Also in the News Today
June 17, 2020
- Portugal’s SportTV has bought all the local rights for the 2020 UEFA European Championship. The company will own both free-to-air and pay-television coverage rights for the first time. SportTV CEO Nuno Ferreira Pires said a free-to-air partner for Portugal national team matches has yet to be found.
- Meredith Starkey joins the Carolina Panthers at the end of March as the NFL team’s first CMO. She comes from T-Mobile, where she has been VP Marketing, Sponsorships & Events. Panthers President Tom Glick (who has spoken at several iSportconnect events) said she is “a proven difference maker in our industry and understands fans and how to deliver special moments, memories and experiences to continue to fuel their passion.”
- Sky Italia has been hit with a €7 million fine by the country’s Competition Authority (AGCM) for failing to tell potential subs that it did not have all Serie A’s games in its football package this season. The regulator ruled that Sky engaged in “an aggressive practice” that did not make clear that its Sky Calcio package would offer fewer Serie A games than in past seasons when it held all rights.
- Nike faced a PR nightmare after one of its shoes split open during an NCAA basketball game on Wednesday night. Not only was the shoe worn by probably the top college player in the country (Zion Williamson of Duke), the game was on national TV – and former U.S. President Barack Obama was in the crowd (and appeared on camera reacting to the event). Nike stated afterward: “We are obviously concerned and want to wish Zion a speedy recovery. The quality and performance of our products are of utmost importance.” The statement called the shoe explosion “an isolated occurrence.”
