Premier League confirms plans to scrap controversial pay-per-view model November 10, 2020 The Premier League has confirmed it will scrap its controversial pay-per-view model after a fierce backlash from fans. The new model, which was introduced following the international break in October, means fans have to cough up £14.95 to watch games not selected for regular broadcast. The move sparked anger among supporter groups, who raised hundreds [...]
Serena’s coach: Tennis is long, slow and too clean November 6, 2020 Tennis may have virtually ground to a halt this year, but one of the world’s most celebrated coaches, Patrick Mouratoglou, has rarely been busier. Mouratoglou, like his clients Serena Williams, Coco Gauff and Stefanos Tsitsipas, has had to adjust to life without much of the usual circuit. His academy on the French Riviera also suffered [...]
Sport rights set for devaluation as the industry reaches its Napster moment November 2, 2020 Alongside all the other ways Covid has disrupted our economy and lives, it might be set to have a dramatic impact on the value of sport rights. Some 83 per cent of executives, representing 4bn sports fans globally, believe that media rights have reached a high-water mark, a recent Seven League study found. These executives [...]
A hidden mental health epidemic is threatening our children October 30, 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic and resulting lockdown restrictions have given rise to a mental health epidemic that has swept through the UK. The restrictive measures imposed earlier this year have already adversely affected children’s mental health, and continue to intensify the glaring disadvantages experienced by those living in some of the country’s poorest communities. The figures [...]
Ashley set to enter bidding war for Jaeger October 25, 2020 Controversial High Street titan Mike Ashley is readying a bid for struggling retailer Jaeger, reports emerged today. Ashley’s Frasers Group, one known as Sports Direct, is understood to be interested in adding Austin Reed, Jacques Vert and Jaeger to his expanding portfolio. The news was first reported by the Sunday Times. Read more: Ashley plots [...]
Netflix subscriber numbers fall short as Covid-19 lockdown boost fizzles October 20, 2020 Netflix tonight posted the weakest new subscriber numbers in four years as streaming competition increased, lockdowns eased and live sports returned to television. The company added 2.2 million paid Netflix subscribers globally during the quarter to 30 September, missing Wall Street’s target of 3.4 million. Earnings per share also landed below analyst expectations at $1.74. [...]
Boohoo kicks off search for new auditor as PwC steps down October 19, 2020 Controversial fast fashion retailer Boohoo (BOO) has launched a search for a new auditor, with PwC stepping down in the wake of a report into abuses in the clothes company’s supply chain. Boohoo said in a statement that it had “recently launched a competitive tender process for the group’s audit”. It said that PwC – [...]
Falling through the cracks: How Covid-19 has put London’s events sector on the brink October 19, 2020 Perched on the banks of Regent’s Canal, Kings Place is — in normal times — one of London’s most popular events venues. From conferences and concerts to dance workshops and comedy shows, the glass-fronted building has played host to an array of spectacles in recent years. But since the coronavirus lockdown descended in March, Kings [...]
Retail mogul Mike Ashley makes fresh bid for Debenhams October 18, 2020 Sport Direct tycoon Mike Ashley has reportedly made a fresh bid for Debenhams, reviving his long-standing pursuit of the department store chain. The retail billionaire this month submitted an improved offer as the auction for Debenhams nears its final stages, the Sunday Times reported. Debenhams, which collapsed into administration in April, has hired Lazard to [...]
The Week in Sportbiz: Uncle Sam is coming for cricket, Nigel Wray bets on fitness and sports reveal trans policies October 16, 2020 Not content with trying to carve up the Premier League, Americans now have another English sacred cow in their sights: cricket. The game’s Stateside governing body today announced ambitious plans to become a major mainstream sport across the Atlantic – and achieve full member status with the International Cricket Council within a decade. USA Cricket [...]