MUMBAI: The International Boxing Association (Aiba) has renewed its partnership with sports marketing company Total Sports Asia (TSA), to distribute the international TV rights of its events this year.

Aiba is looking to increase both exposure and revenues of its events around the world and chose to re-appoint TSA, its media partner since 2010, for the Aiba World Championships (worldwide) as well as its distributor for World Series of Boxing Season II in Asia.

The events list includes the European Championships (May 30 - June 9 2013, Minsk in Belarus), the Aiba World Boxing Championships (11-27 October, Almaty in Kazakhstan) as well as the Aiba World Junior Boxing Championships (17-26 August, Kiev in Ukraine).

Boxers will now compete without head guard under a pro-style scoring system starting this year after several significant rule changes by the sport?s international governing body.

TSA chief content officer Julian Jackson said, "Our company has a long and successful history with the sport of boxing and we distributed the previous World Championships to a record number of countries, so we are delighted that Aiba has chosen us once more to be their media partner. Aiba are a great forward thinking organization and we are very proud to be associated with them."

MUMBAI: Sony Six has made a commitment to air both live events and archived events produced by Glory, the world?s new premier kickboxing league, on an exclusive basis for the first time in India.

Sports marketing agency Total Sports Asia (TSA) is Glory?s worldwide distribution partner.

Glory has signed up 90 per cent of the best martial arts stand up fighters, or kickboxers, in the world and has effectively established a platform for the highest level of combat in six different weight classes ? featherweight 65 kilograms), lightweight (70 kilograms), welterweight (77 kilograms), middleweight (85 kilograms), light heavyweight (95 kilograms) and heavyweight (above 95 kilograms) awarding a total of over US $2 million in prize money annually at events across the globe.

Sony Six is owned and operated by Multi Screen Media which has the broadcast rights for Indian Premier League (IPL), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and NBA.

Commenting on the tie-up, Multi Screen Media (MSM) COO N P Singh said, ?We are very happy to announce that Glory will now be available on Six. Glory already attracts a 550 million audience & with India, we have the potential to reach a 100 million more.

Indian sports lovers are maturing in their taste for fast paced fight sports, and there is a huge demand for such action packed and adrenaline pumping sporting events. We are proud to associate with Glory and look forward to airing it exclusively to our Indian audiences.?

TSA Chief Content Officer Julian Jackson stated, ?We are delighted that the top management of Sony could see what Glory is trying to achieve. They recognised the colossal project that Glory has undertaken and the massive financial commitment that the owner, Pierre Andurand, has made to ensure it succeeds. Glory has exceeded all of our expectations in terms of broadcast coverage with us being in almost every country in the world with the ability to reach over 550+million viewers ? now we are delighted that Indian combat fans will get the chance to see why Glory is sweeping the globe on Sony Six."

MUMBAI: Relenting under pressure from the country?s sports ministry, the Sri Lankan cricket board (SLC) has called bids for commercial rights for international matches played in the island nation.

The tender includes rights for international television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, internet, wireless mobile besides on-ground and title rights.

The SLC has also floated a separate tender for television production of international matches in Sri Lanka. Like the media rights, the international TV production is also for a period of seven years from 2013 through to 2020.

The closing date for submitting both bids is 16 March at 2 pm local time.

Unlike the previous four-year cycle, the commercial rights will be granted for a period of seven years. The floor price of the rights have not been disclosed.

According to local media reports there is a dispute going between SLC and the country?s Sports Ministry about how to award the commercial media rights.

SLC president Upali Dharmadasa has said that the agreement with Ten Sports has a clause where SLC has to negotiate with the broadcaster. If talks fail, then SLC can go for a tender; even then Ten Sports has the right to match the highest bid.

Zeel-owned Taj Television is the incumbent broadcast rights holder. In 2009, the company had retained the rights for four more years after much legal wrangling by forking out $65 million.

Only one India tour can put pressure on value of property

The SLC seven-year cycle features only one India tour which means that the value of the commercial rights is likely to see a drop as sports broadcasters recoup most of their investments through India matches.

In the new seven-year cycle, India will tour Sri Lanka in July-August, 2017 involving three Tests, five ODIs and two T20s unless the SLC and BCCI agree to play more than once.

The previous rights cycle had two India tours.

Madison bids for shirt sponsorship rights

SLC, which had recently floated tenders for shirt sponsorship rights, got four bids from India?s leading media and marketing agency Madison Media, Sri Lankan telecom operator Dialog Axiata, Sri Lanka Tea Board, and sports marketing agency Total Sports Asia (TSA).

Two bids were in excess of Rs 2 billion, the SLC said.

SLC had called for tenders from interested parties to appoint the new team sponsor for the Men?s and Women?s national team for a period of three years starting from June 2013.

The new team sponsor will be announced after evaluation and approval from SLC?s Sponsorship and Executive Committee.

MUMBAI: Badminton Europe, the governing body of badminton in Europe, has chosen Total Sports Asia (TSA), to distribute the international TV rights to its events for the cycle 2013-2016. The events include the European Championships, European Mixed Team Championships, European Men?s and Women?s Team Championships as well as the European Club Championships.

Badminton Europe, who had recently issued a tender for its media rights, are looking for a much wider exposure of their events around the world and chose to appoint TSA, which has been distributing badminton events as the media partner of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) since 2005 as well as organiser and distributor of the prestigious Axiata Cup.

Badminton Europe General Secretary Brian Agerbak said, "With TSA we have found a professional and badminton-experienced sports marketing agency. The cooperation with TSA will ensure better exposure for our European badminton events. We are hoping to reach a new level of promoting our badminton events in Europe. I am looking forward to a good working relationship."

TSA?s Chief Content Officer Julian Jackson said, "Our company has a long and successful history with the sport of badminton and we are delighted to extend that with Badminton Europe, particularly as they are such a professional and well run organisation. We strongly believe that we can help take European badminton not only to its home markets but also to the rest of the world given our experience success with the BWF."

MUMBAI: Sports marketing agency Total Sports Asia has announced the appointment of former AEG Sports president Shawn Hunter as the non-executive chairman of the board of directors.

Hunter helped start the Tour of California, which has become one of the top non-Grand Tour cycling races in the world. It drew 1.3 million spectators in its first year in 2006 and 1.6 million its second year. Hunter then worked for nearly four years as Chivas USA president and CEO of Major League Soccer. Last year Hunter was appointed co-chair of Colorado?s Quiznos Pro Challenge cycling race.

He said, "I?m very excited about joining the Board of TSA. I have great belief in the TSA business proposition and operating model. Marcus Luer and the TSA team have a strong vision for the business going forward and I am delighted that I will be able to use my experience to assist in this development."

TSA MD Marcus Luer said, "I am extremely pleased to have Shawn join the TSA team. Shawn?s experience will be of great value as we work to fulfill our long-term strategic vision and his direct experience in the US and global sports business will be invaluable as we position TSA for meaningful growth."

TSA?s Private Equity partner Nectar Capital managing partner Scott Rudmann said, "We delighted that our partners at TSA have succeeded with the appointment of Shawn Hunter as non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. Shawn brings with him a history of achievement and success in the sports marketing and promotion business. Shawn will be able to assist TSA in their continuing growth and exploration of new sports and markets".