Talks
underway to launch soccer TV channel
Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has revealed that talks are underway
to create a new football TV channel. The proposed station may incorporate
all the domestic football in both England and Scotland, as well as England's
international matches. The channel would be available on a subscription
basis with the combined football bodies renting their own broadcasting
platform for their product. Dein said: "If you put together the Premier
League, the Football League, the FA Cup, England internationals and maybe
even the Scottish league as well, then you have a very sexy product to
offer." [May 6]
New
horse racing channel launches
New horse racing channel Attheraces has launched on Sky channel 418,
broadcasting free to subscribers of Sky's basic package and upwards.
The channel broadcasts racing from 49 British racecourses for 14 hours
every day from 7am to 9pm. The channel's main objectives are to increase
live TV coverage of horse racing and to raise the sport's profile and
popularity across the widest audiences. It has launched a Web site here.
Meanwhile, the The Racing Channel has also become a free service as
well. [May 5]
ITV
Sport Channel to shut down this week
ITV Sport Channel is to close down this week. The channel, which has
been transmitting as a free-to-air service since ITV Digital shut down,
will broadcast for the final time on Saturday May 11 when its rights
for Football League games run out. Champions League games, the Rugby
World Cup and Tour De France coverage are expected to go to ITV2. A
spokesman for ITV said: "It means that instead of just 200,000
subscribers seeing these sports, they will be available to seven million
homes which have access to digital TV." [May 5]
Government
still aiming for 2010 switch-off
Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell is still adamant that ITV Digital's
demise will not delay the switch-off of analogue TV signals. She said:
"2006-10 is the period during which we expect the analogue signal
to be switched off. Every necessary step is being taken to drive that."
[May 4]
New
Jazz radio station launches
London-based music station Jazz FM has launched on Sky Digital channel
917. The station is simulcasting the same feed as its London station.
It broadcasts specialist jazz programmes including Latin, Big Band,
Fusion and New Orleans music. [May 4]
Boris
Becker joins BBC tennis commentary team
Triple Wimbledon champion Boris Becker has signed a deal with the BBC
to join the television commentary team for the 2002 Wimbledon tennis
championships. Boris Becker said: "As I have said many times, I
have always regarded Wimbledon Centre Court as my living room, and I'm
really looking forward to seeing this room from a different perspective.
I am very honoured to be asked to be part of the BBC team, as the BBC
for me has always represented the best in sports coverage." [May
3]
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