Football clubs net global winner

Branded television channels, providing player interviews and match coverage to fans starved of football club news and unable to attend games, are seen as a viable cash generator. Manchester United's MUTV is available to 80m viewers in 68 overseas countries. It is hoped this summer's Far East tour, taking in the club's first visit to China, will boost this figure dramatically. A drawback to their expansion in the UK market, though, is that football television channels carry no competitive live action. Chris Tate, managing director of Chelsea Digital Media, believes the real future lies in technology, broadband developments and mobile communications. Tate recently signed a deal with Thai mobile company True Mobile.