By SIMON HENDERY
The local arm of collapsed sports marketing and production firm Sportsworld Media Group has been sold to Melbourne businessman Jeff Chapman's Bennelong Group.
Sportsworld's New Zealand operation was placed in liquidation last month after the collapse of its British parent company, which was placed in administration in
March.
Chapman launched Sportsworld in Melbourne a decade ago and oversaw the international expansion of the company until he resigned as chairman in 2000.
Bennelong has bought all Sportsworld's New Zealand assets, as well as its television production company, and has renegotiated all its Super 12, NPC and NZRFU test match rugby signage contracts.
The New Zealand business will initially be run as Pacific Sports, but Anil Nair, a senior Bennelong manager who has been appointed company chairman, said Bennelong intended to rename and rebrand its assets.
Pacific Sports managing director Greg Peters said the rapid sale of the old Sportsworld business underlined the value of the local company, which was trading successfully until the global collapse.
"The purchase allows us to complete our capital growth programme, which was under threat following Sportsworld's worldwide demise," he said.
"We have very sound contracts and relationships locally and the Bennelong purchase is a very positive outcome indeed."
Most staff would be contracted to Pacific Sports and all contracts with the Super 12 franchises, the NZRFU and advertisers would be honoured by Pacific Sports.
The company plans to introduce scrolling signs featuring entertainment, information, statistics and advertising at test matches next month.
Peters said the company's broadcast arm which produces magazine television shows such as the Golf Show, Freerider, Golfglobe, Chilli Factor and Alpine Assault for TV2 would be reviewed.
He said several television projects had been presented to broadcasters and he was confident the company would launch new programming this year.
