WNBA’s Atlanta Dream Partners With Microsoft And Xbox To Empower Girls And Women In Atlanta

the Atlanta Dream announced a landmark multi-year partnership with Microsoft Corp, creating an alliance that seeks to change the game for women and girls through technology, access to sport and community programming in underserved areas of Atlanta.

This transformative partnership highlights both companies’ shared commitment to the Atlanta community and the belief that investing in and empowering women will help create more connected communities, stronger teams, and better leaders.

“This important partnership sits at the intersection of sport, purpose and technology while highlighting both the Dream and Microsoft’s shared commitment to investing in the Atlanta community and continuing the legacy of this great city as a place where the power of representation, inclusivity and community matter,” said Morgan Shaw Parker, President of the Atlanta Dream. “Together, we believe the power of sport can change lives and Microsoft is committed to helping us make that happen for girls and women in Atlanta.”

As part of the long-term relationship, Microsoft will become the Official Technology Partner and Jersey Patch Partner, beginning with the 2022 Atlanta Dream season. By implementing products and services like Surface, Azure, Dynamics and Power BI, Microsoft will help the Dream take basketball to the next level both on and off the court. The partnership will allow that same programming and technology to extend to the Dream’s practice and training facilities with the intent of assisting the team as they continue to develop into a model franchise.

“We are excited to be an official partner of the Atlanta Dream and showcasing how Microsoft technology can help empower their work on and off the court,” said Amy Sorokas, Director Microsoft Strategic Partnerships. “We look forward to working with them on youth programs in the community, bringing fans closer to the game, and informing the team with data insights.”

“At Xbox, our mission is to bring the joy and community of gaming to everyone on the planet. We are excited to partner with the Atlanta Dream to bring to life our core message – Power Your Dreams – which not only celebrates the values of diversity and inclusion shared by Xbox and the Dream, but also spurs the imagination when two amazing teams collaborate in their communities” said Chris Munson, Senior Global Xbox Sports Partnerships Manager.

Microsoft has also committed to working with the Dream on youth programs that combine basketball with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to inspire the next generation of athletes and emerging leaders to learn about science and technology while improving their skills on the court.

The Dream’s partnership with Microsoft will become a model that defines how the team works with corporate partners beyond traditional assets with a sharper focus on impacting and improving the lives of young women in Atlanta.

Whisper Wins BBC Contract For UEFA Women’s EURO 2022

As a pioneer of Women’s Sport production, Whisper is delighted to have been awarded the BBC contract for production of UEFA Women’s EURO 2022.  

 Whisper and the BBC will deliver a truly ambitious and sustainable home EUROs that will include live BBC TV and iPlayer coverage of all 31 matches. All home nation games, both Semi-Finals and the Final, will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

 Whisper already produces the FA Women’s Super League and the Women’s FA Cup for the BBC, as well as delivering digital content across the UEFA Women’s Champions League. It will draw on these key relationships as it seeks to deliver creativity and ambition that befits BBC’s Match of the Day brand.  

 In line with many of its productions, Whisper has pledged to ensure its production team is at least 50% female, including Jemma Archer as Editor, Kay Satterley as Production Executive, Bethan Evans as Director of Production and Kirstie Bennett as Creative Lead. The team will be overseen by Whisper MD Mark Cole.  

 England will kick off the tournament against Austria on 6 July, 2022 at Old Trafford, with the final at Wembley on 31 July, while Northern Ireland start their historic campaign a day later against Norway.

 Mark Cole said: “It’s a huge year for women’s sport and it’s great for Whisper to be at the heart of one of the biggest moments of the summer. We are hugely passionate about women’s football and excited about partnering with the BBC to deliver engaging coverage to big audiences with moments that unite the nation. We really hope our creative films, expert storytelling and innovative broadcast solutions will make for engaging coverage and help ensure that BBC will be at the heart of a UK-wide festival of football that can inspire the next generation.”  

 Whisper delivers ground-breaking women’s sport coverage beyond football, including Rugby Union, Cricket, W Series and The Paralympics, delivered by one of the most diverse teams in the industry.

BBC’s commitment to women’s sport is impressive, shown by its landmark deal to provide live TV coverage of the FA Women’s Super League alongside the Women’s FA Cup and extensive women’s football service on radio and digital platforms.

Nick Castaneda Joins PUSH LIVE As Chief Commercial Officer

PUSH LIVE has appointed Nick Castaneda as their Chief Commercial Officer.  Castaneda, previously Senior VP of International Sales at The Switch, joins the fast-growing digital audience and live content agency as it looks to drive further expansion into new markets and sectors. 

PUSH LIVE’s unique streaming technology and audience design strategy allows brands, rights holders, and content creators to customise and personalise live streams, distributing them to an unlimited number of channels and platforms. Clients include world-renowned brands such as Amazon Music, BAFTA, Electronic Arts, Oracle Red Bull Racing and Virgin Galactic. 

Castaneda will oversee the sales and marketing teams and form a key part of PUSH LIVE’s senior leadership team as they propel the business forward. Prior to joining the business, Castaneda oversaw the international sales team at live video production and distribution company The Switch, driving its expansion into APAC and EMEA regions. He has over 15 years of experience within broadcasting and live production, having worked at Pacific Television in close collaboration with broadcast partners FOX Sports Australia, Stats Perform, MTV and Sky UK. 

Commenting on the appointment, Phil Tucker, co-founder of PUSH LIVE said: “I am delighted to welcome Nick to the team, he has a huge wealth of experience in broadcast and live streaming. Nick has a proven track record of delivering commercial growth and a keen ability to open the eyes of clients and partners to the incredible opportunities that new tools and technologies bring. He will play a crucial role in taking us as a business to the next level as we look to expand into new sectors and transform the way audiences are designed,”. 

Nick Castaneda, Chief Commercial Officer, PUSH LIVE added: “I’m thrilled to be joining PUSH LIVE. With new technologies that offer a unique approach to audience design and curation we are set to have a revolutionary impact on brands, rights holders, and artists. I can’t wait to begin working with prospective partners and customers to turbo-charge the business’ ongoing expansion.”

Salesforce Creates Five-Year Partnership With Formula 1

Formula 1 is pleased to announce that Salesforce, the global leader in customer relationship management (CRM), will join as a Global Partner to power and grow fan engagement for the most prestigious motor racing competition. In addition, Formula 1 will work with Salesforce to gain actionable insights from Formula 1’s carbon footprint, helping to accelerate our mission to reach net zero emissions by 2030. Both efforts will further strengthen F1 fans’ connection to the sport and sustainability efforts, creating long lasting and loyal relationships worldwide.

Throughout the partnership, F1 and Salesforce will work together to expand our already growing global fan base and deepen the engagement of our existing fans. Salesforce Customer 360 will provide greater insight into and understanding of the F1 global fanbase and help inform behaviours, communication, and actions with our fans as they engage with the sport, while bringing them closer to the action than ever before.

F1 will work with Salesforce, a proven leader in sustainability, as it looks to deliver against its Sustainability Strategy. Salesforce has net zero emissions today across its full value chain and achieved 100% renewable energy for its global operations. With Net Zero Cloud, Salesforce enables organisations to easily track, analyse, and report on carbon emissions and waste management data across their business ecosystem.

In addition to a richer understanding of fan data, the multi-year deal is also focused on bringing unique experiences to fans. This will include new broadcast graphics, designed to bring fans closer to Formula 1 and Grand Prix activations; starting with Driver of the Day in Melbourne. Salesforce will utilize F1’s marketing and B2B platforms through trackside signage, digital content, and hospitality at Grand Prix races. By leveraging the technology and expertise from Salesforce to create innovative digital experiences and accelerate sustainability efforts, F1 will build and develop the most engaged fanbase in sports.

Brandon Snow, Managing Director, Commercial, Formula 1, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Salesforce to F1 as a Global Partner, further strengthening our roster of top-tier industry leaders. Using their industry-leading technology products, we will work together to create a new era of fan experience and engagement for our ever-growing fanbase. The fans are at the heart of everything we do and both we and Salesforce will be working together to continue to improve the experience for the fans and insight we have to tailor our approach even better.”

Colin Fleming, Executive Vice President, Global Brand Marketing for Salesforce, said:

“Salesforce is excited to join the fast-paced world of Formula 1, partnering with them to connect with their global fanbase in a whole new way. Working with F1 to transform their approach to fan engagement and sustainability will give existing fans even more to love, and open doors for new audiences as the sport continues its rapid growth. It’s an exciting time for F1, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.”

Topps Becomes An Official Licensing Partner Of UEFA EURO 2024, Signs José Mourinho As Ambassador

The Topps Company is proud to announce its partnership with UEFA as an official, licensed partner of UEFA EURO 2024. From 2022 onwards, Topps will be the exclusive partner: providing official stickers, trading cards and collectables connected to the UEFA EURO and other UEFA national team competitions. 

Already the official partner of the UEFA Champions LeagueTM and all other UEFA club competitions, Topps and UEFA have today announced a partnership for UEFA EURO 2024TM, UEFA EURO 2028 and other UEFA national team competitions including the UEFA Nations League Finals and the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025. 

Topps, which earlier this year became part of Fanatics, a leading global digital sports platform, will become UEFA’s new and official licensed partner from 2022 to 2028, providing exclusive stickers, trading cards and collectables connected to UEFA EURO 2024TM in Germany as well as upcoming events. UEFA, which already partners with Fanatics, with the company running its official Fan Shops at major UEFA tournaments, will now access Topps‘ iconic brand, collectables expertise and world-class product development and manufacturing capabilities at the biggest international tournaments across Europe. 

For the announcement and activation of the partnership, Topps have also signed football legend José Mourinho as its EURO Ambassador to personally select the players that will be included in the Topps collections. In the humorous campaign film #TheSpecialSelection, Mourinho is presented as the official Sticker Manager of all the national teams for Topps and the Road to UEFA EURO 2024TM collections. First and exclusive products will be released in Summer 2022. Within the partnership announcement spot, Topps helps Mourinho – who has won almost everything while coaching an array of Europe’s elite clubs – accomplish the one thing missing from his glittering career: managing a national team – or at least selecting the players of the national teams that will be included in the Topps sticker album. 

Mark Catlin, General Manager International Sports & Entertainment of The Topps Company:

“The European Championship is the biggest and most prestigious football event on a national level in Europe, recognised globally, with its very own legacy when it comes to stickers, trading cards and collectables. We are naturally extremely happy to be the official partner of UEFA through to 2028, offering our community and football fans throughout the World, the premier national players, teams and the greatest of European footballing moments. The announcement of this partnership is a huge step and there is so much more to come on our road to EURO 2024 and beyond.” 

Patrick Rausch, Chief Marketing Officer EMEA of The Topps Company:

“This is more than special for us. That is why we selected none other than The Special One, José Mourinho. José is a true legend and one of the biggest names within European football. We are proud to announce the partnership with him as our testimonial and such an iconic campaign film – showing that commercials from sticker companies can actually be funny and entertaining.” 

Formula E Appoints stichd As Retail Merchandise Partner

Formula E and stichd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Puma SE Group, today announced the specialist brand partner in fashion essentials, lifestyle apparel and accessories as well as football and motorsport fanwear, has been appointed to produce high quality sustainable merchandise retailing via a new global e-commerce platform https://store.fiaformulae.com/.

The new e-commerce store launches today and the product range will also be available at physical retail outlets at all remaining ABB FIA Formula E World Championship races this season, starting with the Rome E-Prix taking place this weekend (9 and 10 April).

The new long-term partnership will see stichd fulfil a new integrated global merchandising brief including:

  • Designing and developing a range of Formula E merchandise including apparel, accessories, and fan items
  • Buying and producing products for Formula E teams
  • Developing and operating Formula E’s global e-commerce offering
  • Providing retail services in the Allianz E-Village at ABB FIA Formula E World Championship races
  • Delivering merchandise solutions to Formula E’s partners

Aligning with Formula E’s mission of prioritising sustainability and minimising environmental impacts, all products produced will be sourced featuring organic cottons and recycled polyester, meeting the strict ethical, social and environmental standards of stichd.

With expertise in designing and developing products for amongst others Porsche Motorsport, Formula 1 and the Mercedes F1 team, stichd are specialists in motorsport product and operate licensed partnerships with fashion brands such as PUMA, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi’s, Calvin Klein and HEAD. Fans of Formula E and its teams will now be able to choose from new clothing lines and accessories via easier access to official merchandise online and at physical retail outlets at all ABB FIA Formula E World Championship races, starting from Rounds 4 and 5 in Rome on 9 and 10 April.

Simon Lilley, Retail & Licensing Director, Formula E, said:

“We are excited to partner with stichd, a proven branded merchandise leader with a commitment to sustainable processes and deep expertise in product development, ecommerce and event retail on a global scale. This partnership signifies a new fan-first approach for Formula E as we focus on developing a premium branded merchandise offering that appeals to our young, passionate ‘Electric Generation’ fanbase.

“Our long-term partnership with stichd will improve the online retail experience for fans with access to clothing, merchandise and accessories in and out of season. As we welcome fans back to ABB FIA Formula E World Championship races this season, they will be able to show their support for the sport with the latest branded products available in the Allianz E-Village starting from our next race weekend in Rome on 9 and 10 April.”

Keith Harkess, Brand Director, stichd, said:

“We’re thrilled to be appointed by Formula E to activate the World Championship’s digital e-commerce platforms and race retail merchandising. As a company we entirely support Formula E’s mission to drive forward sustainability and we look forward to working alongside them to provide new, innovative merchandise and retail opportunities to fans around the world.”

Season 8 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship features the biggest 16-race calendar to date. Thousands of fans will be in the grandstands in Rome this weekend for Rounds 4 and 5 before the season continues in the centre of iconic world cities of Monaco, Berlin, Jakarta, Vancouver, New York and London before the climax in Seoul.

UK’s Committee For Advertising Practice Bans Footballers, Athletes, Gamers And Reality Stars From Promoting Gambling Ads

Committee for Advertising Practice (CAP) has announced today the introduction of tough new rules for gambling ads as part of our commitment to safeguarding young people and vulnerable audiences.

These rules will significantly impact gambling advertisers looking to promote their brands using prominent sports people and celebrities as well as individuals like social media influencers, who are of strong appeal to those under-18.

The new rules state that gambling and lottery ads must not:

“be likely to be of strong appeal to children or young persons, especially by reflecting or being associated with youth culture.” 

This is a step-change from the existing rules that gambling ads must not be of ‘particular appeal’ to children. A ‘strong’ appeal test prohibits content (imagery, themes and characters) that has a strong level of appeal to under-18s regardless of how it is viewed by adults.  

In practice, this will significantly restrict the imagery and references that gambling ads will be allowed to use and should decrease the potential for gambling ads to attract the attention of under-18s in an audience. For example, ads will not be able to use:

  • Topflight footballers and footballers with a considerable following among under-18 on social media. 
  • All sportspeople well-known to under-18s, including sportspeople with a considerable volume of under-18 followers on social media.
  • References to video game content and gameplay popular with under-18s.
  • Stars from reality shows popular with under-18s, such as Love Island.

Advertisers have until 1 October 2022, when the rules will come into effect.

In October 2020, CAP launched a consultation to respond to GambleAware’s Final Synthesis Report: The impact of gambling marketing and advertising on children, young people and vulnerable adults. The findings of this report indicated that regulatory changes would help continue to protect under-18s from gambling-related advertising harms.

Our gambling advertising rules have always placed a particular emphasis on protecting young and vulnerable people and we will continue to review our rules, policies and guidelines to make sure that they are effective.

Shahriar Coupal, Director of CAP, has said:

“The days of gambling ads featuring sports stars, video game imagery and other content of strong appeal to under-18s are numbered. By ending these practices, our new rules invite a new era for gambling ads, more particular to the adult audience they can target and more befitting of the age-restricted product they’re promoting.”

Craft 1861 Partners With MotoGP And ROKiT Venturi Racing

Dorna Sports is delighted to announce a first-of-its-kind agreement with Craft 1861 as the American brand is named the Wellness Partner of the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship. The new multi-year collaboration begins in 2022 and is a global first in motorsport, ushering in a new era of accessible, innovative wellbeing. Craft 1861 has also announced a new partnership with Pramac Racing, becoming the Wellness Partner of one of the sport’s most successful Independent Teams, also beginning in 2022.

Craft 1861, based in Albuquerque in New Mexico, uses ethically sourced natural ingredients and rigorous testing backed by clinical research to create a range of CBD-enhanced products. The company is an industry leader in the scientific research, development, and manufacturing of hemp derived Cannabidiol (CBD) products, all of which contain zero THC. Craft 1861’s 100% pure CBD isolate is tested in International Standards Organization (ISO ®) certified labs and exceeds World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) testing standards. It is non-psychoactive, non-toxic, and non-habit-forming.

Craft 1861 aims to promote an inclusive and innovative approach to wellness – from workout recovery to curative topical injury treatments and plenty in between. The company will play a crucial role in the physical and mental wellbeing of the athletes and staff in the FIM MotoGP World Championship and Pramac Racing, monitoring and working towards improving performance throughout the 2022 season and beyond.

This new multi-year agreement as MotoGP™ Wellness Partner also incorporates a substantial digital campaign, including tailor-made MotoGP™ content created by Craft MotoGP™ ambassadors in the paddock, as well as trackside advertising at a number of Grands Prix throughout the season.

Eric Lujan, Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Craft 1861: 

“As a diehard fan of MotoGP as well as being a motorcycle enthusiast, I am thrilled to partner with Pramac and MotoGP to elevate the recovery and performance of these incredible athletes and the wider teams.”

Marc Saurina, Senior Director of Global Commercial Partnerships at Dorna Sports:

“We’re delighted to begin this ground-breaking partnership and it’s an honour for us to welcome Craft 1861 as MotoGP Wellness Partner. We look forward to working with such an innovative brand with so many shared values showcased in their mission statement and their products, and to seeing the Craft 1861 brand trackside in MotoGP. And of course, in terms of content, we’re excited to see what we can create together as this new collaboration begins!”

ROKiT VENTURI RACING PARTNERS CRAFT 1861

Physical and Mental Wellbeing

Ahead of the 2022 Rome double-headed E-Prix, ROKiT Venturi Racing and Craft 1861, the all-natural CBD wellness innovator are delighted to announce a multi-year collaboration.As the team’s Official Wellness Partner, Craft 1861 will play a supporting role in both the physical and mental wellbeing of the team, carefully monitoring team performance throughout the 2021/22 FIA Formula E World Championship and beyond.

A Unique Partnership

In this innovative collaboration – which is the first of its kind in World Championship motorsport – Craft 1861 will have a prominent place in ROKiT Venturi Racing’s visual identity for 2022 and beyond.From the Rome E-Prix onwards, Craft 1861’s branding will appear on the front wing and headrest of the team’s new black livery as driven by Edoardo Mortara and Lucas di Grassi, on driver racing suits, and on team clothing.

In Their WordsROKiT Venturi Racing CEO, Susie Wolff said:

“Craft 1861 is an innovator in the field of CBD innovation and we are proud to be part of their global brand development journey. Craft 1861’s focus on the creation of sustainable product innovation without compromising on quality is something we really identify with as a team and, by partnering with ROKiT Venturi Racing, Craft 1861 will be engaging with the eco-conscious dynamic and progressive Formula E audience demographic.”

Craft 1861 Founder and Chief Revenue Officer, Eric Lujan commented:

“We are thrilled to partner with ROKiT Venturi Racing Formula E team. Our company is proud to be the first CBD company in Formula E. We offer CBD hemp products to those focused on wellness and a healthy lifestyle, which is the perfect match for the rising millennial FE fan”

AFC And beIN MEDIA GROUP Extend 2022 Agreement To Cover AFC Champions League And AFC Cup In Various Territories Across MENA

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and beIN MEDIA GROUP (“beIN”) have agreed to extend the portfolio of rights to be broadcast by its flagship channel, beIN SPORTS, for the 2022 season to now include rights to the AFC Champions LeagueTM and AFC Cup™. 

The agreement grants beIN SPORTS rights in certain MENA territories, excluding KSA, UAE, IR Iran and Iraq. beIN’s exclusive territories are (14): Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen. In addition, beIN SPORTS has non-exclusive broadcast rights in the following territories: Chad, Djibouti, Mauritania, Somalia and Sudan.

The agreement follows the announcement that beIN secured live rights to broadcast last month’s 12 remaining AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar matches in 18 countries across MENA. The AFC Champions League 2022 Groups Stage kicks off on Thursday 7th April.

beIN SPORTS will continue to showcase these additional AFC rights on their four newly launched dedicated AFC channels – namely a 24/7 channel called beIN SPORTS AFC, together with three pop-up channels – beIN SPORTS 1 AFC, beIN SPORTS 2 AFC and beIN SPORTS 3 AFC -which will allow concurrent viewing of games. Every AFC match broadcast on beIN features the best-in-class studio analysis presented by beIN’s top punditry team using beIN’s state-of-the-art studio facilities.

Mohammad Al-Subaie, CEO of beIN MENA said:

“We are delighted to further expand our coverage of AFC tournaments in MENA this year and to welcome back the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup to beIN. Our millions of viewers can expect exceptional coverage of these tournaments, which will bring the high-calibre of Asian football to the huge number of followers across the region”.

AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John said:

“We are pleased to announce this partnership with beIN, which will bring the AFC’s world-class competitions to more nations across the MENA region, including nine AFC Member Associations.

“The MENA region is home to some of the most passionate fans of Asian football and it is essential that we provide them with unparalleled access to further solidify the AFC’s ambitions of confirming football as the number one sport in the Continent”.

The AFC rights will be available across all beIN’s subscription packages and add to beIN SPORTS’ unparalleled sports portfolio across the MENA region, which also includes exclusive rights to the English Premier League, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League, the UEFA Conference League, LaLiga, Ligue 1, the FA Cup and many more football and other sports rights. beIN SPORTS is the official broadcast partner of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ across the entire MENA region.

Aser Ventures Appoints Ioris Francini Appointed Aser Vice Chairman

The sports, media and technology investment platform Aser Ventures has appointed the former WME | IMG (now Endeavor) Co-President Ioris Francini as Vice Chairman. 

A hugely respected media executive, Ioris brings deep strategic expertise and a unique set of relationships with rights owners and brands to Aser. He will play a key role in strengthening the group’s investor relations and driving new commercial growth across the portfolio.

Ioris has a 20-year track-record in the sports and entertainment industry. He joined IMG in 2003 and was made President of IMG Events & Media in 2014. From 2016-19 he served as Co-President of WME | IMG and President of IMG Media. Ioris now holds the advisory role of IMG Media Chairman.

Andrea Radrizzani, Aser Ventures Chairman & Founder, said:

“At Aser great people are at the core of everything we do. We are proud to have built a world-class leadership team over the years to support our portfolio companies and partners, and Ioris is going to be a fantastic addition. His experience, network and expertise will add massive value to our group. I’m delighted to welcome him to the Aser family.”

Ioris Francini, Aser Ventures Vice Chairman, added:

“Aser Ventures has a leading portfolio of sports, media and technology companies with a history of building innovative ventures and aggressively growing the existing businesses in which it invests. I’m excited to work alongside Andrea and the brilliant management team at Aser to continue to drive the group forwards in the years ahead.”

Aser’s portfolio includes the Premier League club Leeds United, the sports media group ELEVEN and a network of content, marketing, data and blockchain companies. Aser marries investment with deep market expertise, making it uniquely placed to generate value for its partners, companies and their end users. 

Aser has made over USD 300m worth of investments and grown to an estimated enterprise value of USD 1.5bn since 2015. 1,500 employees across 25 offices worldwide operate across Aser’s network of portfolio companies. The group’s investment partners include Corrum Capital and 49ers Enterprises, an investment entity affiliated with the San Francisco 49ers.