Branson attacks Murdoch's pay-TV dominance - 23rd October 2009

Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, has attacked Rupert Murdoch's dominance, through BSkyB, of the UK's pay television market.

In a Financial Times article today, Rein in Sky and offer the consumer a choice, Branson likens BSkyB to British Airways in 1990, when the airline held exclusive rights to flying between London's Heathrow airport and the US.

His intervention is clearly designed to put pressure on Ofcom, the media regulator, which has been consulting on its plan to force BSkyB to offer its premium channels to rivals to increase competition in the pay-TV market.

Virgin Media, in which Branson's Virgin Group holds a 6.5% stake, has led the regulatory challenge to BSkyB alongside other subscription rivals.

BSkyB responded by saying the comparison with BA was "woefully wrong" because consumers appear satisfied with its pay-TV service.

Ofcom's final decision is expected early next year.

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*Media Man Australia director and founder, Greg Tingle, holds shares in Virgin Blue

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ClubWPT.com Members Get a Shot to Play in Poker’s Most Exclusive Celebrity Tournament - 20th October 2009

Starting Tomorrow, Players Can Compete Every Week to Win One of Twelve Seats in the 8th Annual World Poker Tour® Invitational

LOS ANGELES -- Kicking off an 11-week tournament series tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET, www.ClubWPT.com is giving members the chance to win entry into the most exclusive tournament on the poker circuit — the 8th Annual WPT Invitational. Twelve winners will head to Los Angeles with $1,000 (USD) spending cash, two VIP party passes and a seat to play among the biggest names in Hollywood and poker in the televised World Poker Tour® (WPT) tournament.

Held annually at the Commerce Casino, the WPT Invitational is a red carpet, invitation-only event that brings together celebrities and poker pros to play for charity, a $200,000* prize pool, and a shot at a WPT title. Past attendees include pros Phil Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey, Mike Sexton, Vince Van Patten and 2009 Invitational champion Freddy Deeb, as well as Vince Vaughn, Paris Hilton, Ben Affleck, Jason Alexander, Mena Suvari, James Woods, and Don Cheadle, to name a few.

The 2010 WPT Invitational is currently scheduled for February 20 – 21*, with the final six players returning March 3 to battle it out on the WPT set in front of television cameras. The tournament will be filmed for broadcast on Fox Sports Net (FSN) in 2010.

The ClubWPT.com Invitational Seat tournament schedule is as follows*. All tournaments begin at 9 p.m. ET. Visit www.ClubWPT.com for more information:


Wednesday, Oct. 21
Wednesday, Oct. 28
Sunday, Nov. 1
Wednesday, Nov. 11
Sunday, Nov. 15
Wednesday, Nov. 25
Wednesday, Dec. 2
Sunday, Dec. 6
Wednesday, Dec. 16
Sunday, Dec. 20
Wednesday, Dec. 30
Sunday, Jan. 3

ClubWPT.com — the World Poker Tour’s online subscription poker room — gives poker players a legal, risk-free way to play online poker to win big cash and prizes, including $10,000 WPT main event seats, WPT Boot Camp seats, and more. For $19.95 monthly subscription, members can play in thousands of poker and blackjack tournaments for their share of $100,000 in cash and prizes each month plus exclusive benefits like $3,000 in Las Vegas VIP discounts and access to watch full WPT Season VII episodes online. For more information, visit www.ClubWPT.com.

No purchase is necessary for the www.ClubWPT.com sweepstakes and the service is void in states where prohibited. Must be 18 years or older to play.

*Dates, times and prize pool subject to change.

ABOUT WPTE

WPT Enterprises, Inc. is one of the most recognized names in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online and mobile. WPTE has led innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, when it ignited the global poker boom with the creation of the World Poker Tour television show based on a series of high stakes poker tournaments. WPT is now broadcast globally and is currently filming its all-new eighth season for broadcast on Fox Sports Net’s national sports network in the United States. WPTE also offers a unique online subscription and sweepstakes-based poker club, ClubWPT.com, which operates in 38 states across the U.S. WPTE also participates in strategic brand license, partnership and sponsorship opportunities. For more information, see www.worldpokertour.com. (WPTEG)

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UFC 104: Machida vs. Rua Card Finalized

The UFC’s return to Southern California is complete as the UFC has officially confirmed the 9 remaining bouts on the card.

UFC 104 will feature a light heavyweight title bout between undefeated champion Lyoto Machida and former Pride middleweight Grand Prix champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

Heavyweights Cain Valasquez will also be taking on former IFL standout Ben Rothwell in the co-main event.

The remaining bouts that have been made official by the UFC are:

Josh Neer vs. Gleison Tibau
Joe Stevenson vs. Spencer Fisher
Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida
Antoni Hardonk vs. Pat Berry
Yushin Okami vs. Chael Sonnen
Jorge Rivera vs. Rob Kimmons
Ryan Bader vs. Eric “Red” Schafer
Kyle Kingsbury vs. Razak Al-Hassan
Stefan Struve vs. Chase Gormley

UFC 104 will take place in the home of the 2008-2009 world champion Los Angeles Lakers, STAPLES Center, on October 24th.

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The Apprentice - Network Nine Australia

The Apprentice screens on Mondays at 9.30pm on Network Nine Australia.

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Virgin Games Launches New Ad Campaign Focusing on Free Bingo

Virgin Games has launched a new ad campaign this month with a strong emphasis on 'Free Bingo'. The advert, now found on YouTube, features Ricardo the Mexican ‘Jalapeño’, singing a quirky tune to let people know that you can play free at Virgin Bingo.

*Sorry, no U.S or Australian Players

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