The Economic Times (India)
중도 성향
스포츠
The Economic Times · "FIFA" · 총 8건
필터 보기현재 지수
50.0
0 = 부정 우세
50 = 중립
100 = 긍정 우세
최근 7일 기준 794건을 분석한 결과, 뉴스 심리지수는 50.0(균형)입니다. 긍정 0건(0.0%)·중립 794건(100.0%)·부정 0건(0.0%)이며, 중립 비중이 뚜렷하게 높습니다. 성향 지수는 종합 0.0(중도 균형)입니다.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest tournament in soccer history, spread across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. For millions of fans, getting to the games may prove almost as challenging as the matches themselves.With airfares climbing, gasoline prices rising and airport security lines stretching patience to the limit, North America's rail and bus operators see the month-long tournament as a rare opportunity: a chance to persuade travelers to swap planes and cars for trains, buses and public transit.For transportation providers, the World Cup is more than a sporting spectacle. It is a high-stakes audition before a global audience."We want you to be able to use our system seamlessly from the minute you decide to come to the World Cup, all the way into the games, and after that to get home," said Conan Cheung, chief operations officer for LA Metro, the public transportation authority serving the Los Angeles region.Los Angeles, which will host eight matches including the U.S. team's opening game, hopes the tournament will help reshape perceptions of a city often synonymous with traffic jams and sprawling freeways.For Cheung, the objective extends beyond impressing foreign visitors. The World Cup is also an opportunity to convince more Angelenos to embrace a public transportation system that has expanded significantly in recent years.That challenge resonates across much of the United States and Canada, where public transit networks are often less extensive than those found in Europe or Asia and where private vehicles remain the preferred mode of transport."Transit providers have an opportunity to provide service to a group of people who do not typically use transit on a day-to-day basis," said Yonah Freemark, a principal research associate at the Washington-based Urban Institute."Many of the World Cup fans coming from the U.S. or Canada do not necessarily use transit services regularly."The impressions those travelers form during the tournament could have lasting consequences."They should be making sure that the services they provide are high quality and not too expensive, because the people who are riding them are going to form an impression of those transit agencies — and there's a chance to really prove that they can provide a good service," Freemark said.Opportunity meets realityYet attracting new riders may prove easier than accommodating them.The World Cup's 104 matches will unfold across four time zones and thousands of miles, placing enormous demands on transportation networks already operating close to capacity.Ground transportation companies are eager to capitalize on soaring airline costs, but many are also wrestling with higher operating expenses of their own, particularly fuel prices.That leaves operators balancing competing priorities: attracting new customers while avoiding disruptions or price increases that could alienate the commuters who rely on them every day.For intercity bus giant FlixBus, the tournament represents a significant growth opportunity.Together with sister brand Greyhound, the company operates one of North America's largest transportation networks and says demand between host cities is already accelerating, with some departures sold out and others filling rapidly.Ahead of the tournament, the company has invested heavily in new buses and technology while placing renewed emphasis on punctuality."What is critical here is every Flix experience needs to be a happy one. That's how we actually grow our business. And this is a great opportunity," said Flix North America CEO Kai Boysan."We will welcome all the new customers and we want them to see what a change we've done and what a great experience they're going to have."Boysan believes buses are well-positioned to benefit from frustrations increasingly associated with air travel."Airports are congested and the costs are rising. And clearly travelers are naturally looking for alternatives. And there we come into effect," he said.The price problemWhile operators hope to lure travelers away from planes, some transit agencies have faced criticism for sharply increasing fares during the tournament.Few examples generated more backlash than New Jersey Transit, whose train service between Manhattan and MetLife Stadium — venue for eight matches including the July 19 final — initially carried a round-trip fare of $150 for a journey that normally costs less than $13.NJ Transit argued that the increase was necessary to cover approximately $48 million in additional costs related to security, crowd management and World Cup operations.Public criticism forced a rethink.The agency subsequently lowered the fare to $98 after securing additional advertising revenue, while shuttle bus prices on the same route were cut to $20 from the originally proposed $80 after organizers arranged additional capacity through local school buses.Boston has also announced higher event-day transportation prices. Round-trip rail tickets between downtown Boston and the stadium hosting seven World Cup matches will cost $80, compared with the usual $20 to $30, while a bus ride will cost $95.The fare hikes have drawn criticism from politicians, including U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer."Charging more than 11 times the normal fare for a train ride is a ripoff, plain and simple. FIFA is making billions from this World Cup," Schumer said after the original New Jersey fare was announced."FIFA should cover the ride, not stick New York fans with the bill."FIFA has countered that high transit costs could encourage fans to seek alternative ways to reach stadiums and noted that comparable international sporting events have generally not required organizers to fund transportation impacts.Different approachesNot every city has opted for higher prices.In Los Angeles, riders heading to World Cup matches will pay standard fares."Our regular fare is $1.75, so people will be able to pay that," said Cheung. "We will honor all of the discounts we have."Philadelphia is going a step further.Fans attending matches in the city will pay just $2.90 to travel to the stadium by train and receive a free ride home, courtesy of tournament sponsor Airbnb.National rail operator Amtrak is also preparing for increased demand as supporters move between host cities throughout the month-long competition."We are fully committed to running a world-class railroad ... and ensuring our infrastructure is ready to accommodate new and returning guests," said W. Kyle Anderson, Amtrak's director of communications.For transportation providers across North America, the World Cup offers a fleeting but valuable chance to showcase what their systems can do.The tournament will crown a world champion on the field. Away from the stadiums, trains, buses and transit networks will be competing in a contest of their own — to convince millions of travelers that public transportation can be fast, reliable and worth returning to long after the final whistle.
New Delhi, Leading broadcaster Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) on Tuesday announced the launch of its sports broadcasting portfolio under the 'Unite8 Sports' brand after receiving the necessary approvals from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.The development comes a day after the company announced an eight-year partnership with the world soccer body, FIFA, to broadcast all matches, including World Cup 2026, in the Indian market.Four channels -- Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD -- have gone live across more than 500 cable and distribution platforms nationwide, said a company statement.These sports networks will offer coverage of a wide range of sporting events, including football, cricket, kabaddi, badminton, wrestling, boxing and combat sports.Commenting on the development, Bavesh Janavlekar, Chief Business Officer, Unite8 Sports, said: "Our focus is on ensuring seamless access for viewers, supported by strong partnerships across the distribution ecosystem. We are geared up to present the upcoming FIFA events across our channels, and we remain well-positioned to deliver a compelling viewing experience to fans across the Nation."
Shares of Zee Entertainment Enterprises jumped 7% on Monday, extending gains for the fifth consecutive session, with its market cap swelling by over Rs 1,662 crore during the gaining streak.The stock has surged 20% in the last five sessions to hit a nearly six-month high of Rs 99.44 apiece on Monday morning. The company’s market capitalisation increased to Rs 9,551 crore.What's driving the rally in Zee's share price?The recent surge comes amid buzz over the company nearing a deal to bag India media rights for 2026 FIFA World Cup after Reliance Industries’ JioStar exited the race. In an exchange filing released last week, Zee confirmed it is in talks with Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to broadcast and stream the World Cup in India as part of its efforts to “build a competitive sports content offering.”The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada and Mexico. People familiar with the matter told The Economic Times that JioStar had made a final offer of about $15 million before backing out, citing the narrow window between the signing of the agreement and the start of the tournament, leaving limited time for monetisation.Notably, Zee had exited sports broadcasting in 2016 after selling Ten Sports to Sony Pictures Networks India for $385 million. Zee re-entered sports in 2021 by acquiring the long-term global media rights for the International League T20 (ILT20) in a deal estimated at $100-150 million, signalling its intent to rebuild a sports portfolio.The broadcaster is now sharpening its focus on sports with plans to launch four channels: Unite8 Sports 1 and Unite8 Sports 1 HD in Hindi, and Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD in English.Zee share priceZee shares have surged over 20% in one week and 11% in one month. The stock has gained around 10% in 2026 so far. In the longer term, however, the stock declined nearly 24% in one year, over 48% in three years and 53% in five years.The stock currently has a P/E ratio of more than 32x.Zee earnings snapshotEarlier in May, Zee Entertainment Enterprises reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 104 crore for the January-March quarter of FY26, as against a net profit of Rs 188 crore in the year-ago period. The media & entertainment company's operating revenue declined 7% to Rs 2,025 crore in Q4 FY26, compared to Rs 2,184 crore posted by the company in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.The Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) loss stood at Rs 269 crore versus Rs 285 crore in Q4 FY25 and Rs 240 crore in Q3 FY26. The adjusted EBITDA declined 51% YoY and 42% QoQ.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)