How The Hundred Built A Bold, Modern Sports Content Ecosystem

Matt Farnworth, Multiple Agency’s Head of Creative Strategy, shares how Multiple helped shape The Hundred’s bold, modern approach to content.

Since being appointed in 2021, Multiple has worked closely with The Hundred from the earliest stages, helping to define and deliver its content strategy. One as bold and entertaining as the competition itself.

From day one, our goal has been simple: to create content that connects fans to the players, the teams, and this new format in ways that feel fresh, exciting, and unmistakably modern. Exactly what the competition is.

Even since the competition’s inception, the content landscape has shifted rapidly. This has required us to evolve our approach, defining, developing, and delivering content with both purpose and precision. One shoot no longer means one or two pieces of content; it literally means hundreds, each with a distinct role in the content ecosystem. To maximise impact, our approach combines strategic clarity with creative precision, ensuring every video, animation, and output serves a specific audience, platform or moment.

Take Squad Games, now in its third year. Filmed over just two days, it has become a stage for player personalities. More than 100 pieces of content emerge from a single shoot, capturing moments, reactions, and stories that allow fans to get close to the players, understand the competition, and feel it even when it’s not on.

Kit launches follow the same principle. Eight new kits across all teams generated 43 pieces of creative. From concept to shoot, post-production to delivery, everything is done in-house, allowing us to maintain high production values while working at scale.

Match days are where our content truly comes alive. We go beyond using content simply to show runs and wickets. Instead, we use it to capture the moments that will stick, with hundreds of videos conveying atmosphere, elation, tension, and emotion. Fans feel closer to the game, the players, and the experience itself, whether they are at the ground or via their social feeds.

We also work closely with The Hundred’s commercial partners – including Sage, Sure, Vitality, Toyota, and Compare the Market, helping them activate their content rights, creating content that serves as an effective vehicle for their brand messaging while fitting seamlessly into The Hundred’s broader content ecosystem.

Delivering at this scale requires more than cameras and editing suites. It demands precision planning, skilled teams, and a clarity of purpose in every output. Above all, it requires collaboration between colleagues, with our client, and across their agency partners. This is how we move fast, create more, and never compromise on quality.

The results speak for themselves. We are incredibly proud that since 2021, we have helped The Hundred welcome 2.5 million fans through the gates, including 1.5 million for the women’s competition, 203,000 first-time cricket-goers, and 530,000 juniors. Digital audiences have soared, with over one billion video views.

Season five set new records, with larger crowds, global milestones for women’s cricket, and rising broadcast and online viewership. Families, female fans, and juniors now make up a growing share of audiences, showing the reach of our work.

What we deliver is simple: high-quality, video-first content at a scale that matches the pace at which fans now consume content. It connects audiences, amplifies the sport, and helps brands overcome marketing challenges all in-house, at scale, and without ever compromising craft.

iSportConnect Masterclass in Lausanne Explores Turning Event Buzz into Year-Round Digital Growth

Lausanne hosted the iSportConnect Masterclass “From Event to Everyday: Growing Digital Engagement & Revenue”, bringing together international sports leaders, digital strategists, and rights holders to explore how organisations can convert one-off events into sustained engagement and revenue streams.

The day began with registration and networking, allowing delegates to connect over coffee and exchange early insights. This was followed by welcome remarks, introducing the themes of the Masterclass and setting the tone for discussions on digital strategy, fan engagement, and revenue generation.

The first major session featured a breakout discussion on converting digital engagement into sustainable revenue. Delegates shared their experiences in keeping fans connected between major events and explored approaches to creating direct-to-consumer propositions and digital sponsorship inventories that appeal to brands without overwhelming audiences.

After a networking coffee break, the Masterclass continued with a fireside chat on the role of influencer marketing, led by Alex Fuller, Head of Agency Growth – Sports & Entertainment at The Multiple Agency. He highlighted how influencers are reshaping fan engagement in sport:

“For my first speaking event, I couldn’t have asked for a more incredible location. It was so great to share thoughts on the role influencer marketing can play in growing digital engagement and to hear brilliant perspectives from others in the room.”

A panel discussion on digital integration as a driver of revenue followed, featuring Alan Fagan (Eurovision Sport), Abigail Cockayne (InCrowd), Shifa Garg (Spectatr.ai), and Travis Black (Allianz). The panel emphasised how connecting digital content, data, and sponsorship inventory can generate incremental revenue while providing authentic engagement opportunities for fans.

Key Takeaways from the Masterclass

From influencer marketing to sponsorship measurement, participants stressed the centrality of digital in today’s sports business landscape:

Caroline Frei, Swiss Equestrian: “Great insights for Swiss Equestrian and an inspiring exchange on the topic From Event to Everyday – Growing Digital Engagement & Revenue in Lausanne. A big thank you to iSportConnect for organizing this Masterclass and to ANOC for hosting us.”

Adelia Faizulina, Brand Developer, Digital Strategist, PMP: “Yesterday, digital was an intern’s hobby. Today, it’s a boardroom strategy. Digital is no longer a dessert. It’s the main course. Sometimes even the champagne.”

European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR): “Great experience for EPCR in Lausanne – our home city – at the Masterclass organised by iSportConnect and hosted by ANOC. Always a privilege to exchange ideas and keep building together across the international sport community.”

Michele Tiozzo, CEO, Europe Triathlon: “My key takeaways: Know your audience — the foundation for building meaningful engagement. In sponsorship, if you can’t measure it, don’t take it. Digital growth isn’t just about reach, it’s about creating year-round, authentic touchpoints with fans.”

Esteban Gonzalez, 3×3 Digital Content Senior Manager, FIBA: “Great to meet peers and exchange ideas on how to unlock new revenue streams and build meaningful, year-round digital engagement. The conversations in Lausanne underlined a clear truth: digital is no longer optional in sport — it’s central to growth, fan engagement, and sustainable revenue.”

Looking Ahead

The Masterclass highlighted a clear reality: digital strategy is now central to sports business, not just an afterthought. From influencer marketing to digital integration and sponsorship measurement, delegates left with practical insights to create meaningful, year-round engagement while generating sustainable revenue. The day’s discussions reinforced the importance of consistency, relevance, and authenticity in connecting with fans in today’s fast-paced sports ecosystem.

Unilever (Dirt Is Good) and Arsenal extend their partnership

Dirt Is Good (known as OMO, Persil, Surf Excel, Breeze, Rinso, Ala or Skip) and Arsenal have announced an extension to their award-winning partnership.

Since first teaming up in 2023, they’ve used their shared platform to connect with millions around the globe through campaigns promoting resilience, creativity and empowerment – always with the goal of inspiring young people and creating meaningful impact that extends beyond football.

One of these is The Autograph, a short film which follows the story of a young supporter’s quest to find Bukayo Saka and get his shirt re-signed after the original autograph was accidentally washed out.

This was followed by It’s Part of the Game, a campaign about period stigma in sport. Research shows that six out of ten girls fear playing sport while on their period because they’re worried about leaking through their kit¹. Dirt Is Good and Arsenal co-crafted the campaign in collaboration with members of the Arsenal Women’s squad, working with Beth Mead, Leah Williamson, Katie McCabe and Kim Little to call on a future where no stain brings shame. The campaign went on to earn nine Cannes Lions shortlists and a Bronze Lion for Print.

Most recently, Dirt is Good launched the OMO Varzenal Cup, bringing the energy of Brazilian várzea (grassroots) football to Emirates Stadium. After knockout rounds in Brazil, two Arsenal-loving community teams came together in a once-in-a-lifetime final in London. The teams were guided by Arsenal legends Ian Wright and Gilberto Silva, and their story will be told in a documentary to premiere on Kondzilla’s YouTube channels in Brazil in January 2026.

The renewed agreement will see Dirt Is Good continue to work with both Arsenal’s men’s and women’s first teams to inspire young people globally, while also supporting Arsenal in the Community programmes in north London.

Tati Lindenberg, Chief Brand Officer of Dirt Is Good and Head of Unilever Fabric Cleaning, said:

“This partnership has been such a powerful journey bringing together purpose, creativity, and the unifying spirit of sport. With Arsenal, we’ve told stories from across the Club that truly matter, from celebrating the resilience behind every stain to inspiring young people to embrace who they are, unapologetically. We’re excited for what’s ahead as we continue to champion the beauty of play and the meaningful moments it creates.”

Juliet Slot, Chief Commercial Officer at Arsenal, added:

“We’re proud to be extending our partnership with Unilever’s Dirt Is Good brand, a testament to the impact of our work together so far and the values we share. Since 2023, we have challenged stigmas, driven important conversations and inspired young people globally to play sport. We’re delighted we can build on this momentum and continue using our platforms with purpose to drive our club forward.”

Ian Wright, Dirt is Good Ambassador and Arsenal Legend said:

“It’s great to see the partnership extended even further. It’s been such a privilege to be involved in DIG’s biggest campaigns with the club including Varzenal and the inspiring It’s Part of the Game campaign. It’s Part of the Game highlighted the importance of embracing the authentic moments of the sport and I’m looking forward to seeing how this collaboration continues to grow, spark meaningful conversations, and make a positive impact both on and off the pitch.”

ISSA and ANOC join forces to bring Islamic Solidarity Games to global audiences

The Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA) and the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) will bring the Riyadh 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games to millions of fans around the world through a new digital content partnership signed today.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg and ISSA Secretary General Nasser Majali to launch the collaboration on the Islamic Solidarity Games, the ISSA’s premier multi-sport event which will unite 3,500 athletes representing 57 National Olympic Committees (NOCs).

This will include live streaming of events on ISSA.TV as part of the ANOC.TV platform, the creation of content in the ANOC.tv studio and the distribution of digital content through the well-established ANOC Digital Content Hub.

“We are delighted to partner with ANOC to elevate the visibility of the Islamic Solidarity Games,” ISSA Secretary General Nasser Majali said.

“Athletes from across our 57 member NOCs have inspiring stories to share, and this collaboration will ensure those are heard by sports fans around the world.

“The ISSA and ANOC share a belief in the power of sport to unite communities and showcase peace, and we look forward to working together to deliver the best Islamic Solidarity Games to date.”

ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg commented: “ANOC is delighted to support the ISSA and the 57 NOCs competing at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, and to showcase the efforts of the 3,500 athletes competing globally on ANOC.tv.

“The continued growth of ANOC.tv and its work on a number of multisport events throughout 2025 has increased its viewership and reach, and this is an opportunity to highlight the performances of athletes from the 57 NOCs to new audiences.

“We are pleased to have signed this MoU with the ISSA and hope that this is the start of a constructive partnership between our two organisations.” 

The partnership will strengthen the visibility of the Islamic Solidarity Games and amplify the event as a powerful showcase of peace and unity.

The 6th Islamic Solidarity Games will be held in Riyadh from 7-21 November, returning to Saudi Arabia 20 years on from the inaugural edition in 2005. 

Athletics, Para Athletics, 3×3 Basketball, Boxing, Camel Racing, Duathlon, Equestrian, Esports, Fencing, Futsal, Handball, Judo, Ju-jitsu, Karate, Muay Thai, Para Powerlifting, Swimming, Taekwondo, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling and Wushu will all feature at Riyadh 2025. 

talkSPORT to Stream London Lions’ BKT EuroCup Games in the UK

Euroleague Basketball and talkSPORT, the home of live sport and livelier opinion across the UK and beyond, have announced an agreement to stream London Lions’ games in the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season on its official Youtube channel. The deal was secured by Euroleague Basketball’s strategic partner IMG.

Beginning this October, talkSPORT will broadcast every London Lions EuroCup game live and free-to-air via its official YouTube channel, bringing top-level European basketball to fans across the UK at no cost.

“Bringing London Lions games to a free-to-air platform together with talkSPORT is a significant milestone in Euroleague Basketball’s commitment to expanding the sport in the UK. With talkSPORT’s powerful reach and engaged fanbase, we are confident more British fans will connect with the excitement of the BKT EuroCup.” stated Alex Ferrer Kristjansson, Euroleague Basketball Chief Marketing and Communication Officer.

Liam Fisher, Head of talkSPORT, says: “We’re committed to bringing the talkSPORT audience the best content across our audio and video platforms, and basketball is no exception. We’re delighted to be bringing all London Lions’ games to our audience this season.”

The agreement marks a major step in Euroleague Basketball’s mission to grow its audience in the UK, one of Europe’s most dynamic sports markets. With the London Lions representing the capital in Europe’s second-tier competition, fans will have unprecedented access to follow the team’s journey against some of the continent’s best clubs.

The partnership highlights a shared commitment to widening basketball’s footprint in the UK, building visibility for both the London Lions and the BKT EuroCup competition, and offering fans a new, accessible way to experience the game.

SureVision Global and Cortex Partner to Transform Sports Technology in Australia and New Zealand

SureVision Global has announced a landmark partnership with Cortex, joining forces to provide cutting-edge sports technology solutions in Australia and New Zealand, focused on Cortex’s groundbreaking Inventory Management product, Asset Allocator.

The new collaboration builds on an existing partnership between the two parties and will deliver innovative commercial and operational solutions to sporting codes and clubs across the Trans-Tasman region.

Combining SureVision’s unrivalled capability in digital screen technology, rights management and production services with Cortex’s Asset Allocator solution provides the basis for new revenue opportunities from in-stadia digital assets whilst simultaneously creating operational efficiencies.

SureVision Global, a rapidly growing leader in media rights and sports technology, is driven by innovative thinking and a commitment to delivering measurable growth for sporting organisations. This partnership reflects the shared vision and ambition of both companies to revolutionise how commercial assets are managed, allocated, and monetised.

Alexandra Kyrke-Smith, VP of Strategy at Cortex, commented: “Asset Allocator is a first-of-its kind solution for sports organisations to sell, allocate, schedule, and monitor digital assets with ease and accuracy. Providing a single platform for end to end asset management, with the ability to integrate with multiple end-points across LED signage, IPTV and virtual signage is crucial as rights holders look to identify new ways to commercialise their stadium and their broadcast. We’re thrilled to align with SureVision Global, as our shared commitment to customer-centric innovation makes this a powerful partnership.”

Nicholas Ebbeck, CEO of SureVision Global, said: “This partnership with Cortex provides a ground-breaking opportunity to streamline asset management for sporting codes. By centralising processes and eliminating inefficient, offline tracking methods, we can reduce errors, create clear audit trails, and provide powerful live reporting tools. With the growing complexity of commercial assets, Cortex’s solutions are unmatched in their ability to enhance fan engagement and unlock new revenue streams.”

The partnership will deliver smarter, more efficient, and more profitable solutions for sporting codes across Australia and New Zealand, with the potential for further global expansion, ultimately enhancing fan experiences, delivering more value to brand partners, and driving growth in the industry.

Matchroom’s Emily Frazer on Netflix, Nine-Ball Pool, and Global Expansion

Emily Frazer, CEO of Matchroom Multi Sport, has been at the forefront of reshaping sports promotion, from darts to pool to boxing. With the recent Netflix documentary Matchroom: The Greatest Showman drawing global attention, Frazer sat down with iSportConnect’s Taruka Srivastav to discuss the making of the series, her journey as a woman leader in sports, Matchroom’s unique approach to promotion, and what’s next for the company.

Emily, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s start with the Netflix series—it’s a huge step for Matchroom. How did it happen?

It’s been years in the making, so the last couple of weeks have felt surreal. Filming finished quite some time ago, and we’d moved on with our day-to-day work, so the launch creeping closer was exciting. With Eddie’s personality and profile, it made sense, but I think the real surprise has been how audiences have responded to seeing the behind-the-scenes side. What feels like our normal routine came across as inspiring, funny, and insightful. People don’t often realize how much work goes into running global events. Matchroom: The Greatest Showman shows just that—how a family business evolved into a global powerhouse.

You’ve also carved out a leadership space for yourself in a male-dominated industry. How did your journey unfold?

It’s been very special for me, and the Netflix documentary highlighted that even more. When I first joined Matchroom, I worked directly with Katie Hearn, Barry’s daughter. She was my biggest champion and taught me everything about TV production. Watching her operate so confidently was inspiring. I learned strength, leadership, and vision from her. The feedback I’ve received since the Netflix release—especially from women saying my story gave them hope—has been incredible. At Matchroom, the ethos has always been that if you deserve the job and put in the work, you’ll be championed. That’s been my experience.

Do you see the Netflix series as a way to engage Gen Z and younger audiences with sports like poker, snooker, or pool?

The series has been more of an education piece, showing the breadth of Matchroom’s work across sports. It’s introduced new fans to our different properties. For younger audiences, though, we adapt constantly. For example, nine-ball pool has a super young audience, and the content we put out is casual, fun, and personality-driven. The docuseries complements that by showcasing the drama and reality of our work—it’s entertaining and insightful at the same time.

Expanding the World Nineball Tour from three events to 30 is a massive leap. What were the challenges?

Huge. For years, we only had three events with the same set of players. We realized we needed a proper tour structure to bring new talent through. That meant creating a ranking system, a professional calendar, sponsorship opportunities, and more. It’s been one of the toughest things we’ve ever done—turning a niche sport into a global professional circuit. Pool had reputational challenges, with links to gambling in the past, and we had to reset the sport’s image. Now, players can build full-time careers, and the World Nineball Tour is heading toward darts and snooker-level professionalism.

How did you pitch the Netflix idea and convince them this would work for a global audience?

Honestly, Matchroom itself is an incredible package. Eddie’s global profile, the drama of boxing, and the diversity of sports we promote—darts, snooker, gymnastics, pool—it’s all there. We’re promoters, storytellers, and PR machines at heart. That makes us appealing for any content platform. The Katie Taylor fight episode, for example, was both dramatic and deeply human. Matchroom isn’t just about events—it’s about stories, and Netflix recognized that.

What makes Matchroom’s approach to sports promotion unique compared to others?

The people. Everyone at Matchroom has passion for their job. Barry Hearn set the tone with his charisma and vision, and it’s ingrained in all of us. We’re relentless, creative, and we love what we do. That passion makes us unique—I don’t think anyone else compares.

How has working alongside Eddie Hearn, Frank Smith, and Barry Hearn shaped your journey?

It’s like having a time machine of experience. We can look back at how darts or snooker navigated challenges and apply those lessons. We learn from each other across sports and push one another to make events bigger and better. Having that pool of knowledge and leadership to lean on is invaluable.

Finally, what’s next for Matchroom? Any new regions or big expansions planned?

Right now, we’re focused on conquering the pool world. We’ve got three back-to-back events in Southeast Asia coming up in October, which is very exciting. The aim is to keep building, experimenting, learning, and taking each sport we touch to the next level.

InCrowd Partners with World Supercross Championship to Power Direct-to-Fan Growth

InCrowd has announced a new partnership with the World Supercross Championship (WSX), the only global Supercross series that brings together the world’s best riders on purpose-built, in-stadium dirt tracks, combining elite competition with an unparalleled live entertainment experience.

The collaboration will see InCrowd’s Managed Marketing Team work closely with WSX to deliver a hyper-segmented, direct-to-fan communications programme. The initiative will place particular emphasis on the upcoming Vancouver and Gold Coast events in November, focusing on delivering greater frequency, consistency, and relevancy of messaging while growing and more effectively monetising the Championship’s fan database.

By leveraging InCrowd’s expertise, WSX aims to unlock new levels of fan engagement, ensuring audiences not only stay connected with the action on track but also experience the Championship as a year-round entertainment property.

The agreement marks InCrowd’s entry into the world of supercross motorcycle racing, expanding its diverse roster of sporting partners.

With its ability to connect global fans, amplify engagement, and strengthen commercial opportunities, the InCrowd–WSX partnership underlines the increasing importance of data-driven, direct-to-consumer strategies in the future of international sport.

Channel 4 secures broadcast rights for The Boat Race

Channel 4 has announced they have secured the broadcast rights to The Boat Race, in a multi-year agreement. At the historic Presidents’ Challenge event held at Somerset House, at which the losing crew from the previous year’s Boat Race formally challenges the winning crew to a race, Channel 4 will be welcomed as the new home of The Boat Race.

In front of an audience of Old Blues and Boat Race fans, Oxford’s Tobias Bernard and Heidi Long will challenge their victorious Cambridge counterparts Noam Mouelle and Gemma King.

Under the new deal, the free-to-air broadcaster will have exclusive rights to air the iconic British sports event, for the next five years, beginning in 2026. The 2026 edition of The Boat Race will take place on Easter Saturday – 4 April – with the Women’s Boat Race at 14.21, and the Men’s Boat Race at 15.21.

The Boat Race coverage will be produced by specialist sports production company FilmNova.

Held annually on the River Thames in London between Oxford and Cambridge universities, the deal struck by Channel 4 will see the broadcaster cover the centenary of the Women’s Boat Race in 2027 and bicentenary of the Men’s Boat Race in 2029.

Pete Andrews, Channel 4 Head of Sport, said “We are thrilled to have secured the rights to one of the most iconic amateur sports events in the British calendar. The Boat Race is rich in tradition and history and British interest in the event has never been stronger.

He added: “We are committed to bringing the very best sports events to our audience, both from the UK and around the globe, and The Boat Race is the perfect example. It’s the crown jewel of the rowing calendar and consistently captures the imagination of the British public year after year, both on the side of the Thames and in living rooms across the country. In recent years, it has delivered some truly unforgettable moments, and we can’t wait to bring that excitement to our viewers next year.”

This latest deal further highlights Channel 4’s continued strength in bringing some of the biggest sports properties to the channel. Their current portfolio of major sports events includes live matches from the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, Formula 1 highlights, the UEFA Under-21 Championship, England’s home matches in UEFA Nations League and European Qualifiers, and England Hockey internationals.

Siobhan Cassidy, Chair of The Boat Race Company, said “We are delighted to work with Channel 4 to broadcast our unique, iconic and intensely British event between our two world-leading Universities.

“We know that this is a huge day out for Londoners, and our independent research has shown that Boat Race Day generates £13-15 million in economic impact for London.

She added: “We are grateful to the support of our previous broadcast partners and have come a long way since our first radio commentary in 1927 and television pictures in 1938. We look forward to seeing how Channel 4 can portray the drama, excitement and heritage of the event on Easter Saturday 2026!”

In recent years, Cambridge University, the Light Blues, have dominated with a clean sweep of both Boat Races in 2025. Oxford University, the Dark Blues, will be determined to turn the tide in 2026. Currently the overall records stand at 88-81 in favour of Cambridge Men and 49-30 to Cambridge Women.

Apollo Announces Launch of Apollo Sports Capital

Apollo (NYSE: APO) has announced the launch of Apollo Sports Capital (ASC), a new investment business providing capital solutions across the global sports and live events ecosystem. Al Tylis, a seasoned sports investor and executive has been named Chief Executive Officer of ASC. Apollo Partners Rob Givone and Lee Solomon have been named co-portfolio managers of the platform. Sam Porter has been named Chief Strategy Officer for ASC.

ASC will invest predominantly in credit and hybrid opportunities in the sports landscape, spanning franchises, leagues, venues, media, events and more. The permanent capital holding company is designed to be a stable, long-term partner to the sector, providing patient capital and adding strategic value.

Co-President of Apollo Asset Management John Zito said, “With Apollo Sports Capital, we’ve set out to build the preeminent investment company in the growing world of sports. Our aim is to create durable, long-term value not only for investors but also for fans, teams and communities.”

Zito continued, “We’ve known Al for many years. He brings a rare combination of investment and operational success in both sports and real estate. Together with the expertise of Rob, Lee and the broader team, we believe ASC will be well positioned as a capital solutions leader in the industry.”

ASC CEO Al Tylis said, “Having owned or invested in many teams and leagues over the years, I know firsthand how valuable Apollo Sports Capital will be to the market. We bring patient capital, extensive networks, and a range of solutions that go beyond the typical equity-only strategies. Lee, Rob, Sam and the Apollo team have extensive experience investing across this ecosystem, and together we’ve set out to build something differentiated and enduring in the world of sports.”

Prior to joining ASC, Tylis led numerous sports investments, including as owner and chairman of Club Necaxa, La Equidad and the Brooklyn Pickleball Team. He also serves on the Boards of G2 Esports, United Pickleball Association and Canvas Property Group, and is the co-founder of the Tylis Family Foundation. Tylis is a former real estate executive, having most recently served as president and CEO of NorthStar Asset Management.

ASC will build on Apollo’s established presence in sports, with Apollo’s managed funds having deployed approximately $17 billion to-date in the broader space, including investments in sports and entertainment companies, media rights, and stadium and league financings.