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| Tottenham Hotspur eye Craig Bellamy Speculation about the future of Craig Bellamy, the Manchester City and Wales striker, has increased since the departure of Mark Hughes as manager and Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham Hotspur manager, has added to it by refusing to rule out a move for the player. “He is a winner, isn’t he?” Redknapp said. “He can be a bit of a nuisance, but he’s a nuisance when you play against him.” feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Channel 4 to show 2012 Paralympics Broadcaster pledges that Paralympics will 'take over Channel 4 for their duration' after snapping up rightsChannel 4 has won the rights to broadcast the 2012 Paralympics games.Although the BBC has the rights for the 2012 Olympics, the Paralympic broadcast rights were put out to tender.Channel 4 announced today that it had been awarded the rights to broadcast 150 hours of TV coverage from the London games.Lord Burns, the Channel 4 chairman designate, said: "For Channel 4, the London Paralympic games will be the main event, not a sideshow to the Olympics; the games will define our year in 2012 and take over Channel 4 for their duration."The Paralympics will be one of the most significant sporting events to be staged in Britain for many years and we're confident the more comprehensive and more cross-platform coverage we are offering can connect the Games with the widest possible cross-section of British viewers."Sky – rather than Channel 4 – was believed to have been the biggest rival to BBC for the rights to the games, but did not submit a bid to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Locog).Locog's decision will be a blow to the BBC – which has broadcast previous Paralympics and was keen be seen as home to all Olympic events in 2012.The Beijing event attracted a record number of viewers for a Paralympic games. The BBC says the last 15 minutes of the television coverage in 2008 was watched by 13.2 million, 23% of the population. This compares with 10.8m for the Paralympics in Athens and 12.9m for the Sydney games.Ratings figures were boosted by the popularity of the main Olympics, reflected in the the 2.7 million who watched the opening ceremony, the success of British athletes and the athletes' stories – which were highlighted by the BBC's style of coverage, devised by director of sport Roger Mosey.Channel 4 said in its tender document that it will work with IMG Media and Sunset+Vine on its Paralympics coverage. The Paralympics will run shortly after the Olympics finish.While Channel 4 broadcasts horse-racing, it does not have a wide portfolio of live sports coverage. The channel's cricket coverage was critically acclaimed and gained large viewing figures for the 2005 Ashes before it was outbid by Sky for the current contract.Channel 4 will be completely rebranded with a Paralympic theme after the London 2012 Olympic Games finish.Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012, said: "The eyes of the world will be focussed on the Paralympic games – the world's second biggest multi-sport event – in London in 2012."We are absolutely delighted to appoint Channel 4 as our broadcast partner in the UK. Channel 4 shares our vision for the Paralympic games, has a very strong appeal to young people, and will play a hugely important role in increasing public engagement and involvement in Paralympic sport in this country."We are confident that the quality and depth of the broadcast coverage provided by Channel 4 not just for the 12 days of sport in 2012, but in the two-and-a-half years leading up to the Games, will inspire disabled people of all ages to take up sport and be a catalyst for continued change in public attitudes towards disability. The commercial value of this deal has raised the bar financially for the Paralympic movement."The deal with Channel 4 includes multiplatform broadcast rights within the UK. Channel 4 will screen two peak-time 10 part documentaries in 2011 and 2012, building the stories of the athletes and their journey to the London 2012 Paralympics. It will also include dedicated coverage of the Paralympic Torch Relay.Channel 4 will also cover key disability sports and sporting events in the run-up to the Paralympics.During the games Channel 4 will show more than 150 hours of the Paralympics – believed to be more than the extent of the BBC's planned coverage, with more than 130 hours on its core channel. The coverage will be led by a flagship peak-time show, and extensive coverage will also be provided on mobile and online.Kevin Lygo, the Channel 4 director of television and content, added: "Channel 4 has done more than any other broadcaster to bring disability into the mainstream and we have a great track record of broadcast innovation with sports like Test cricket."We are genuinely thrilled to be given this opportunity to work with Locog to bring Paralympic sport into full public focus before, during and beyond the 2012 Games and to deliver a lasting legacy, including altering public attitudes to disability and disability sport."Sir Philip Craven, the International Paralympic Committee chairman, said: "The IPC congratulates Channel 4 as a free-to-air public broadcaster in being awarded the national television rights for the UK. I am sure they will work diligently in portraying just what a magnificent event the Paralympic Games really are, what Paralympic athletes are able to achieve and how they can inspire the world with their performances.Locog will begin the tender process for the international broadcast rights to the Paralympic Games later this year.• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".Channel 4ITVTelevision industryOlympics & the mediaOlympic games 2012Steve Busfieldguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Baltimore retailers report Ravens sales 'off the hook' The Baltimore Ravens’ signature purple and black colors have generated green for local retailers as the team pushes on in the playoffs. feeds.bizjournals.com |
Cavs' Mo Williams out with shoulder injury CLEVELAND (AP) -- Cavaliers starting point guard Mo Williams will miss Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers with a sprained left shoulder.... hosted.ap.org |
Leicester seek replay over 16th man row • Club makes official complaint to Heineken Cup organisers• Richard Wigglesworth to leave Sale for SaracensLeicester have hired a firm of sports Âlawyers as they press the organisers of the Heineken Cup to take action against the Ospreys for fielding 16 men at a Âcrucial stage of their quarter-final deciding group victory over the Tigers in Swansea last ÂSaturday. The club's chief executive, Peter Wheeler, has called for a replay.The Ospreys full-back, Lee Byrne, returned to the action without permission – while his temporary replacement, Sonny Parker, was still on the field – after having a cut toe treated for seven minutes. Leicester contend that Byrne stopped a probable try when he got in the way of the Tigers' scrum-half, Ben Youngs, forcing him to chip. The Ospreys point out that Youngs was on their 10-yard line and there were defenders covering in the 25."The board of directors have reviewed the footage of the game and believe there is cause for concern," said Leicester. "The board has a duty to the club and the other teams in the competition to do everything in their power to help European Rugby Cup determine, as fully and speedily as possible, who was responsible for a 16th player being on the pitch."To that end, the club has lodged an official written complaint with ERC which they are now in the process of investigating. Our chairman, Peter Tom, is also writing to the chairman of ERC, Jean-Pierre Lux, to detail our concerns in respect of the incident and the club has instructed a leading firm of sports law specialists to represent them in this matter."One plank of Leicester's case is that the referee, Alan Lewis, did not award them a penalty as the rules say he should have after learning of Byrne's presence. Lewis can be heard on television saying to Leicester players: "He says you have brought someone on as well." He did not award the penalty believing Leicester also had 16 players on the field, which the Tigers deny, and there is an unofficial suggestion from the Ospreys that one of the touch judges, David Wilkinson, has submitted evidence to ERC suggesting both sides had 16 players on the field at the same time, forming the basis of a potential counter-complaint.The Ospreys, who had 16 players against them last season when they faced Treviso, who were not punished for the mistake, are concerned that supporters will not book tickets for the 10 April quarter-final against Biarritz at Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastián until they know whether Leicester have been successful in their bid to have last weekend's match replayed. The Biarritz game is one of two quarter-finals on the Saturday. It will start at 3pm UK time with Munster's match against Northampton following at 5.30pm. Leinster take on Clermont Auvergne in Dublin the previous night with Toulouse entertaining Stade Français on the Sunday, the day when Wasps face Gloucester and Newcastle take on Cardiff Blues in the Amlin Challenge Cup.ERC today announced two players were cited for foul play during the final round of group matches, the London Irish No8, Chris Hala'Ufia and the Biarritz second-row, JĂ©rĂ´me Thion. Their cases will be heard in Dublin on Thursday, along with that of the Bath second-row, Danny Grewcock, who was sent off for stamping on the Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris's arm.Saracens have signed the England scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth from Sale on a three-year contract. The Sharks will now step up their efforts to persuade their Wales international scrum-half, Dwayne Peel, to sign a new contract. Northampton's Ireland flanker Neil Best will join Worcester this summer.Heineken CupLeicester TigersOspreysRugby unionPaul Reesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |