MUMBAI: Sportcal.com is organising a conference on 24 January 2006 in London.

Sports Media Rights - The New Market will explore recent developments in the sports rights market through a series of debates and discussions.The conference will consist of four main panel sessions that will discuss recent changes in the sports media rights landscape and how they affect sports federations/rights-holders, television, new media and sports agencies.

Speakers will include SportFive CEO Philip Cordes, FA Premier League intl broadcasting and media ops head Phil Lines, TWI CEO Bill Sinrich and FIH marketing manager Steven Morris.

Key issues that will be discussed include:

Should a sports body sell its own rights in-house or use a sports agency?
What is the value of free-to-air television coverage of a sports event versus pay-television?
Should sports bodies hold out for a rights fee for television coverage of their events or offer them to broadcasters free and seek to pay for them through sponsorship?
What is the value of traditional television coverage versus new media such as broadband and mobile?
What are the risks and benefits of unbundling new media rights from television rights?
How are owners packaging rights to maximise income and comply with regulatory obligations?

What are the trends in major soccer league values? Does the recent French Ligue 1 deal give any encouragement to other leagues, such as the Bundesliga?
What are the implications of the decisions of the IOC and Fifa to agree new deals with the EBU?
How far have separate markets for wireless/broadband rights developed?
Why cant rights-owners demand the same premium for wireless rights exclusivity as with TV rights?
What are the new options for sports federations to get exposure for their events (and sponsors)?