Konica Minolta has extended its partnership with the Men’s & Women’s European Handball Championships to become an Official Sponsor for the 2008 events. The sponsorship agreement covers the category of Printer/ Copying Machines. It was concluded with Infront Sports & Media, the exclusive commercial partner of the European Handball Federation (EHF) for its major biannual events. As the event figures show, the European Handball Championships are a prospering international sports property. The combined cumulative audience for both the men’s and the women’s competition exceeded 1.2bn in 2006, which a 40% increase from the 2004 to the 2006 event. Broadcast coverage was available in over 80 countries worldwide. The increased media attention will help Konica Minolta to carry the name of the brand to sports fans in Europe and all over the world and to share in the highly positive image of Handball. The sponsorship package acquired by Konica Minolta includes floor advertising, hospitality packages, use of official event marks, integration of Konica Minolta in the tournament’s official print publications and on the official Event website of the EHF European Handball Championships. In addition, Konica Minolta will become the exclusive supplier for printing and copying machines to support the 2008 event by providing high end printing and copying solutions.
Early kick off for EURO2008
The host broadcast operations of UEFA EURO 2008 kicked-off with the Final Draw that took place on 2 December in Lucerne, Switzerland. It was followed by the second UEFA EURO 2008 Broadcast Partner Workshop in Zurich, Switzerland. The UEFA EURO 2008 Final Draw was produced in High Definition and delivered to the 57 UEFA EURO 2008 Broadcast Partners in HD and SD 16:9 aspect ratio broadcast. Over 50 broadcasting partners aired the draw.
Becker signs for PokerStars
Tennis legend Boris Becker, winner of six grand slam events, is the new face of PokerStars. Three times Wimbledon winner and one of the iconic figures in tennis, Boris Becker is set to swap the tennis court for the green baize as he represents PokerStars in live and online tournaments, as well as starring in a new TV advertising campaign. "When I was still playing professional tennis, I started learning to play poker casually in-between games because it helped me to improve my concentration," said Becker: "Now I want to develop my poker skills and challenge myself to become really competitive at the highest levels in poker." Meanwhile, on 23 November 2007, China's first ever real money international poker tournament attracted a record breaking number of players on the historic island of Macau for the 'PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) Macau: Asian Poker Open'. A field of 352 players from 37 countries and jurisdictions around the world took to the tables on the opening day for a share of the $810,000 tournament prize pool.
BBC OB finds the X-Factor
In response to the increasing demand from programme makers for totally tapeless working environments, BBC Outside Broadcasts in the UK has developed the X-Trailer, an HD capable, reliable, cost effective and fully integrated mobile post production and transmission solution. It is based on Apple’s Final Cut Studio and XSan technologies, combined with EVS’s XT2 disc based production server system. The X-Trailer is an addition to BBC Outside Broadcasts’ continued development of new and innovative technology specifically targeted at outside broadcast operations. Building on experience gleaned from working with Final Cut Pro systems over a number of years, the X-Trailer is significantly larger, with a 47 Terra Byte Xraid and has been designed to service programme makers who require greater storage, bandwidth and mobile post production facilities. 47 Terra Bytes in SD can support 11 weeks of continuous recording! The X-Trailer supports nine edit stations. In addition, it has two dedicated ‘Live Stream’ ingest stations which provide SD/HD recording onto the Raid with AES/analogue or embedded audio. The X-Trailer was first used to support TWI’s coverage of the Snooker Grand Prix at Aberdeen’s International Conference Centre in October 2007. Running in SD with six edit clients and two ingest streams, the system contributed to some 40 hours of BBC transmission time. Meanwhile, the head of BBC Worldwide has said that the public service broadcaster has underestimated how much money it could make from the internet. Chief executive John Smith said the business initially aimed to get at least 10% of its total revenue from the internet, but has now realised this target is too low.
Strong sales for Nintendo
More than 6m Nintendo DS portable video game systems have sold in the US in 2007 through to 30 November, according to internal Nintendo of America sales numbers. That's a rate of about one sold every five seconds of 2007, enough to project Nintendo DS will be the top-selling video game system of any kind for the year. Nintendo DS has increased its sales in the US every year since it launched in November 2004.
Silverlights for NBA.com
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is set to employ Microsoft Silverlight on NBA.com to further enhance the online video experience for NBA fans around the world. Microsoft Silverlight, a cross-browser, multiplatform plug-in for delivering the next generation of media experiences and rich interactive applications for the Web, will also be utilised on WNBA.com and NBADevelopmentLeague.com. NBA.com will feature a full-screen NBA photo gallery, offer video highlights and deliver additional interactive applications throughout the site using Microsoft Silverlight. Through the use of Microsoft Corp.'s new application, the NBA will be able to provide further access to its extensive digital video library, integrate the video experience seamlessly into the site, and ultimately provide fans with access to more online video features. Microsoft Silverlight enables the fast delivery of high-quality video to all major browsers running on the Mac OS or Windows operating system. As a part of its relationship with Microsoft, the NBA will continue to explore additional opportunities to display video and photos throughout the site.
WCSN joins snow patrol
World Championship Sports Network (WCSN) has announced an all-star editorial line-up for the 2007-08 FIS World Cup Season with behind-the-scenes commentary, blogs, diaries and exclusive interviews from top skiing and snowboarding athletes. In the snowboarding category, WCSN will have two-time X Game champion Steve Fisher, along with US Snowboarding's Olympic silver medallist Gretchen Bleiler. Cross-country skiing fans will be able to follow top-ranked Andrew Newell and Kikkan Randall, as they compete in the FIS world cup events around the world. (Snowboarding image pictured courtesy of Getty Images Sport/Hannah Johnston).
Google to bid for wireless
Reports suggest that Google will bid for coveted airwaves to launch a US wireless network. The company said several months ago it was considering bidding in the auction of 700-megahertz wireless spectrum due to begin 24 January 2008. Google see the wireless spectrum as a way to create more open competition for mobile services and devices than existing networks - putting the industry on a footing similar to the internet. "We believe it's important to put our money where our principles are," said Eric Schmidt, chairman and CEO of the company.
Telstra to end Sydney naming rights deal
Australian telecoms company Telstra is to cut short its naming rights sponsorship of Sydney's Olympic stadium according to Australian media reports. The company will pull out of its deal, before its contract expires, as part of a wider move to wind down its financial commitments to local sport. Telstra is expected to keep long-term sponsorship of Australia's swimming team, but earlier this year said it would pull out of its sponsorship of Athletics Australia - which is worth about A$1m each year – at the end of this month. (This story first appeared in S&T’s sister publication, SportBusiness.com).
London 2012 seeks locksmith
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is procuring a service provider to complete the detailed design, construction and ongoing maintenance of an Access Control System (ACS) for the London 2012 Olympic Park. The ACS shall be networked and housed in access portals with appropriate token and other access technologies controlling gates, turnstiles, barriers and door locks. All personnel including staff and visitors will be required to enter the site through the portals. The ACS is required to be operational from Q4 2008 through, and during, legacy transformation, with potential for use during Games time subject to the needs of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The deadline for the receipt of expressions of interest is 5.00pm on Friday 4 January 2008. For full details see the prequalification questionnaire (PQQ) documentation via the London 2012 eTendering website at https://etenders.london2012.com
Page from ArkSports' Sport and Technology (www.sportandtechnology.com) on 2008-10- 6 : News - December 2007 : http://www.sportandtechnology.com/page/0557.html
Konica Minolta has extended its partnership with the Men’s & Women’s European Handball Championships to become an Official Sponsor for the 2008 events. The sponsorship agreement covers the category of Printer/ Copying Machines. It was concluded with Infront Sports & Media, the exclusive commercial partner of the European Handball Federation (EHF) for its major biannual events. As the event figures show, the European Handball Championships are a prospering international sports property. The combined cumulative audience for both the men’s and the women’s competition exceeded 1.2bn in 2006, which a 40% increase from the 2004 to the 2006 event. Broadcast coverage was available in over 80 countries worldwide. The increased media attention will help Konica Minolta to carry the name of the brand to sports fans in Europe and all over the world and to share in the highly positive image of Handball. The sponsorship package acquired by Konica Minolta includes floor advertising, hospitality packages, use of official event marks, integration of Konica Minolta in the tournament’s official print publications and on the official Event website of the EHF European Handball Championships. In addition, Konica Minolta will become the exclusive supplier for printing and copying machines to support the 2008 event by providing high end printing and copying solutions.
In response to the increasing demand from programme makers for totally tapeless working environments, BBC Outside Broadcasts in the UK has developed the X-Trailer, an HD capable, reliable, cost effective and fully integrated mobile post production and transmission solution. It is based on Apple’s Final Cut Studio and XSan technologies, combined with EVS’s XT2 disc based production server system. The X-Trailer is an addition to BBC Outside Broadcasts’ continued development of new and innovative technology specifically targeted at outside broadcast operations. Building on experience gleaned from working with Final Cut Pro systems over a number of years, the X-Trailer is significantly larger, with a 47 Terra Byte Xraid and has been designed to service programme makers who require greater storage, bandwidth and mobile post production facilities. 47 Terra Bytes in SD can support 11 weeks of continuous recording! The X-Trailer supports nine edit stations. In addition, it has two dedicated ‘Live Stream’ ingest stations which provide SD/HD recording onto the Raid with AES/analogue or embedded audio. The X-Trailer was first used to support TWI’s coverage of the Snooker Grand Prix at Aberdeen’s International Conference Centre in October 2007. Running in SD with six edit clients and two ingest streams, the system contributed to some 40 hours of BBC transmission time. Meanwhile, the head of BBC Worldwide has said that the public service broadcaster has underestimated how much money it could make from the internet. Chief executive John Smith said the business initially aimed to get at least 10% of its total revenue from the internet, but has now realised this target is too low.
World Championship Sports Network (WCSN) has announced an all-star editorial line-up for the 2007-08 FIS World Cup Season with behind-the-scenes commentary, blogs, diaries and exclusive interviews from top skiing and snowboarding athletes. In the snowboarding category, WCSN will have two-time X Game champion Steve Fisher, along with US Snowboarding's Olympic silver medallist Gretchen Bleiler. Cross-country skiing fans will be able to follow top-ranked Andrew Newell and Kikkan Randall, as they compete in the FIS world cup events around the world. 
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is procuring a service provider to complete the detailed design, construction and ongoing maintenance of an Access Control System (ACS) for the London 2012 Olympic Park. The ACS shall be networked and housed in access portals with appropriate token and other access technologies controlling gates, turnstiles, barriers and door locks. All personnel including staff and visitors will be required to enter the site through the portals. The ACS is required to be operational from Q4 2008 through, and during, legacy transformation, with potential for use during Games time subject to the needs of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The deadline for the receipt of expressions of interest is 5.00pm on Friday 4 January 2008. For full details see the prequalification questionnaire (PQQ) documentation via the London 2012 eTendering website at 
