Seven Network to Broadcast Masters
The Seven Network in Australia has secured the rights to broadcast the 2014 Masters Tournament at Augusta National.
The multi-year deal, for an undisclosed sum, comes as recent ratings suggest premium sports and local content equal ratings success for Australia’s broadcasters.
Seven’s Head of Sport Saul Shtein said the signing of the Masters “reaffirms a key strategy in our future: a focus on live coverage of major sports events across our broadcast television platform and expanding that presence into new forms of content delivery.”
Seven was the host TV broadcaster for the Emirates Australian Open, Talisker Masters and ISPS HANDA Perth International in Australia’s huge summer of golf.
Inside AFCON 2013: Sponsors Spotlight
With the 2013 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations kicking off in South Africa this week, iSportconnect looks at the sponsors and partners behind Africa’s largest football tournament.
Orange
Orange has again become the official partner of the tournament and are currently the title sponsor of The Africa Cup of Nations. The mobile network has made great strides in Africa and currently sponsors the national teams in Cameroon, Mali, Niger, Guinea, Senegal, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Botswana.
The company has now secured the title rights to the tournament until 2016 and is also the media partner of African football, offering exclusive mobile content across the continent. Orange has an added interest in this year’s competition, with a number of the teams competing, coming from areas where they operate their network, including; Tunisia, Morocco, Niger, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali and the Ivory Coast.
Orange are continuing their efforts to become a major player in African football sponsorship and have a number of services available to fans throughout the tournament. One of these is the Football Fan Club, a mobile platform that provides news, games and forums about African and European football. The service has approximately two million users.
There’s also the Orange AFCON madness that gives fans the chance to win packages and match tickets. The mobile provider also has an app for smartphone users, allowing fans to keep up-to-date with match highlights and goals.
In an effort to make sure the tournament is accessible to as many people as possible, “Orange Villages” have been set-up in many of the major cities where the group operate. These villages are designed to create a festival atmosphere, that broadcast games on giant screens and provide games and football related competitions.
In an official statement, Orange said:“It is with great pride that Orange associates its brand with various African competitions and this proximity is associated with human values shared in African sports. This achievement is a celebration of the closeness of the brand to the African markets.”
Adidas
Adidas is the long standing partner to the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The latest agreement was signed in 2008 and runs until 2016, meaning Adidas will provide the CAF with sports equipment for their events and programs, including courses for coaches, referees, sports medicine and football administration.
African football fans chose the name of the AFCON 2013 ball, made by Adidas. The ball is called Katlego, which means success. Zobuzwe Ngobese, PR Manager at Adidas South Africa said: “Adidas is proud to be at the helm of the production and the naming of yet one more South African inspired official match ball following the resounding successes of both the Kopanya and Jabulani match balls. This will be Adidas’ fourth official match ball for the AFCON since its partnership with the federation in 2008.”
Puma
Earlier in January, sports retail giant Puma, bagged the rights to become the Official Fan Supplier at AFCON 2013.
The deal allows Puma to develop and distribute sportswear, apparel and accessories that carry the Orange Africa Cup of Nations logo, as well as the chance to control retail stores, vending stands and kiosks in and around the stadiums.
They have partnered up with Totalsports to complete the retail side of the deal, with Totalsports managing the official fan shops and distributing the official fan merchandise.
Puma has a strong heritage with African football that stretches back almost two decades and has grown progressively over the years. Since 1998, Puma has had an association with the continent, investing in grassroots projects, player relationships and African Federation partnerships.
Brett Bellinger, Marketing Director for Puma South Africa commented: “This partnership with CAF’s major competition is very positive for the brand. We’re very pleased to be able to work together with CAF to provide African football fans in both South Africa and those visiting for the tournament, an opportunity to show their support and purchase Official Fan Merchandise.”
iSportconnect covered the news as it happened and further details of the deal can be found here>>
PepsiCo, the global food and drink company is also a sponsor for AFCON 2013. The company has been involved in African football for a number of years, through player sponsorship, teams and promoting grassroots football. PepsiCo sponsors top African players such as Didier Drogba, Mohamed Abu Treika and Egypt’s Amr Zaki.
The Pepsi Football Academy in Nigeria has 14 centres and 3000 students, whilst the Pepsi Schools’ League in Egypt covers over 5,500 schools with around 75,000 student participants. This shows the company’s dedication to grassroots football in Africa.
PepsiCo’s sponsorship of AFCON 2013 continues their previous involvement and highlights their strong presence with the continent’s governing body, CAF. They have a partnership deal that runs until 2016, which covers all of CAF’s major championships.
Click on page 2 for more major sponsors…
Universal Sports Network Seals US Broadcast Rights to FINA Events Until 2021
The International Swimming Federation (FINA) have signed a new media rights deal in the United States with the Universal Sports Network until 2021.
The deal gives Universal Sports multiplatform rights, including exclusive TV and Internet rights, to the upcoming editions of the FINA World Championships: in 2015 in Kazan (RUS), 2017 in Guadalajara (MEX), 2019 in Gwangju (KOR) and 2021 in Budapest (HUN).
Encompassing aquatics events in men’s and women’s swimming, diving, water polo, synchronised swimming and open water swimming, the agreement also includes rights to the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in 2016 (Windsor, Canada), 2018 and 2020; FINA Diving World Cups in 2014 (Shanghai, China), 2016 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), 2018 and 2020; and FINA Synchronised World Cups in 2014 (Quebec City, Canada) and 2018.
“The success, prestige and exposure of our major events are directly linked with FINA’s association with TV networks worldwide”, considered FINA President Dr. Julio C. Maglione. “The United States is a very important market for FINA and many of our greatest stars come from this country. This emphasises the added-value of this agreement with Universal Sports in the US territory; its multiplatform approach is also of paramount importance to highlight the performances of our best athletes to the widest possible audience”.
“This long-term commitment from FINA solidifies Universal Sports as the premier
destination in the USA for aquatic sports through 2021,” said Robert James, Universal Sports’ VP of Programming and Acquisitions. “As future American and International swimming stars rise in prominence, Universal Sports will bring the competition to life with unprecedented, in-depth, primetime coverage delivering hundreds of hours of international aquatics event programming right into the homes and hands of our viewers.”
10 Sports Broadcasting Deals of the Week: 18/01/13
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Juice FM Appointed Official Radio Partner of 2013 John Smith’s Grand National Festival |
Friday, asthma 18 January 2013 |
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2 |
USA Swimming & Universal Sports Network Extend Partnership to 2016 |
Tuesday, generic viagra 15 January 2013 |
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3 |
Tuesday, drug 15 January 2013 |
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4 |
Seven Network to Broadcast V8 Supercars in 2013 after New Deal |
Tuesday, 15 January 2013 |
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ARD/ZDF Get German Rights to Broadcast 2013 IAAF World Championships |
Monday, 14 January 2013 |
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6 |
Friday, 11 January 2013 |
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7 |
Finnish Ski Association Renew Infront Rights for FIS Nordic Ski World Cup |
Friday, 11 January 2013 |
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8 |
Wednesday, 09 January 2013 |
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9 |
Monday, 07 January 2013 |
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10 |
Monday, 07 January 2013 |
MP & Silva to Distribute Media Rights for Chinese Professional Baseball League
Leading sports media company MP & Silva have announced they will distribute the global media rights for the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for six years from 2014 to 2019.
MP & Silva will be the exclusive advisor of the CPBL for all media rights sales to all broadcast and media platforms, as well as the production of all games. The agreement covers worldwide territories including Taiwan, and includes all regular season games, the All-Star Series, Taiwan Series coverage as well as the Winter League.
This announcement builds on MP & Silva’s baseball portfolio that includes the IBAF (International Baseball Federation), which features the Premier 12 and other international championship of each category on its calendar of events. This includes the World Baseball Classic 2013, which enjoyed unprecedented success from a global distribution and television viewership perspective and surpassing the previous edition by significant margins. In Taiwan the game between Japan and Taiwan played on March 8 recorded the highest rated cable program in the country’s history.
Said MP & Silva Chief Executive Officer, Peter Hutton, “We are very pleased with this new partnership as we strongly believe that the league has great potential for further growth. We look forward to building on our international baseball portfolio with this comprehensive global and domestic deal. This wide-ranging partnership is based on our ability to improve the profile of sports properties and increase its value through our distribution and production expertise.”
The Commissioner of the CPBL, Hwang Jenn-Tai, said:, “We are delighted to partner with MP & Silva to showcase the CPBL globally in such a comprehensive manner for the first time, with their significant presence and strength of their network. They are the ideal partner to heighten the popularity in our League, and we are confident that this will open the door to more commercial opportunities for the League and our clubs.”
WBSC co-President / IBAF President Riccardo Fraccari, added: “This is another momentous occasion for international baseball. This new partnership between MP & Silva and the Chinese Professional Baseball League further reinforces baseball’s established position as a globally attractive and viable product with still great potential for short- and long-term growth.”
The league starts on 22 March 2014.
Front Row Networks Inks International Branding & Distribution Deal with Mark Blundell Partners
Front Row Networks, search Inc. a Los Angeles-based concert production and distribution company, ed announced that it has entered into a deal with UK based, pills Mark Blundell Partners Ltd.
The deal sees Mark Blundell Partners (MBP) working with Front Row Networks to identify and deliver content sponsorship opportunities, live event marketing and distribution deals for a range of high profile music content from leading international artists.
MBP will focus on international market opportunities across digital platforms and live environments and to take advantage of the growing opportunities and interests in 2D and the emerging 3D content, for a range of live music rights from major artists, back catalogue and future live events.
“Our network of broadcast and digital distribution partners coupled with our long-established, talent marketing capabilities, positions us extremely well to take advantage of the growing demand for live music content in the 2D and emerging 3D space. We also look forward to working with Front Row Networks to build a strong brand and consumer following for live 3D music events,” stated Mark Blundell, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of MBP.
“The experience of the executive team at MBP with regards to sports branding and brand management will enhance the value of our upcoming projects by positioning Front Row Networks’ product with instantly recognizable global brands. These brand associations will help position Front Row Networks at the forefront of the new 3D media revolution” said Eric Mitchell, President of Writers’ Group Film Corp.
The current worldwide phenomenon surrounding 3D, combined with the strong-performing live concert business, presents a unique opportunity for Front Row Networks to provide an inexpensive, state-of-the-art, live 3D concert experience to anyone, anywhere in the world.
Front Row Networks is a live concert production and distribution company which produces live concerts in 3D for initial digital broadcast into movie theaters in North America. Following their theatrical run, the films are then licensed to US and international broadcasters, pay channels, PPV markets, DVD and Blu-Ray distributors, and sold on the internet as downloads.
21st Century Fox Acquires Majority Stake in YES Network
21st Century Fox have announced an agreement to acquire a majority stake in the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network (YES Network), bronchi raising its ownership position in the regional sports network to 80 percent from the current 49 percent it acquired in 2012.
The YES Network delivers exclusive live local television coverage of New York Yankees baseball and Brooklyn Nets basketball. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of the first calendar quarter, seek subject to regulatory and other requisite approvals.
21st Century Fox also announced that, following the acquisition, Tracy Dolgin, President and Chief Executive Officer of the YES network, will remain in his role leading the network.
The remaining 20 percent stake will continue to be held by Yankee Global Enterprises. As a result of the acquisition, the YES Network will become a consolidated entity of 21st Century Fox.
The network currently showcases live Yankees and Nets games to approximately 9 million households in the teams’ television territory in the New York area. Outside of the New York area, the YES Network also distributes a variety of national programming to millions of homes across the country.
“Our investment in the YES Network underscores our commitment to growing our global sports portfolio with offerings that are exceptional and unique,” said James Murdoch, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, 21st Century Fox. “We look forward to expanding our partnership with Yankee Global Enterprises and to working with the network’s management team to build on the YES Network’s success.”
Hal Steinbrenner, chairman of Yankee Global Enterprises, said, “Clearly, 21st Century Fox is a great partner for us as the YES Network fulfills and expands its potential as one of the nation’s premier regional sports networks. We are gratified that 21st Century Fox has increased their stake and investment in the network. Yankee Global Enterprises is eager to continue working with 21st Century Fox as we explore ways to take YES to even greater heights.”
Sporting Endeavour “The Sports business publication for the Middle East”
Brought to you by a combined 25 years in publishing at Infinite Publishing Ltd (www.infinitepublishing.co.uk) Sporting Endeavour is THE sports business publication and news source for the thriving sports hub of the Middle East.
In association with Action Images (www.actionimages.com) and iSportconnect (dev.isportconnect.com) Sporting Endeavour will be launched in April 2013 alongside news and information website www.sportingendeavour.com that will give you up to date real time information and insight into the region’s most popular and lucrative sports, case as well as the people that make them happen.
The site will also feature blogs from our partners, order a directory of the key sporting organisations connected to the region and video content and interviews – as well as each key financial deal done in the region whether sponsorship, endorsement or stadium naming rights.
With a focus both on the short term success that overseas investment has had in sports including but not limited to; Football, Rugby, Sailing, Golf, Horse Racing and Formula One but also a focus on the planning, investment, structure and drive closer to home to turn the region into THE sports destination in the World is what sets Sporting Endeavour apart.
As we enter a crucial stage in the growth and development for sport in the region and in particular Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Sporting Endeavour will aid and develop international relationship’s and enable the region to be showcased to the World’s sporting decision makers and they to them.
5,000 copies of the launch edition will be produced and sent by name to the leading figures in sport in the region and abroad, with international subscriptions forecast to grow rapidly with each quarterly edition.
Additional copies will be made available and distributed at key sporting events around the world through various media partnerships.
Associations, broadcasters, rights holders, sponsors, governing bodies and private organisations will all play a part in issue one of Sporting Endeavour, if you feel your organisation could add something to what is already looking like a huge first edition then please get in touch via the contact details below.
Subscription cost for one year (four editions) is only £40.00 and is payable upon receipt of your first copy!
For more information please email info@infinitepublishing.co.uk or call +44 (0) 207 703 0576
Eurosport Seals FIM Motocross Rights
Eurosport have secured the live TV and digital rights for the 2014-2016 seasons of the FIM Motocross World Championship (MXGP) and the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) after agreeing a deal with Youthstream.
The three-year agreement includes the 54 countries and 133 million homes covered by Eurosport in Europe as well as 16 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The MXGP events, unhealthy MX2 events and MXoN will be broadcast live or delayed on Eurosport and Eurosport 2. Eurosport will also show a 26-minute highlights programme produced by Youthstream every Tuesday following Sunday’s MXGP.
“We thank Eurosport for their trust, generic together we will bring our sport to the homes of all European Motocross fans, salve ” Mr. Giuseppe Luongo, Youthstream’s President, said. “This agreement is another important step for the promotion of MXGP. The long-term organization, the investment in HD production and the high quality of MXGP events make our sport appealing for premium broadcasters and for fans worldwide.”
Arnaud Simon, Eurosport’s TV content director said: “The best motocross is on Eurosport and it’s a great addition to our two-wheels rights portfolio. Motocross will satisfy the off-road fans and will help to balance our offer of circuit competitions like FIM Word Superbike and British Superbike Championships. This new deal is part of our process to reinforce our global motorsports offer.”
The 2014 MXGP season will start on 1 March in Qatar and will end on 14 September in Mexico. The MXoN will take place in Kegums, Latvia on 28 September.