Hologic Partners With The WTA Tour In Landmark Title Sponsorship

The WTA and Hologic today jointly announced a landmark partnership introducing Hologic as the global title sponsor of the WTA Tour.

The multi-year alliance, the largest global sponsorship in WTA history and Hologic’s first worldwide sponsorship, aims to achieve significant progress through a shared vision of greater wellness and equality for women. The groundbreaking partnership allows both organizations to rally around their collective mission to champion women while modernizing their respective industries of healthcare and sports.

As one of the world’s top medical technology innovators, Hologic focuses primarily on improving women’s health and wellbeing. That includes industry-leading products in every category of its business: diagnostics, imaging systems, and surgical devices. Hologic’s areas of emphasis include state-of-the-art preventive care, reducing disparities in healthcare access and education, and unique research that helps countries worldwide better prioritize women’s health.

“Hologic and the WTA come together with a collective purpose as pioneering advocates for women,” said Hologic Chairman, President, and CEO Steve MacMillan. “We are proud to stand with the WTA in its commitment to the highest integrity and values. Ultimately, our partnership allows us to jointly raise the profile of women even higher and to share the importance of early detection and treatment with women across the world.”

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Hologic’s sponsorship also affirms the continued growth of women’s tennis and the strong brand values the WTA embodies. “From the start, we knew Hologic was the right partner,” said WTA President Micky Lawler. “As we embark on a new era of women breaking barriers and understanding how imperative our health is to reach our full potential, Hologic joins the WTA family at a pivotal time. Reflecting on the passion we both share for women’s equality around the world, I look forward to the meaningful change this partnership will spark for our athletes, sport, and fans.”

“As a professional athlete who relies on my health to perform at the highest level, I’m excited that Hologic has partnered with the WTA,” said Ashleigh Barty, WTA World No. 1. “Hologic’s initiative to invest in women’s tennis shows its commitment to women’s health and women’s sport. I look forward to playing on the Hologic WTA Tour and the impact this partnership will generate for women globally.”

Hologic will be integrated into the WTA across all platforms, including net signage at all WTA tournaments and virtual advertising at WTA 1000 and 500 events. As the official health partner of the WTA, Hologic becomes the founding partner of Hologic WTA Labs, a WTA initiative focused on health innovation and research-based projects specific to female athletes. Hologic and the WTA plan to announce more joint activities in the coming months.

The new partners also will emphasize the importance of preventive care through the annual Well Woman medical visit. To learn more about the Well Woman exam, visit ScreeningsForHer.com.

Extreme E And TV3 Announce Broadcast Deal For 2022

Extreme E, the pioneering electric off-road racing series, has announced today that it has signed an agreement with TV3 Group – the leading media group in the Baltics – to broadcast its full 2022 season. TV3 Sport channels with local commentaries will air all 5 X Prix live and in full as well as race highlights, magazine, preview and review shows in Latvian, Estonian and Lithuanian territories. The full coverage will also be available on the largest OTT platform in the Baltics – Go3.

TV3 Group, the leading media group in the Baltics, is a portfolio company of Bite Group and Providence Equity Partners, a global premium asset management company. TV3 Group owns and operates the leading commercial free-to-air channels in the Baltics, the largest DTH and OTT platforms, premium film and sport channels, as well as a portfolio of leading commercial radio channels.

Extreme E has already wowed audiences around the world with its stunning inaugural season in 2021. Beamed live to millions of homes, mobiles and tablets, fans were thrilled by the high drama and jaw-dropping competition as stars of took to some of the worlds most challenging and remote locations in 550bhp ODYSSEY 21 electric SUVs in a bid for the first ever Extreme E Championship crown.

Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer at Extreme E said:

“Extreme E’s mission to ‘race without trace’ whilst simultaneously raising awareness of climate issues, means it is vital that our series reaches as many audiences on as many platforms as possible throughout the world. Our broadcast agreement with TV3 Group in will not only provide new viewers in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania with a thrilling and innovative motorsport championship this year, but also convey the message that we all need to play our part in looking after our planet.”    

Raimonds Zeps, TV3 Group Head of Sports, said:

“We believe that everyone has a shared responsibility to protect the planet, environment and the climate. This responsibility also includes us at TV3 Group. We’re delighted to be among broadcasters of Extreme E highly anticipated second season. Extreme E is built around social purpose but with racing and some of the world’s best drivers at its core promoting electrification, sustainability and gender equality. These values are very important to us.”

Extreme E will visit five remote locations this year including NEOM in Saudi Arabia, (19-20 February), before heading to Sardinia, Italy (7-8 May), Senegal or Scotland (9-10 July), Antofagasta, Chile (10-11 September) and Punta Del Este, Uruguay (26-27 November). 

The series highlights a variety of environmental issues including, desertification, rising sea levels, glacier retreat, deforestation and ice melt aiming to raise awareness of the climate emergency by mixing sport with purpose to inspire change.  

Some of the biggest names in motorsport have founded teams in the championship including Formula One World Champions Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg with teams X44 and Rosberg X Racing respectively. Excitement for Extreme E Season 2 is boosted further with motorsport giants McLaren joining the Championship for 2022.  The teams will each field a male and female driver racing an all-electric SUV – the ODYSSEY 21 – which is capable of firing the 1650-kilogram, 2.3-metre wide e-SUV from 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds, at gradients of up to 130 per cent. 

Cape Town 2023 Netball World Cup Announces Domestic Broadcast Rights

The 2023 Netball World Cup Company announced today that the 2023 Netball World Cup domestic broadcast rights have been awarded to both Pay TV channel SuperSport TV and the public broadcaster, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

“A lot of work has been done behind the scenes and we have been toiling very hard. I am delighted that finally the Board and Netball South Africa have been able to put this matter to rest, more people will have access to watch the World Cup here in South Africa, across the continent and the globe. The SABC have the numbers we need in South Africa as they are a free to air broadcaster and SuperSport TV will help us penetrate the Africa market and overseas as well,” Patience Shikwambana, Chairperson of the 2023 Netball World Cup Company.

Due to the relationship between the SABC and telecommunications giant Telkom, the public broadcaster will provide Telkom with the 2023 Netball World Cup feed for them to stream it on their digital platform Telkom ONE in South Africa.

“This is an enormously exciting initiative for us,” effused Wanda Mkhize, Executive Smart Home and Content, “not only because of Telkom’s dedicated support of – and investment in – South African Netball, but also because it is another occasion to reflect the unique partnership, we have with the SABC and the impact we collectively have on making premium content, such as the Netball World Cup, available to all South Africans.” 

This will be the first time that the Netball World Cup is hosted in Africa since the establishment of World Netball some sixty-nine years ago and South Africa becomes the first country on the continent to do so.

“We are all about taking netball to the people and making the sport fashionable and attractive again. As Netball South Africa, we believe that this broadcast deal between the Netball World Cup Company and the two big broadcasters in the country is a step in the right direction – this means that more South Africans will now get a chance to see their national team (the SPAR Proteas) play on home soil, this is something that has never happened before. The continent will see their respective teams playing as well so this is great. I am hoping that as a federation we can engage with the broadcasters post the World Cup to see how we can continue growing the game here at home,” said Netball South Africa President, Cecilia Molokwane. 

“We as Netball South Africa had been in talks with the public broadcaster for a few years now since 2019 to see how best we can make sure that the game we all love gets to be on their platforms and I am happy that we are beginning to see the results now,” concluded Molokwane 

Clare Briegal, World Netball CEO who was in Cape Town for the announcement said “The appointment of the host broadcaster for the NWC2023 is an important milestone in the preparations for our first World Cup on the African continent.  We look forward to working with our partners in this endeavour towards a thrilling world class celebration of netball.”

SuperSport TV who is appointed to produce the international feed will work hand in hand with World Netball and its international broadcast agency SPORTFIVE in ensuring that the 2023 Netball World Cup is disseminated to other markets across the globe and more people get to watch the game. 

“Netball is an enormous sport played the length and breadth of our continent, so for Africa to host the 2023 World Cup is both gratifying and exciting. As broadcasters, we are delighted and aim to deliver a package that reflects the excellence and dynamism of the sport and its participants. We have major plans and intend to make history – and memories – with our offering,”- Marc Jury, Supersport Chief Executive.

The broadcast deal between the 2023 Netball World Cup Company, the SABC and SuperSport TV is a big one, as it will now see every single South African in every household have access to watch netball on TV. It has been almost a decade since we last saw netball on SABC platforms. 

Gary Rathbone, Head of SABC Sport, said, “As the SABC Sport, we pride ourselves on providing South Africans with access to sport of national interest, and the acquisition of the 2023 Netball World Cup has just reaffirmed our brand mission. As a country, we are very proud to host the tournament in Cape Town, and as SABC Sport, we believe that it’s imperative that every South African is given access to world class sport content.

Shikwambana concluded by saying, “I am eternally grateful to all the partners and stakeholders that believe in us as a business and what we are capable of achieving. This World Cup does not belong to one entity, but it is a team South Africa World Cup, it belongs to the continent as well. We are just here as custodians, but it is OUR World Cup as Africa. Thank you for playing your part in bringing the vision to life.” 

IPC Reverses Decision And Blocks Russian And Belarusian Athletes From Competing In Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games

Following a specially convened meeting, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board has decided to refuse the athlete entries from the RPC and NPC Belarus for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. 

This means that Para athletes from these respective countries will no longer be allowed to participate in the Games which open on 4 March 2022. 

Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “At the IPC we are very firm believers that sport and politics should not mix. However, by no fault of its own the war has now come to these Games and behind the scenes many Governments are having an influence on our cherished event.

“The IPC is a membership-based organisation, and we are receptive to the views of our member organisations. 

“When our members elected the Board in December 2021 it was to maintain and uphold the principles, values, and rules of the Paralympic Movement.  As Board members that is a responsibility and duty we take extremely seriously. 

“In taking our decision yesterday we were looking at the long-term health and survival of the Paralympic Movement.  We are fiercely proud of the principles and values that have made the Movement what it is today.  

“However, what is clear is that the rapidly escalating situation has now put us in a unique and impossible position so close to the start of the Games.  

“Yesterday we said we would continue to listen, and that is what we are doing. 

“In the last 12 hours an overwhelming number of members have been in touch with us and been very open, for which I am grateful. They have told us that if we do not reconsider our decision, it is now likely to have grave consequences for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. Multiple NPCs, some of which have been contacted by their governments, teams and athletes, are threatening not to compete.

“Ensuring the safety and security of athletes is of paramount importance to us and the situation in the athlete villages is escalating and has now become untenable. First and foremost, we have a duty as part of the Paralympic mission, enshrined in the constitution, to guarantee and supervise the organisation of successful Paralympic Games, to ensure that in sport practiced within the Paralympic Movement the spirit of fair play prevails, violence is banned, the health risk of the athletes is managed and fundamental ethical principles are upheld.

“With this in mind, and in order to preserve the integrity of these Games and the safety of all participants, we have decided to refuse the athlete entries from RPC and NPC Belarus. 

“To the Para athletes from the impacted countries, we are very sorry that you are affected by the decisions your governments took last week in breaching the Olympic Truce. You are victims of your governments’ actions. 

“Athlete welfare is and always will be a key concern for us. As a result of today’s decision 83 Para athletes are directly impacted by this decision. However, if RPC and NPC Belarus remain here in Beijing then nations will likely withdraw. We will likely not have a viable Games. If this were to happen, the impact would be far wider reaching.

“I hope and pray that we can get back to a situation when the talk and focus is fully on the power of sport to transform the lives of persons with disabilities, and the best of humanity.”

iSportConnect: This is a very severe decision for the IPC to have to make, after athletes will have spent years training for this moment, and the athletes have always been the cornerstone priority for the IOC and IPC. However, in a situation where the presence of Russian and Belarusian athletes may lead to boycotts by fellow participating athletes refusing to compete against them, the IPC was forced into changing course over the last 24 hours.

MLB Season Delayed After CBA Negotiations Between League & MLBPA Passes Deadline With No Agreement

Tuesday’s deadline for a new collective bargaining agreement passed without a deal between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association, as the players voted to reject the league’s final proposal before 5 p.m. ET.

With no deal in place, MLB announced that each team’s first two series of the regular season will not be played, meaning that the regular season will begin no earlier than April 7, while Spring Training games will begin no earlier than March 12.

MLB extended Monday night’s deadline until Tuesday at 5 p.m., believing enough progress had been made during Monday’s 16-hour bargaining marathon that a deal could be consummated the next day.

“We worked hard to avoid an outcome that is bad for our fans, bad for our players and bad for our clubs,” said Commissioner Rob Manfred while speaking to the assembled media in Jupiter, Fla., where the negotiations were taking place. “I want to assure our fans that our failure to reach an agreement was not due to a lack of effort on the part of either party.”

MLB made what it called its “best offer” before the deadline, though the MLBPA rejected it, prompting the league to take the first week’s worth of games off the schedule.

“The clubs and our owners fully understand just how important it is to our millions of fans that we get the game on the field as soon as possible,” said Manfred. “To that end, we want to bargain and we want a deal with the Players Association as quickly as possible.”

In February, Manfred said that based on injury data and the experience of the 2020 pandemic-shortened season, Spring Training should be at least four weeks long in order for players to properly prepare for the season. Without a deal on Tuesday, that means starting the season later than the scheduled March 31 Opening Day.

MLB’s final offer would have meant nearly $500 million in additional compensation for pre-arbitration players through a 23% increase in minimum salary and a $30 million pre-arbitration bonus pool. It would have also increased the competitive balance tax threshold to $220 million, a jump from $214 million in 2021. The MLBPA was reportedly seeking an $85 million bonus pool for pre-arbitration players and a competitive balance tax threshold starting at $238 million.

Puma Extends W Series Partnership And Signs Emma Kimiläinen

W Series announces that Emma Kimiläinen will compete for the Puma W Series Team in 2022 as the brand extends its team title and global racewear partnership this year

Emma has won two races in her two seasons with W Series, the latter victory – at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium last August – starting a run of four consecutive podium finishes which saw the 32-year-old Finn end the season in third place in the championship standings. Emma will now look to take that excellent form into the 2022 W Series season, which consists of support races at eight Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends, starting in Miami, USA, in May. The Puma W Series Team finished sixth in last year’s inaugural teams’ championship, and Emma’s team-mate will be announced in due course.

Puma Motorsport broke the mould during W Series’ second season in 2021 by tailoring racewear specifically for female drivers for the very first time. As part of their women’s platform, She Moves Us, Puma will supply bespoke racewear during W Series’ third on-track season. Puma Motorsport has supplied high-performance, flame-retardant racewear for W Series’ drivers since the inaugural season in 2019. Puma is associated with the highest levels of motorsport and their tailored, triple-layer Nomex race suits ensure F1 standards of safety, performance, and comfort.

Catherine Bond Muir (Chief Executive Officer, W Series) said:

“I am delighted that Puma will continue to support W Series’ mission in 2022. Our brands are perfectly aligned – W Series aims to change the face of motorsport and increase opportunities in our industry for girls and women all around the world, while Puma is committed to celebrating females who inspire others, as shown by their support of W Series since our inaugural season. All of W Series’ drivers are inspirational and none more so than Emma Kimiläinen, who has competed against and beaten the world’s best drivers throughout her career and continues to do so whilst juggling her life as a businesswoman and a mother.

“Like us, Puma is determined to do all it can to help our drivers showcase their talent on motor racing’s greatest stage, and W Series’ drivers will once again be equipped with racewear tailored to their exact specifications, enabling them to feel comfortable in the car and perform at their best.”  

Emma Kimiläinen (Puma W Series Team) said:

“I am very proud to be racing for the Puma W Series Team this year. With their She Moves Us campaign, our brand and values fit together perfectly and, being a professional athlete at the top level and a mother, I hope to inspire girls and women chasing their dreams in sports. It’s amazing to be recognised by Puma and the fact that they believe in my talent even though I’m a 32-year-old mum speaks volumes. Together we can show the world that, irrespective of your age or gender, you can always pursue your dreams.

“After finishing fifth in the inaugural W Series season and third last year, I’m aiming to continue my progress and win the title in 2022. The first half of last season was difficult, but I know what I need to succeed this year and I’m certain that the Puma team will provide that and enable me to launch a strong bid for the title – nothing less will do.

“Pre-season has been good so far with lots of snowmobiling at home in Finland and I’ve been training really hard. I’m looking forward to pre-season testing in Spain this week – we are a tight family in W Series so it will be lovely to see some old faces and greet some new ones.”

James Clark (Head of Sports Marketing Motorsport & Operations, Puma) said:

“It is fantastic to join forces with W Series and our own Puma W Series Team again this year, and I would like to thank the entire W Series team for embracing our vision. W Series has become one of the key pillars of our women’s campaign, She Moves Us, which celebrates females who move culture and sports forward and inspire women around the world. Passion for motorsport is in Puma’s DNA and we are excited to watch W Series grow worldwide. Through the She Moves Us campaign, we will provide comprehensive support and endeavour to drive women in motorsport forward, celebrating the success of the Puma W Series Team and the series as a whole.”

Maura Everett (Senior Brand Strategist, Women’s Performance, Puma) said:

“We are excited to have Emma Kimiläinen join the Puma family as she is the embodiment of She Moves Us: excelling as an elite athlete in a male dominated sport while being a full-time mother. Emma’s winning attitude on and off track will inspire the next generation of women in motorsport.”

Women’s Six Nations Unveils New Brand Identity Alongside TikTok

Six Nations Rugby has revealed a striking new brand identity for the TikTok Women’s Six Nations, that will be rolled out starting from this year’s Championship.

Charged with a sense of energy and led by an electric purple colour palette, Six Nations Rugby has invigorated the look and feel of the Women’s Championship to deliver a progressive, engaging, and digital-first identity that will form part of a fresh approach to content and storytelling.

Intended to resonate with existing fans and captivate new audiences, the reimagined brand identity joins a recent set of firsts for the Women’s Six Nations. One such crucial first was entertainment platform TikTok becoming the first ever Title Partner of the Women’s Championship, and as such the brand takes prominence within the new Championship logo and associated assets.

Alongside this is the unrivalled global broadcast support for the TikTok Women’s Six Nations, which once again occupies its own moment in the international rugby calendar.

As a result, the opportunity to engage with the Women’s Championship has never been so readily available, making this year’s competition the most accessible in its history.

Commenting on the new identity, Sarah Beattie, Chief Marketing Officer for Six Nations Rugby, said:

“Earlier this year Six Nations Rugby introduced the first ever Title Partner of the Women’s Six Nations: TikTok. To now reveal an all-new brand identity for the Championship is an important next step a in establishing a distinct creative platform, personality, and direction, to fuel the growth of the Women’s game.”

“Based on fan research we developed a brand position that will shape our approach to fan engagement. The intent behind the new identity was to mirror the electric energy of rugby we have come to expect from the Women’s Championship, celebrate the sense of togetherness and connect more people to the game-changing heroes that will inspire future generations.”

The TikTok Women’s Six Nations kicks off on 26th March, when Scotland host England, Ireland welcome Wales and France play Italy on Sunday 27th March.

NEO And Whistle Integrate Offerings To Create Global Studio For ELEVEN Group

The sports production company NEO Studios has merged with US based Whistle Studios to create a global studio business, which will be housed within the ELEVEN Group. 

The newly expanded NEO Studios will supplement ELEVEN’s offering of live sport with best in class on-demand content for audiences across the Group’s network. NEO will also create premium sports and entertainment programming for third party streaming and linear platforms.

NEO was launched by ELEVEN’s parent company – the sports and media investment platform Aser Ventures – in 2018. The studio’s first project was the award-winning Take us Home – Leeds United for Amazon Prime Video, which charted the club’s return to the Premier League across the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. Last year NEO told the story of four Hawaiian sumo wrestlers who travelled to Japan to become legends of the country’s national sport in the critically acclaimed three-part show The Giants for Rakuten TV. 

Whistle Studios has a long track record in developing and producing scripted, unscripted, animation, and live formats in the US. Recent releases include the Emmy winning docu-series Prideland for PBS and the NAACP nominated Benedict Men, a docu-series made in partnership with NBA star Stephen Curry and Unanimous Media.

The newly combined studio business will pool NEO’s capabilities in premium sports storytelling with Whistle’s diverse range of studio services, delivering additional value to the ELEVEN Group and third-party distributors. The merger also brings together the two studios’ unique network of relationships with some of the biggest talent, sports teams and federations in the world. As part of the Aser Ventures group, NEO enjoys close links with Premier League club Leeds United and to a roster of stars affiliated to Aser’s media, marketing and talent agencies. Whistle Studios have a history of collaborating with some of the top names in US sport. 

NEO will now focus on developing new formats across the entertainment spectrum, with a particular focus on sport. 

NEO is currently working on the release of the six-part docu-series Legacy: In The Shadow of Greatness, which will chart the journeys of three gifted young athletes and their legendary parents Dwyane Wade, Evander Holyfield and Randall Cunningham. NEO are working with 11-time Emmy Award winning filmmaker Jonathan Hock on the show, which will premier on March 8 th with Discovery+. 

NEO is also developing a new format called The Academy, which will follow young athletes hoping to fulfil their dreams of going pro. NEO has already partnered with the NFL Alumni Academy in the U.S, and will be expanding the series to a number of European football clubs.

Uniting NEO’s projects together will be a mission to tell powerful human stories that connect audiences with their passions. Projects that celebrate diversity and champion positive societal change will be central to the studio’s future plans.

Anouk Mertens, NEO Studios CEO, said: “Combining forces with the talented team in the US allows us to grow our capabilities and operate at a truly global scale. As part of the ELEVEN Group, NEO will be able to leverage our unique partnerships with talent, athletes, and leagues to tell powerful, untold stories that really connect audiences with their passions.”

Marc Watson, ELEVEN Group CEO, added: “The newly expanded NEO Studios will be an integral part of the ELEVEN Group, and give us the opportunity to supplement our compelling live sports offering with more award winning on demand content. NEO’s best in class production services will also empower us to deliver for rights partners and distributors around the world.”

NEO will operate as a global studio business with teams across Europe and the US. NEO’s distribution network includes Amazon Prime, Netflix, Rakuten TV, HBO Max, Discovery, Snap Originals, BET+, Facebook Watch, MGM/Orion, TBS, YouTube Premium and more.

Anouk Mertens will lead the business as Global CEO. NEO’s US team will be overseen by Emmy Award-winner Melanie Capacia Johnson (Managing Director NEO Studios US) and Jill Johnson (NEO Studios Head of Entertainment). NEO’s European operations will be headed up by Jimmy Rutherford (Director of Content) and Jonathan Gale (Director of Business Development). 

NEO’s merger with Whistle Studios follows ELEVEN’s acquisition of Team Whistle in 2021 and marks a key milestone in the ELEVEN Group’s journey to establishing itself as a global sports and entertainment powerhouse. The combined ELEVEN Group houses a total of 1,655 distribution channels and 665 million aggregated social media followers, generating more than 4 billion video views each month. It serves fans with approximately 65,000 hours of live sport each year together with a slate of original programming. The Group also delivers a 360 offering to brands and rights holders, with a suite of digital marketing & talent management services, in addition to NEO’s studio capabilities. 

The ELEVEN Group is part of the Aser Ventures family – a network of sports and media companies including Leeds United, LIVENow and the digital marketing agency Creed Media.

Authentic Brands Group Partners With David Beckham And Finalises Acquisition Of Reebok

Authentic Brands Group (ABG), a global brand owner, development and entertainment company, today announces that it has entered into a strategic partnership with David Beckham to co-own and manage Beckham’s global brand. In connection with the partnership, David Beckham has become a shareholder in ABG. Regarded as one of the most successful athlete-turned-entrepreneurs, Beckham has built a diverse portfolio of brands and businesses that connect with audiences worldwide and is supported by key strategic partners including Adidas, Tudor, Maserati, EA Sports, Sands and Diageo.

David Beckham joins the roster of ABG’s growing entertainment portfolio that includes some of the world’s most celebrated athletes and iconic sports brands such as Muhammad Ali, Shaquille O’Neal and Sports Illustrated. He and his management team will partner with ABG to grow the David Beckham brand through strategic endorsements, innovative business models, compelling digital and media partnerships and new consumer products.

“We are thrilled to welcome David Beckham to ABG’s esteemed entertainment division and even further honored to call him an ABG shareholder. David is a superstar talent with an incredible global brand reach and a highly influential presence,” said Jamie Salter, Founder, Chairman and CEO of ABG. “David and his team have built an enterprise that spans sports, entertainment, lifestyle and luxury, and we see significant opportunities to scale his brand and expand it into new verticals.”

“ABG takes an innovative approach to global brand development, and I’m delighted to be joining them,” said David Beckham. “Our shared vision makes ABG the ideal strategic partner to help unlock the full potential of my brand and business. I’m incredibly grateful for the support I have received in my business career and proud of what our team has achieved. I’m excited for the next chapter.”

The partnership with David Beckham marks a definitive step in ABG’s global strategy to expand its corporate footprint, launch new business verticals and drive growth in key territories, including EMEA and APAC. As part of this next phase, ABG officially opens its European headquarters in London. The office will house the David Beckham team, who have been welcomed into the ABG family.

 ABG also becomes the largest shareholder in Studio 99, an integrated creative and production studio co-founded by Beckham in 2019. The company has a slate of documentary series in development and production for global platforms, including Netflix and Disney+, in addition to a commercial business generating content and creative marketing campaigns for a range of global brand clients.

Beckham’s digital presence is considered one of the most influential in the world, with a following of more than 138 million, bringing ABG’s total portfolio-wide social media following to more than 420 million. Beckham’s annual impressions surpass 9 billion across Instagram, Facebook and Chinese platforms Weibo and Douyin, which has the highest engagement of any international account. He is also the most followed and engaged individual on social media in the U.K.

With a professional football career spanning more than two decades, Beckham has played for some of the most successful clubs in the world. He was a member of Manchester United’s celebrated “Class of ‘92” and was the first English footballer to win league titles in four countries: with Manchester United in England, Real Madrid in Spain, LA Galaxy in the United States and Paris Saint-Germain in France. He is a former England Captain who played 115 times for his country including in three FIFA World Cups. In 2018, Beckham became co-owner of Major League Soccer franchise Inter Miami CF, the culmination of his lifelong ambition to build a new football club and create a lasting legacy in the game.

Authentic Brands Group Completes Acquisition Of Reebok From adidas

Authentic Brands Group (ABG) today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Reebok from adidas. As it ushers in its largest acquisition to date, the global brand development, marketing and entertainment company is charting a new path for Reebok.

“Reebok is a brand that needs no introduction,” said Jamie Salter, Founder, Chairman and CEO of ABG. “The Reebok team has done an incredible job of cementing Reebok’s place in the minds and hearts of consumers. Through ABG’s operating model, Reebok will have the ability to evolve and embrace its iconic creativity, quality and innovation. It’s time to let Reebok be Reebok.”

With Reebok, ABG is taking a page from its playbook, connecting strong brands with best-in-class partners and a global network of operators, distributors, and retailers to optimize value in the marketplace. An essential pillar of ABG’s strategy is preserving Reebok’s DNA and a commitment to the brand’s heritage through the formation of Reebok Design Group (RDG) in partnership with SPARC Group. RDG is the global brand hub for the design, development and innovation for footwear and apparel servicing partners around the world.

“Product has always been at the forefront of Reebok, and we are committed to upholding the standard that our brand fans and consumers have come to expect,” said Matt O’Toole, President of RDG. “2021 was a banner year for Reebok, and in part that was a credit to our focus on the iconic silhouettes that immortalize the brand. Under new ownership, we have an exciting opportunity to reclaim our place in the market and take Reebok to even greater heights.” 

Reebok has inspired, connected and created great products for athletes and consumers across the world for generations. The brand is deeply rooted in professional sports, sneaker culture and performance apparel and will continue to deliver on its mission of providing each and every consumer with the opportunity, products and inspiration to achieve and exceed their potential.

From creating the first spiked running shoe over a century ago, to its breakthrough THE PUMP™ technology, to today with its award-winning Nano and Floatride models, Reebok has pioneered in the athletic space and continues to introduce innovations that propel the industry forward. The Reebok Classic Leather and Club C have cemented itself as icons within the footwear industry with their timeless and classic designs that first debuted nearly 4 decades ago and continue to be reimagined through unexpected collaborations with world-renowned creatives and design houses.

“Reebok is one of the few super brands that has the permission to play in any space,” said Nick Woodhouse, President and CMO of ABG. “Its position at the intersection of fashion, sports and culture allows Reebok to be elastic while staying true to its celebrated ethos and unmistakable DNA.” 

To support the new global structure for Reebok, ABG has assembled a roster of key players from around the world who will drive distribution and further Reebok’s business in key territories while upholding the brand’s integrity and values.

SPOTV Expands Its Reach In Hong Kong With NOW TV Launch

Eclat Media Group has announced its distribution deal for SPOTV into Hong Kong with  broadcast partner PCCW. Both channels, SPOTV and SPOTV 2 will launch live on 1  March on PCCW’s Pay TV platform, Now TV. 

Sports fans in Hong Kong will now be able to watch their sporting heroes compete on  SPOTV and get to enjoy front row seats to international sporting events such as BWF  World Tour & Major Events, FIM MotoGP World Championships, FIM World Superbike  Championships, World Table Tennis, The Open Championships (Golf Major),  Wimbledon and US Open (Tennis Grand Slams). Additionally, they can also catch the  latest K-wave of popular sports, including the Korean Baseball League (KBO) and  Korean Basketball League (KBL) and V.League from Japan. 

“We are delighted to partner with Hong Kong’s leading provider of premium content,  Now TV, which paves an important step for SPOTV’s growth in Hong Kong. We are  pleased that the avid sports fans and Now TV subscribers will be able to enjoy and  experience world-class sporting actions through this partnership. With our growing  content, Now TV subscribers can also expect to get more premium sports content in the  coming months.” said Mr Lee Choong Khay (CK), CEO of SPOTV. 

Mr. Derek Choi, Head of Pay TV, HKT, said, “Now TV is committed to presenting world class sports events to Hong Kong viewers. We are excited to collaborate with leading  sports network SPOTV to further expand our sports content offering. In addition to  tennis Grand Slams and MotoGP, SPOTV also features many sports events that Hong  Kong athletes participate in, such as BWF World Tour and World Table Tennis. We look  forward to working closely with SPOTV to provide more premium sports actions for  the local audience.” 

This launch in Hong Kong further expands and adds to SPOTV’s distribution network  which is currently broadcast in Southeast Asia and selected East Asia territories such  as Macau and Mongolia.