ArkSports Limited, publisher of the e-newsletter Sport and Technology, is delighted to announce the launch of an exciting new concept within the technology and sport markets – the exclusive Sport and Technology Executive Club (STEC). The first STEC networking evening, held on Thursday 27 April, was hosted by law firm Clintons Solicitors, a sponsor of Sport and Technology and Sport and Technology: The Conference. Speaking at the launch, Philip Stinson, a partner at Clintons said: "Clintons was honoured to host the inaugural meeting of the Sport and Technology Executive Club at our London headquarters. Both sport and the technology sector are important areas in our business and we were only too pleased to both continue our relationship with ArkSports and meet our industry peers." Guests at the networking evening included representatives from a wide range of sports properties and technology companies. As members of STEC, they will benefit from a range of products and events including quarterly white-papers and networking events; a members’ only online forum and closed-door seminars: “We have launched STEC in direct response to a lack of networking opportunities and information sharing between professionals working specifically in the sport and technology sectors,” said Rachael Church, Editor of Sport and Technology and Managing Director of ArkSports. “Members globally will benefit from premium content on our soon-to-be launched STEC website, as well as the opportunity to exchange information and take part in online and offline debates with their peers.” Industry individuals interested in joining STEC and therefore becoming eligible to attend the July networking event, sponsored by The Sports Recruitment Company, and receive the first quarterly white paper, should contact Luke Boyle for Membership Rates at lboyle@arksports.com.
Sky Italia to use Piero Technology for FIFA World Cup
Red Bee Media's Piero system, the first technology of its kind that enables better analysis of sports games, has been sold to Sky Italia and will be used in the broadcaster's FIFA World Cup coverage. Piero enables viewers to see 'play' from angles that can not be captured by cameras. The Piero technology transposes pictures of real players into a virtual stadium, where it is possible to view and analyse play from different angles in animated sequences. Offside, forward passing and other offences can be seen from the best angle for analysis - even if the play has not been captured at this angle. The Piero technology is named after Piero della Francesca, one of the great artists of the early Italian Renaissance who also wrote treatises on geometry and perspective and was one of the first to apply the techniques to painting. Piero della Francesca was born in San Sepolcro and worked in Florence, Rimini, Arezzo, Ferrara and Rome. He worked on the frescoes for the hospital of Santa Maria Nuova in Florence with Domenico Veneziano. Sky Italia plans to use Piero in its soccer coverage on an ongoing basis and first used Piero on 18 April 2006 in its coverage of the Champions League semi-final of AC Milan versus Barcelona.
EA Sports teams up with FIFA in long-term deal to 2014
Electronic Arts (EA) has signed up with world soccer’s governing body FIFA from 2007-14 as the worldwide exclusive FIFA Licensee in the product category of interactive football/soccer player, manager and fantasy software games for all delivery methods including consoles, mobile phones and online formats. EA has had a close association with the game of soccer for more than a decade, having developed the very successful range of FIFA games launched in 1993 and currently with the 2006 FIFA World Cup game, which enables fans to experience the 2006 FIFA World Cup matches on a unique playing field. In the early 1990s, FIFA pioneered the industry as the first major sports governing body to endorse a video game. In 2004, FIFA continued in this pioneering spirit by launching the first officially sanctioned worldwide video gaming tournament, the FIFA Interactive World Cup. EA will pursue its support for this event and join forces with the new FIFA Partner Sony, as of 2007, to provide the gaming solution and further develop the ambitious virtual soccer tournament.
EMPICS finds the right formula
EMPICS, sponsor of Sport and Technology, has confirmed an exclusive deal with the world’s largest independent motorsport picture agency, Sutton Motorsport Images, to deliver Formula One coverage to picture buyers in the UK. Sutton has appointed EMPICS as its exclusive agent for live sales to UK newspapers for the 2006 Grand Prix season. Sutton’s live F1 images are also available to the general editorial market (excluding specialist motoring press) through EMPICS.com. In addition to the live F1 agreement, the EMPICS team can fulfil requests for archive pictures from the extensive Sutton Motorsport picture library, comprising over 3m images from major motoring championships since the 1950s.
Rangers launch 3-in-1 online season ticket renewals
Scottish Premier League soccer club Rangers FC has launched a 3-in-1 online season ticket renewal service that is helping the club to cut costs, drive ticket sales and offer supporters a quicker and easier service. Developed by Software4Sport as an enhancement to the Talent Sport ticketing and CRM system, the service lets supporters renew their season ticket, pay by Direct Debit and sign up to the Rangers CCM pre-payment scheme for non-season ticket home games and non-SPL away games - all in one transaction. Andy Ward, Head of Ticketing for Rangers says: "By giving supporters the opportunity to do all this in one go, we have made the process quicker and easier. Because it is automated, supporters get an instant confirmation of their purchase. By making it possible to sign up to the CCM pre-payment scheme whilst renewing, we also aim to encourage more people to join." So far, the service is proving popular. As Ward says: "We have 42,000 season ticket holders and so far, 18% of those renewing have chosen to do so online, which we are delighted with."
Narrowstep aims well above the belt
Narrowstep, the TV on the internet company, has helped launched a dedicated new Martial Arts broadband channel entitled Martial Arts TV. This is now available to view free of charge in the UK and will act as a lifestyle and entertainment source for martial arts fans. From launch, Martial Arts TV will offer UK broadband connected viewer free martial arts action including sports, movies, lifestyle and entertainment programming. The service will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and will carry sponsorship and advertising. Initial content includes Kickboxing from Thailand, independent movies, specially created animations, quirky music videos, health and exercise training videos and more. Further large scale programming deals from the world of martial arts sports and movies are expected to be announced soon.
Betandwin to become new AC Milan shirt sponsor
Betandwin, one of the leading providers of online gaming products in Europe, is to become Italian Serie A soccer club AC Milan's new shirt sponsor. The two organisations have signed an agreement - initially for a period of four seasons - guaranteeing that the online gaming provider's Betandwin logo will be seen on the team's shirts in all national and international matches. In conformity with national legislation, Betandwin's sports betting odds will also be streamed live on the displays in the San Siro Stadium.
New golf internet TV channel pilot launched
A new web-based TV platform that is free-to-view and dedicated totally to the game of golf is being launched by Channel 2020. The proposition is to create the most highly visited golf website in European golf, attracting visitors with high-quality free golf TV content. There are currently 10m broadband users in the UK alone who will be able to access the site. The free-to-view TV site will be supported by a one-stop gateway to leading brands, retailers plus features and reviews. This will be utilised by top name brands in the industry that want to engage with golf consumers. ‘Click on Golf’ will provide opportunities for advertising, sponsorship, product placement, cross-promotion and retailer income. Meanwhile, GolfBug.tv, the world's first broadband TV golf channel, was officially launched at the London Golf Show at the end of April. GolfBug.tv claims to offer golf enthusiasts at all levels the chance to watch an informative and entertaining daily schedule of golf TV programmes and access information on all things golf direct from their PC. Available free-to-view and on-demand 24/7, programming includes daily roundups of European Tour events, highlights of past tournaments from around the world and expert instruction. The channel combines programming with the latest news from the professional tours around the world, reviews on some of the worlds' best courses and resorts, interviews with leading personalities in the game, as well as reviews of the latest equipment.
Aura Sports inks deal with the Magpies
Specialised digital sports agency, Aura Sports, and Newcastle United Football Club, have reached agreement for Aura Sports to become the exclusive third-party sales and sponsorship partner for the English Premier League soccer club’s official website, www.nufc.co.uk. The website is one of the most trafficked official club sites in the UK, with 350,000 monthly unique users, delivering over 3.5m page impressions monthly. The agreement includes Aura Sports brokering traditional banners and skyscraper advertising and also e-mail and newsletter campaigns.
Poker pushes the button
A first of-its-kind Texas Hold Em patent for the poker tournament arena has been announced for a new product called the ButtonTimer, an authentic casino dealer button with an integrated timer. The ButtonTimer has the same look, feel, and size of dealer buttons used in casinos with, according to the inventors, one significant difference - it has a built-in programmable timer which keeps track of the time and alerts the players during tournament play when time has elapsed. The invention combines two poker accessories into one to be used during poker tournament play. Testing of the ButtonTimer throughout poker communities in Southern California in the US has already generated significant interest and hundreds of pre-orders.
Page from ArkSports' Sport and Technology (www.sportandtechnology.com) on 2008-11-21 : News - May 2006 : http://www.sportandtechnology.com/news/0375.html
ArkSports Limited, publisher of the e-newsletter Sport and Technology, is delighted to announce the launch of an exciting new concept within the technology and sport markets – the exclusive Sport and Technology Executive Club (STEC). The first STEC networking evening, held on Thursday 27 April, was hosted by law firm Clintons Solicitors, a sponsor of Sport and Technology and Sport and Technology: The Conference. Speaking at the launch, Philip Stinson, a partner at Clintons said: "Clintons was honoured to host the inaugural meeting of the Sport and Technology Executive Club at our London headquarters. Both sport and the technology sector are important areas in our business and we were only too pleased to both continue our relationship with ArkSports and meet our industry peers." Guests at the networking evening included representatives from a wide range of sports properties and technology companies. As members of STEC, they will benefit from a range of products and events including quarterly white-papers and networking events; a members’ only online forum and closed-door seminars: “We have launched STEC in direct response to a lack of networking opportunities and information sharing between professionals working specifically in the sport and technology sectors,” said Rachael Church, Editor of Sport and Technology and Managing Director of ArkSports. “Members globally will benefit from premium content on our soon-to-be launched STEC website, as well as the opportunity to exchange information and take part in online and offline debates with their peers.” Industry individuals interested in joining STEC and therefore becoming eligible to attend the July networking event, sponsored by The Sports Recruitment Company, and receive the first quarterly white paper, should contact Luke Boyle for Membership Rates at 
Narrowstep, the TV on the internet company, has helped launched a dedicated new Martial Arts broadband channel entitled Martial Arts TV.
ura Sports, and Newcastle United Football Club, have reached agreement for Aura Sports to become the exclusive third-party sales and sponsorship partner for the English Premier League soccer club’s official website, 
