Newcastle Utd links with NTL

NEWCASTLE UNITED, the Premier League football club, has formed a media partnership with NTL, the cable company, under which the club will receive a pounds 25m interest-free loan from NTL. NTL's Premium TV arm will become Newcastle's main sponsor for the five years from the start of the 2000/2001 season. The media company yesterday lifted its stake in Cameron Hall Developments, owner of the club, to 9.8 per cent from 6 per cent.

The agreement also gives Premium the right to act as Newcastle's media agent and to run television channels and Internet activities devoted to the club.