Entertainment League enters game

Business News: Former NBA exec start sports production unit -- The ranks of companies in Los Angeles focusing on sports production and marketing have added another player: Entertainment League Prods.

Tambouras keeps Drogheda's Setanta Cup hopes alive

Drogheda United 1 Cork City 1
John Tambouras earned Drogheda a point to keep them on course to win Group 1 of the Setanta Sports Cup.

O.J. Prosecutor Says Evidence Will Show Threats

A prosecutor told jurors Monday they will learn "the true face" of O.J.
Simpson during the former football star's trial on charges of robbing
sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room.

Cats seal U-21 clash against Tipperary

The icing was put on a fantastic year for Kilkenny hurling as the Cats held off a Tipperary comeback to secure the All-Ireland Under-21 title and confirm an historic quadruple.

Sports docs step up to the fest plate

Film News: 'Baseball Story' to open U.S. Sports Film Fest -- Filmmakers with feature-length documentaries about sports have submitted a batch of pictures to the first-ever U.S. Sports Film Festival, led by the premiere of "We Are Young: A Baseball Story, " put together by Major League Baseball's production arm.

Las Vegas jury selected for O.J. Simpson's trial

A jury has been selected to decide whether O.J. Simpson and a co-defendant kidnapped and robbed two sports memorabilia dealers last year in Las Vegas.

Broadway biz boosted in '08

Business News: Attendance hits a record 12.32 million -- Broadway sales last year hit $940, 871, 190, a calendar-year record -- but just barely. Ditto attendance, which squeaked out a record of 12.32 million.

Courbit invests in music talent site

Business News: MyMajorCompany looks to expand into U.K. -- Gallic media entrepreneur Stephane Courbit, the former prexy-CEO of Endemol France, has acquired a 49% stake in French website MyMajorCompany.

Apple drops anti-piracy protection

Business News: iTunes to introduce variable pricing -- Apple is dropping its anti-piracy protection on iTunes and the music biz if finally getting the variable pricing it has long desired.

Canal Plus, Orange agree to pact

Business News: Deal will extend reach of competitors -- After months of phony war, France’s two media giants, Vivendi’s Canal Plus Group and France Telecom-Orange, have signed what looks like a historic peace pact.

ITV invests in Carbon Media

Business News: U.K. broadcaster takes 25% stake -- Blighty’s biggest private terrestrial web, ITV, has taken another stake in a shingle as the broadcaster attempts to beef up its global content activities.

France TV workers protest ad ban

Business News: Strikers hope to influence Senate -- Staffers on Gallic pubcaster France Televisions have again gone on strike to protest President Nicolas Sarkozy's post-8 p.m. ban on advertising on channels France 2, 3, 4, 5 and radio station RFO, which became effective on Monday.

Dilution of eSun halted

Business News: Passport Capital blocks efforts by company -- Wall Street investment fund Passport Capital is blocking a share dilution by eSun, the holding company that owns Hong Kong film producer Media Asia.

UTA makes Jeremy Barber partner

Business News: Film agent reps Cheadle, Coogan, Morgan -- UTA has promoted film agent Jeremy Barber to become the percentery's 19th partner.

Hollywood swag on the decline

Business News: Golden Globes to host a lighter gift of grab -- The economy is a real drag on swag. It's definitely the time of year for freebies, with at least six Golden Globes gifting suites scheduled over the weekend.

Universal takes Gamble in CFO post

Business News: Executive will report to Meyer, Calpeter -- Universal Studios has tapped Sean Gamble as executive VP and chief financial officer.