreement with Lastminute.com, making the internet leader in travel and leisure activities the Official Online Travel Agency for the highest level European club basketball competition. By way of this agreement, basketball fans will be able to acquire in the Lastminute.com website interesting travel packages, with hotel and tickets guaranteed, for the Euroleague Basketball Final Four that takes place in Prague from 28-30 April.
