DP World Tour And beIN MEDIA GROUP Sign Broadcast Partnership In MENA

The DP World Tour and beIN MEDIA GROUP have today announced a new agreement that gives the global sports, entertainment and media group the non-exclusive rights to broadcast select DP World Tour events in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for the 2022 season.

The agreement will see beIN MEDIA GROUP’s flagship sports channel, beIN SPORTS, rights to broadcast live coverage of DP World Tour events taking place in the Middle East during the 2022 season. Starting this week with the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, beIN SPORTS customers will then be able to watch live coverage of the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic, the Ras al Khaimah Championship presented by Phoenix Capital, the Ras al Khaimah Classic, the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, and the season ending DP World Tour Championship. This will be complemented by a weekly highlights programme that covers the full, global DP World Tour schedule.

eSkootr Championship Appoints NEP Group As Official Technical Broadcast Partner

The eSkootr Championship™ (eSC) has appointed NEP Group to manage the Championship’s outside broadcast operation when the series begins this year.  

NEP Group, which has supported some of the world’s most iconic global sports and music events, will help eSC deliver the most sustainable production possible through a combination of on-site and remote broadcast solutions, whilst navigating the challenges of outdoor broadcasting from temporary city centre locations. 

The eSC aims to bring a high visibility, low environmental impact sporting and entertainment experience to iconic city centre locations, high profile and sustainably minded event venues, and repurposed areas of urban regeneration. Each has its own unique set of operational and outside broadcast challenges. eSC will race in ways and places that have never been done before while providing a new and immersive broadcast experience for fans who want to be as close to the action as possible.

Hrag Sarkissian, eSkootr Championship™ co-Founder and CEO, said:

“As a brand-new sport with a unique racing format in the heart of city centres, eSC presents many different broadcast challenges. After working with the NEP Group on our test events, we have been impressed by their commitment to technical development and innovation and their ability to find solutions that will enable us to put on sustainable inner-city broadcasts through both on site and remote production.”

Brian Clark, Director of Sales, NEP Major Events, said: 

“We are delighted to be working on this new sport with the eSC team and their partners. Also, we are looking forward to the innovations in coverage that will be one of the hallmarks of eSkootrs and ensuring that we help develop a sustainable coverage plan for this global series.”

NEP will be supplying a range of services including GFX, capture, connectivity and specialist camera and RF technology. NEP is deploying both onsite and Centralized Production models for the global coverage of eSC, with the ultimate aim being to have as much of the staff and operations as possible working remotely from the London Production Centre, Hilversum and other remote locations connected to the NEP Network.  

NEP’s Centralised Production solutions offer extra flexibility for clients to access the resources they need, whether it’s a production centre, OB (Outside Broadcast) truck or mobile unit, studio, or enabled location, with the ability to access additional services on demand, all backed by a team of engineering and security experts providing 24/7 monitoring.

PGA TOUR And SiriusXM Agree To Multi-Year Extension

The PGA TOUR and SiriusXM announced today that they have reached a multi-year extension to their broadcasting agreement, which will continue to deliver extensive tournament coverage on the SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio channel for subscribers nationwide through 2024.

SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio listeners enjoy live coverage of every round of 38 PGA TOUR events throughout the season – including THE PLAYERS Championship, the FedExCup Playoffs, the biennial Presidents Cup and many others – with hole-by-hole commentary and expert analysis. Listeners can tune in live this week to The American Express on January 20-23.

SiriusXM subscribers across North America can listen to the SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio channel on SiriusXM radios in their cars (channel 92) as well as at home or on the go with the SXM App. For more information, visit www.SiriusXM.com/SiriusXMPGATOURRadio.

“We are very pleased to extend our relationship with the PGA TOUR.  Our extensive schedule of in-depth tournament broadcasts will continue to ensure golf fans can follow the best players in the world as they compete all season long,” said Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM’s President and Chief Content Officer.  “With live event broadcasts every week, and a daily original programming lineup that features some of the most entertaining voices in the game, the best golf coverage in audio entertainment, bar none, continues to be on SiriusXM.”

“We are excited to continue our relationship with SiriusXM who provides a significant avenue for the TOUR to reach fans across the country,” said Rick Anderson, PGA TOUR’s Chief Media Officer. “Since 2005, SiriusXM has delivered crucial play-by-play and colorful commentary of the best golf in the world to fans that are driving in their cars, at home or on the go.”

SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio features a variety of broadcasters working on comprehensive play-by-play coverage for PGA TOUR events, including former TOUR winners Mark Carnevale, Mark McCumber, Dennis Paulson, John Rollins and Mark Wilson.

SiriusXM also produces and airs original golf programming daily throughout the year on the channel, featuring the best golf talk, news, analysis and instruction available on radio and streaming platforms. Several new shows have been added to the schedule this year:

  • The Players Show – Listeners will hear a long form conversation with some of the biggest names on the PGA TOUR each week. (Wednesdays at 8 pm ET)
  • All Square – Chantel McCabe looks at the headline stories around the world of golf. (Wednesdays at 6 pm ET)
  • The Scorecard – This two-hour pregame show, hosted by David Marr III and former PGA TOUR pro Mark Lye, airs leading into the Saturday and Sunday rounds of every PGA TOUR event broadcast.
  • The Wrap – Airing immediately following each round of every PGA TOUR event, listeners will hear a recap of the tournament, highlights and interviews.
  • Feherty and Maginnes – Previously announced in December, the new weekly show hosted by two of the most entertaining voices in golf – former PGA TOUR pros and longtime broadcasters David Feherty and John Maginnes – launched in its weekly timeslot (Mondays at 7 pm ET) on January 3rd.

SiriusXM also offers, through separate agreements, live coverage of the Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, PGA Championship and Ryder Cup.

The channel also features many other shows hosted by prominent voices from the game, including World Golf Hall of Fame member Fred Couples; current and former PGA TOUR pros Jason Kokrak, David Feherty, Colt Knost, Carl Paulson and Dennis Paulson; distinguished instructors Michael Breed, Jim McLean, David Armitage, and Jeff Warne; and many more.

Velocity Global Named Official Global Work Platform Of The LPGA And LET

The LPGA announced today that Velocity Global, the leading provider of global expansion solutions, has been named the Official Global Work Platform of the LPGA and Ladies European Tour (LET) in a multi-year agreement. Velocity Global will work with the LPGA Tour and LET to highlight the global impact of their players, representing more than 60 countries, through enhanced storytelling opportunities and player recognition.

“This partnership highlights that global talent pushes greater competition,” said Rob Wellner, Velocity Global Chief Revenue Officer. “Golf is truly a global sport and to achieve success, you must perform against anyone, anywhere. We’re proud to partner with the LPGA and LET to support the game’s global players just as our Global Work Platform supports talent and businesses around the world.”

The partnership introduces the Velocity Global Impact Award, celebrating players who have helped to grow the sport of golf and inspire the next generation of athletes through their actions. More details on the Velocity Global Impact Award, including the structure of the 2022 nominations, will be shared in the coming months.

“We’re excited to welcome Velocity Global to the LPGA Partner family and create this Impact Award to showcase our players outside the ropes,” said the LPGA’s Chief Sales Officer Kelly Hyne. “As a like-minded global business, Velocity Global will help illustrate the impact our players make in the game of golf and in their home countries. We look forward to many years of collaboration.”

The LET will utilize the Global Work Platform from Velocity Global to simplify compliance, benefits and payroll for their talent to deliver tour events in 25 countries across multiple continents this year.

“We are delighted to partner with Velocity Global to utilize their world-class expansion and talent solutions to help accelerate the growth of our business and international footprint,” said LET CEO Alexandra Armas. “We fully embrace this opportunity to best service our players and continue growing the game globally.”

Additionally, as an Official Partner of the LPGA’s Women’s Network, Velocity Global will utilize the LPGA platform to highlight those initiatives internally focused around women’s leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion through additional programming.  

Velocity Global furthered its support of the women’s game with the recent announcement that LPGA Tour players Lexi Thompson and Albane Valenzuela joined six-time PGA TOUR champion Billy Horschel and four-time APGA Tour champion Kevin Hall as its global golf brand ambassadors.

Microsoft Acquires Activision Blizzard For $68.7 Billion

With three billion people actively playing games today, and fueled by a new generation steeped in the joys of interactive entertainment, gaming is now the largest and fastest-growing form of entertainment. Today, Microsoft Corp. announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard Inc., a leader in game development and interactive entertainment content publisher. This acquisition will accelerate the growth in Microsoft’s gaming business across mobile, PC, console and cloud and will provide building blocks for the metaverse.

Microsoft will acquire Activision Blizzard for $95.00 per share, in an all-cash transaction valued at $68.7 billion, inclusive of Activision Blizzard’s net cash. When the transaction closes, Microsoft will become the world’s third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony. The planned acquisition includes iconic franchises from the Activision, Blizzard and King studios like “Warcraft,” “Diablo,” “Overwatch,” “Call of Duty” and “Candy Crush,” in addition to global eSports activities through Major League Gaming. The company has studios around the word with nearly 10,000 employees. 

Bobby Kotick will continue to serve as CEO of Activision Blizzard, and he and his team will maintain their focus on driving efforts to further strengthen the company’s culture and accelerate business growth. Once the deal closes, the Activision Blizzard business will report to Phil Spencer, CEO, Microsoft Gaming.

“Gaming is the most dynamic and exciting category in entertainment across all platforms today and will play a key role in the development of metaverse platforms,” said Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO, Microsoft. “We’re investing deeply in world-class content, community and the cloud to usher in a new era of gaming that puts players and creators first and makes gaming safe, inclusive and accessible to all.”

“Players everywhere love Activision Blizzard games, and we believe the creative teams have their best work in front of them,” said Phil Spencer, CEO, Microsoft Gaming. “Together we will build a future where people can play the games they want, virtually anywhere they want.”

“For more than 30 years our incredibly talented teams have created some of the most successful games,” said Bobby Kotick, CEO, Activision Blizzard. “The combination of Activision Blizzard’s world-class talent and extraordinary franchises with Microsoft’s technology, distribution, access to talent, ambitious vision and shared commitment to gaming and inclusion will help ensure our continued success in an increasingly competitive industry.”

Mobile is the largest segment in gaming, with nearly 95% of all players globally enjoying games on mobile. Through great teams and great technology, Microsoft and Activision Blizzard will empower players to enjoy the most-immersive franchises, like “Halo” and “Warcraft,” virtually anywhere they want. And with games like “Candy Crush,” Activision Blizzard´s mobile business represents a significant presence and opportunity for Microsoft in this fast-growing segment.

The acquisition also bolsters Microsoft’s Game Pass portfolio with plans to launch Activision Blizzard games into Game Pass, which has reached a new milestone of over 25 million subscribers. With Activision Blizzard’s nearly 400 million monthly active players in 190 countries and three billion-dollar franchises, this acquisition will make Game Pass one of the most compelling and diverse lineups of gaming content in the industry. Upon close, Microsoft will have 30 internal game development studios, along with additional publishing and esports production capabilities.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and completion of regulatory review and Activision Blizzard’s shareholder approval. The deal is expected to close in fiscal year 2023 and will be accretive to non-GAAP earnings per share upon close. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both Microsoft and Activision Blizzard.

AFL Welcomes Crypto.com In Landmark Five-Year Partnership

THE AFL is pleased to announce a landmark five-year partnership with Crypto.com as a major partner of both the Toyota AFL Premiership Season and NAB AFLW competitions.

The new partnership will see Crypto.com become the Official Cryptocurrency Exchange and Official Cryptocurrency Trading Platform of AFL and AFLW.

The world’s fastest-growing cryptocurrency platform will also feature as the exclusive naming rights partner of the ‘Crypto.com AFL Score Review’ for all Toyota AFL Premiership Season and Final Series matches.

The agreement sees the AFL become the first Australian sports league Crypto.com has partnered with, while AFLW will become the first elite women’s sports competition Crypto.com has sponsored world-wide.

The AFL joins some of the biggest sports and entertainment brands in the world to partner with Crypto.com, including Formula 1, UFC, Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), Montreal Canadiens (NHL), esports team Fnatic, Lega Serie A, Twitch Rivals and most recently renaming the AEG-owned and operated Staples Center to Crypto.com Arena. 

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the partnership marked an exciting new chapter for Australian Football.

“Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology is a dynamic and emerging industry, and the AFL is delighted to partner with Crypto.com to be at the forefront of the industry’s growth in Australia,” Mr. McLachlan said.

AFL Executive General Manager Customer and Commercial Kylie Rogers said the AFL was proud to partner with a global leader.

“Crypto.com has partnered with a number of elite sporting codes across the world and the AFL is proud to be the first Australian sports league and elite women’s competition globally to work alongside an organisation that shares our passion to progress the future of elite sport and technology,” Ms. Rogers said.

“The new partnership marks one of the most significant corporate partner deals since the COVID-19 pandemic, which will help strengthen our industry as we continue to recover and rebuild key growth areas our game.

“The growth of blockchain technology, services and cryptocurrency products available provide a range of exciting opportunities and we look forward to partnering with Crypto.com to drive innovation throughout the sports industry.”

Crypto.com Co-Founder and CEO, Kris Marszalek said the new partnership was a great opportunity to expand cryptocurrency in an already strong market.  

“We are committed to investing in Australia, a key market and leader in cryptocurrency adoption contributing to our rapid growth of over 10 million users globally. The AFL and AFLW are perfect platforms to associate ourselves with Australian sports and culture. It is by far the most popular spectator sport in the country that has been played for over 150 years, a rich history that uniquely brings Australians together in a way that we are truly inspired by,” Mr. Marszalek said.

Crypto.com General Manager Asia & Pacific, Karl Mohan said the new partnership would resonate with all footy fans. 

“Our latest consumer research in Australia found that more than half (53%) of crypto investors were females. It is very encouraging to see that Australians from all walks of life, irrespective of gender or background, are very keen to adopt cryptocurrencies, and we’re excited about being their go-to platform. 

“The AFL has led the way to bring gender diversity to Australian sport and we believe this partnership will resonate well with all footy fans across the country,” Mr. Mohan said. 

“We couldn’t be happier with the timing of this partnership at a moment when more Australians are engaging with cryptocurrency and the Australian Government is taking steps to put necessary regulations in place to protect consumers while fostering innovation.”

Super League Announces 2022 Global Calendar For Arena Games Triathlon

Following on from the recent news of a ground-breaking partnership between Super League Triathlon (SLT) and World Triathlon (WT) to grow a global esports World Championship series – Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift – we are proud to announce the three cities chosen to host these Games in 2022:

Arena Games Triathlon 2022 Locations:

  • April 9 2022: Munich, Germany at Olympia-Schwimmhalle
  • April 23 2022: London, UK at London Aquatics Centre
  • May 7 2022: Singapore Grand Final

The Arena Games Triathlon (AGT) is a trailblazing concept pioneered by SLT, grown from an ambition to drive competitive triathlon throughout the global pandemic. 2021 saw the first multi-city version of the Games set in Rotterdam and London; the recent partnership with World Triathlon means the Arena Games Triathlon will be bigger and better than ever in 2022, with a return to London (23rd April), a first AGT event in Munich (9th April), and an inaugural Grand Final in Singapore (7th May). SLT is working with all relevant authorities to host the events in accordance to local safety protocols.

The real-life and virtual reality blended racing provides an immersive viewing experience that allows fans to get up close and personal with the best triathletes in the world without leaving the comfort of their seat. The event also gives esport fans, and lovers of sports statistics, the chance to enjoy live data from the athletes in real time. Born in the COVID era but promising a new generation of stars, the Arena Games Triathlon is the future of indoor racing.

Beth Potter Superleague Triathlon Arena Games London 2021 London Aquatic Centre Womens Race 27th March 2021 0269 980x692 1

Each event will contribute points to the WT World Ranking, and the athletes who collect the most points over the course of the series will be awarded the first-ever triathlon esport World Titles in Singapore. All three venues will see the return of fast and furious Elite racing, offering an incredible spectator experience for the fans.

“We are delighted to welcome three amazing cities such as London, Munich and Singapore to our roster of hosts – we can not think of a better scenario for the 2022 season of the Arena Games Triathlon. The three events offer a combination of vast experience on triathlon events, Olympic tradition and great hosting capabilities, so I am sure that both athletes and fans will enjoy it. We cannot wait for the start of the esports season!”, said World Triathlon President and IOC Member, Marisol Casado. 

“We have continued to innovate during the pandemic, and the pinnacle of that is our Arena Games Triathlon, which we recently announced the partnership with World Triathlon. It’s very exciting to see the first World Series of Triathlon esport coming together and announce this powerful line up with iconic locations. This series will be a milestone in triathlon’s history and these venues will really do that justice!” explained Michael D’hulst, CEO and co-founder of Super League Triathlon.

World Triathlon and Super League will collaborate on all aspects of Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift, including scheduling, participating athletes, involvement of national federations, promotion, broadcasters, host venues and amplifying the reach of the events. 

DAZN Restructures Leadership, Shay Segev To Be Sole CEO As Darren Waterman Joins As CFO

DAZN Group today announces the implementation of a new Group structure and some leadership changes that will enable DAZN to realise its ambitious growth and product strategy.

As of today, Shay Segev will be sole CEO of DAZN Group. Shay joined DAZN in June 2021, before which he was the CEO of Entain, a FTSE 100 company. Shay has an exceptional track record in scaling digital consumer businesses, which will be indispensable as DAZN expands its customer offering to include interactive and engaging content for fans to enjoy alongside its sports streaming service.  Shay joined Entain in 2016 when it was a small entrepreneurial business, and over the course of five years, he oversaw a phenomenal period of growth, including – most notably – the acquisition of bwin.party and Ladbrokes Coral, and establishment of BetMGM. By the time Shay left to join DAZN, Entain had become the market leader with a capitalisation of £10 billion. 

James Rushton, DAZN Co-Founder, will continue with his existing responsibilities overseeing growth in local markets, rights and content.  A 25-year veteran of the sports industry, James spent the majority of his career at Perform Group where he led many significant innovations, market expansion and revenue growth, including the launch of DAZN in 2016. 

Additionally, Darren Waterman joins as Group CFO, based in London.  Darren joins with tremendous experience from Amazon where he led the Finance team responsible for Prime Video internationally.  A world-class leader and seasoned TMT industry executive, Darren brings to DAZN a track record of successful geographic expansion, video streaming, product innovation and investment in sports, TV and movie content.  After almost four years as CFO, Stuart Epstein will continue in the role of Senior Advisor and member of the DAZN Board, enabling a smooth and effective transition of his current roles and responsibilities during the first half of 2022.

Kevin Mayer, DAZN Group Chairman, said, “DAZN has become the global leader in sports streaming in just five years and it is time to take this business to the next level. Shay’s technology background and outstanding history of delivering a strong performance culture will be hugely beneficial as DAZN introduces additional interactive fan engagement services such as betting and e-commerce for users to enjoy alongside our core offering of live sports streaming. James’ expertise in sports rights and deep understanding of the markets will ensure that DAZN continues to nurture and grow its core business. We thank Stuart for his many valuable contributions and look forward to his on-going involvement in this new capacity and we are delighted to be onboarding such strong talent as Darren Waterman.  Being able to attract such high calibre individuals is a testament to the strength of our business and our future.”

These changes come on the heels of significant global momentum at DAZN including the recent win of domestic LaLiga rights in Spain, being named Apple TV App of the Year for 2021 and reaching a record- breaking number of fans across the world. Looking into 2022, fans can expect an even deeper, more interactive experience with DAZN as the company moves forward with recreational betting, gaming, e-commerce, NFTs and tech advances in the viewing experience.

Tennis Follows PGA TOUR With Netflix Documentary Series In The Works For ATP And WTA Tours, Plus Grand Slam Tournaments

For the first time, fans will be able to share in a year in the life of some of the world’s best tennis players as they journey around the world, seeking to win on the sport’s biggest stages.   

To bring this unique immersive documentary series to the screen, Netflix has teamed up with the four Grand Slam tournaments, the ATP Tour, WTA Tour, and ATP Media beginning with the 2022 season at the Australian Open.

The series will offer an unfiltered look at life inside the competitive sport of professional tennis through the perspective of the players and their teams, in the same spirit as Formula 1: Drive to Survive and the recently announced project featuring golf’s PGA Tour. 

https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1482178750053851139?s=20

Through a historic collaboration that will take cameras behind the scenes of the two tours, the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open, the series will also be the first sports program of its kind to provide an equal platform to the men’s and women’s competitors of the sport, in keeping with the equal stage they share throughout the year. 

“We are excited to continue bolstering our lineup of sports programming with this behind-the-scenes documentary series,” said Brandon Riegg, Netflix Vice President of Unscripted and Documentary Series. “Tennis is beloved all over the world, with high-stakes tournaments hopping across continents and athletes hailing from countless countries. Through this historic partnership with the four Grand Slam tournaments, the ATP Tour, WTA Tour, and ATP Media, the series will be packed with rare access and rich personal stories that are sure to draw in longtime fans and new audiences alike.” 

The series is produced by Box to Box Films (Formula 1: Drive to Survive) with James Gay Rees and Paul Martin as serving as  Executive Producers. Filming is underway now at the Australian Open. 

iSportConnect: After the announcement earlier this month that the makers of Netflix’s Drive To Survive series were taking their model to golf, tennis has clearly become another sport looking to benefit from an influx in fans from the streaming service’s giant audience. But will both of these series have the same draw as Drive To Survive?

Costa Cruises Becomes The Official Cruise Line Of The 2023 Ryder Cup

Costa Cruises, the Italian brand of Costa Group, Europe’s leading cruise company, has been named Official Cruise Line of the 2023 Ryder Cup, which will be held for the first time in Italy at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, from 29 September to 1 October 2023.

As an Official Supporter of the Ryder Cup, Costa Cruises will benefit from a range of marketing opportunities including social media content and access to the Ryder Cup’s hospitality services. As part of the partnership, Costa Cruises is also unveiling a new offer designed specifically for golf enthusiasts and their families. The new Cruise & Golf formula will allow customers to combine unique golf experiences with the relaxation and fun of a Costa cruise on board Costa Smeralda, the company’s most innovative ship.

By booking a Cruise & Golf, golf enthusiasts will have the opportunity to play at some of the most beautiful clubs in Italy, France and Spain during the cruise itineraries’ port calls. This includes Marco Simone, the official home of the 2023 Ryder Cup. The offer will be available from May 2022 on the Costa Smeralda on one-week Western Mediterranean cruises. To take advantage of the new offer, guests simply need to book a cruise and then add one of the two golf packages to their booking, which include three or four “Green Fees”.

Speaking about the new partnership Roberto Alberti, SVP and Chief Commercial Officer of Costa Cruises, said; “Our holidays are aimed at providing unique and enriching experiences, and the combination with golf fits perfectly with this philosophy. To achieve our goal of becoming the reference company in the world of golf, we have come up with a special initiative, never seen before. Our partnership with the Ryder Cup 2023, one of the most popular sporting events in the world, will allow us to reach all golf enthusiasts, while with our new Cruise & Golf formula we will offer them and their families a holiday that combines the best of golf with the best of cruising. Cruise & Golf will also help to promote the golf clubs of the countries visited and, more generally, represents an opportunity to foster local tourism, considering that 6 out of 10 passengers declare they want to return to the places visited during the cruise”.

Guy Kinnings, Ryder Cup Director and Deputy CEO of the European Tour group, added; “We’re delighted to welcome Costa Cruises to the Ryder Cup partnership family, in what is a truly unique partnership. The Ryder Cup is a full entertainment spectacle, so it felt like a natural fit to work with Costa Cruises to build out a fully rounded experience for their customers as the Ryder Cup heads to Italy for the first time.”