Racecourse Media Group Awarded Dubai Racing Club Production And Distribution Contracts

Racecourse Media Group (RMG) has been awarded a further two-year contract by Dubai Racing Club to provide production and distribution services of the next two full horseracing seasons at Meydan Racecourse.

The season culminates with the glittering US$30.5m Dubai World Cup card on March 26, 2022 – recognised as one of the most prestigious day’s racing in the calendar.

Timeline Television will provide broadcast facilities and crew to support RMG’s host production and on-course coverage.

RMG, working with its long-time broadcast partner, Timeline, has produced and distributed horseracing from the flagship racecourse in Dubai for the previous six seasons, is offering exciting broadcast rights packages for the season.

Martin Stevenson, CEO of RMG, said: “We are delighted that Dubai Racing Club has once again appointed RMG for its production and distribution services. We look forward to working closely with our valued partners, Dubai Racing Club, in showcasing such a significant sporting event to the world.”

Dan McDonnell, CEO of Timeline Television, said: “We’re proud to be working with the Dubai Racing Club and Racecourse Media Group for the seventh year running. Each year we look to see how we can best capture the racing action and for the second year in a row we’re delighted to be providing both on-site and remote broadcast facilities to make this a more sustainable broadcast production.”

The 2021-2022 race season includes 22 meetings in all. The 2022 Dubai World Cup Carnival (DWCC), one of the highlights of the global racing calendar, begins on Thursday, January 13, one of eight meetings which culminates with Super Saturday on March 5.

The Dubai World Cup race-day enjoyed unprecedented global exposure in 2021, with more than 40 broadcasters showcasing the day.

Created through the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the racing is set against one of the most iconic sporting theatres, the state-of-the-art Meydan Racecourse. The architectural masterpiece measures 1.2km in length and can seat over 60,000 in its grandstand.

Racecourse Media Group is the parent company of Racing TV.

Sky And Channel 4 Strike Deal To Show 2021 Formula 1 Climax Free-To-Air In The UK

The deciding final race of the Formula 1 season will be shown live on free to air terrestrial television this Sunday (12.12.21) after Sky agreed to share its coverage with Channel 4.

Thanks to the deal struck between the two broadcasters, the British public will be able to savour every twist and turn as Lewis Hamilton sets his sights on taking a record-breaking eighth World Championship title in the winner-takes-all finale.

Channel 4’s Chief Executive Alex Mahon said: “We are delighted that the whole nation will be able to watch what is set to be one of the most thrilling finales to an F1 season in living memory as Lewis strives to become the most crowned World Champion of all time.

“After bringing Test cricket to free to air television for the first time in more than a decade, and enabling millions to share the joy of Emma Raducanu’s US Open triumph, we are so pleased to be partnering with Sky to enable the widest possible audience to share this historic sporting moment.”

Stephen van Rooyen, EVP & CEO UK & Europe Sky said: “Sunday’s Grand Prix is one of the biggest sporting events in the last decade, and could be an historic moment for British sport. We’ve chosen to gift the race to the whole country at Christmas through our partnership with Channel 4, so everyone can be part of a huge national moment as Lewis Hamilton goes for a historic eighth World Championship title.

“The brilliant Sky Sports Formula 1 team will give viewers on Channel 4 and Sky Sports the best insight, commentary and analysis of every twist and turn of this most eagerly anticipated final race of the season. Additionally all Sky TV customers will have live coverage of the important qualifying session on Saturday, and the race on Sunday – which we will also show live on Sky Showcase.”

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are tied on 369.5 points each with Verstappen currently leading the Drivers’ Championship having secured a total of nine wins, one more than Hamilton’s eight.

This year has witnessed crashes, controversies and collisions between the two drivers and set up a mouth-watering grandstand finish to the 2021 Formula 1 season.

Under the terms of the deal, Channel 4 will broadcast Sky’s production of the live race coverage with its presenting team of Nico Rosberg, Jenson Button, Martin Brundle, Nat Pinkham, David Croft, Karun Chandhok, Simon Lazenby and Ted Kravitz.

Channel 4’s team of Steve Jones, David Coulthard, Mark Webber and Lee McKenzie will provide build up to the race for 15 minutes from midday before handing over to Sky for their pre-race coverage and Sky’s live coverage of the race itself.

After the podium ceremony Channel 4’s presentation team will return to give its instant reaction to the race before a full Channel 4 highlights programme produced by Whisper airs at 5.30pm.

This latest deal follows on from a recent announcement that Channel 4 would broadcast ten live Super League matches each season for the next two years thanks to a partnership with Sky. It is the first time in the competition’s 26-year history that it will be shown on free to air terrestrial television.

This is the latest in a string of sports broadcasts secured by Channel 4 which have included: live coverage of Emma Raducanu’s stunning US Open victory; live British Lions rugby; live Test match cricket coverage of England’s tour in India; live coverage of the Ireland rugby union autumn internationals; and live in-depth coverage of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games which attracted 20 million viewers.

Brave New Sport: Can Sport Empower Humanity To Tackle Some Of The Biggest Issues Of Our Time?

Sport has always played a major role in society and the importance of playful competition has been integral to humanity’s cultural evolution. How can it grow its role as a catalyst for technology, business, health and geopolitics?

Today, the sports landscape is embedded in a context of unprecedented change: rising health costs, technological disruptions, and climate change pose risks for society, economy, and environment. Can sport empower humanity to tackle some of the biggest issues of our time?

Infront are one of the leaders in the sports industry thanks to their vast network across the globe and work as one of the major sports marketing agencies in the world with a longstanding history. They also own Infront X, who specialise in helping sports, media, and entertainment organisations make deeper connections with their audiences through leading-edge technology, data-driven strategy, and impeccable design.

“We felt it was about time to look at the broader picture, to give a bit of guidance and what a desirable future for our sector is.”

Due to their position as a key player shaping the industry, Infront are able witness the developments in sport on a daily basis, which is why they have created the new book “Brave New Sport – Empowering 21st Century Society”.

Made in association with Swiss Think Tank W.I.R.E., Infront have explored some of the potential aspects of sport and its future development in the coming decades.

Joerg Polzer, VP of Strategic Communications at Infront Sports & Media, and Dr. Stephan Sigrist Head of the Think Tank W.I.R.E joined Infront X Lab’s podcast, The Mix Zone to discuss the project and some of the themes they took from it.

“We felt it was about time to look at the broader picture, to give a bit of guidance and what a desirable future for our sector is,” shared Polzer. “One of the central questions we’re asking in the book is ‘how brave do we want to be as an industry moving forward?’ You have to step out of your comfort zone and be brave to go to places where the magic happens.”

“The book really highlights the value of sport in society and the immense transformative potential it has. It really indicates that there is a next generation of sport that needs to be put on the radar and that can, if managed in the right way, have the potential to raise the importance of sport.”

“Especially with digital solutions there’s a change of hierarchy taking place in sport, giving much more power and responsibility to athletes, but it’s also putting pressure [on them].”

Sigrist added: “The book is really broad and for me it was interesting to understand that the world of sport is enlarging in so many ways and becoming much more diversified.

“Especially with digital solutions there’s a change of hierarchy taking place in sport, giving much more power and responsibility to athletes, but it’s also putting pressure [on them].”

In the book, Infront and W.I.R.E. have tried to envision how the future of sports may look and what it will be like in 30 years’ time.

Get your copy of Brave New Sport from this link – https://bravenew.sport/

Crystal Palace To Launch $CPFC Fan Token On Socios.Com

Crystal Palace has announced a partnership with Chiliz, the world leading blockchain providers for the sports and entertainment industry. Through the partnership, the club will launch a $CPFC Fan Token on the fan engagement and rewards app Socios.com.

Socios.com and Fan Tokens will create new opportunities for the club to recognise and reward local and international supporters. Fans will also be able to access exclusive promotions and a number of other exciting upcoming features on Socios.com. 

Benefits of becoming a Fan Token holder include voting rights in fan focused club polls, as well as the chance to compete against other fans from at home and abroad in club-related games, competitions, and quizzes. 

Fan Token holders will be able to pick up points as they connect with the club and fellow fans through the app, which will unlock access to a wide range of benefits, including club merchandise and real-life experiences, and the chance to watch games as a VIP at Selhurst Park and meet heroes of the past and present. Fan Token holders have also already benefited from additional innovative digital rewards. 

The club will start by offering all existing season ticket holders and members the opportunity to redeem a $CPFC Fan Token for free. Details on how fans can collect their free Fan Token will be revealed through official club channels prior to launch. Details on when the $CPFC Fan Token Offering (FTO®) will launch will also be revealed soon. $CPFC Fan Tokens will be priced at £2 in the FTO®. 

1.3 million fans from 167 countries are already using Fan Tokens on the Socios.com app to connect with and be rewarded by their favourite clubs.  Crystal Palace will become the sixth Premier League club to launch a Fan Token, joining Arsenal, Manchester City, Everton, Aston Villa and Leeds.

Socios.com has already met with several Crystal Palace fan groups in order to better understand the kinds of polls, rewards and engagement fans want to see through the app.  Socios.com is committed to ongoing liaison with key Palace fan groups and has already agreed to create future initiatives in collaboration with key supporter groups.

Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Chiliz and Socios.com, said:  “Socios.com is creating new opportunities for fans to connect with and be rewarded by their favourite teams every single day. 

“Very soon, Eagles at home, and those who have flown the nest, will have a really cool new way to get closer to the club they love. 

“We’ve now welcomed six Premier League teams to our roster of more than 100 major sporting organisations. We’re determined to keep building and improving our app to give fans the engagement, recognition and reward opportunities they deserve.”

Barry Webber, Commercial Director at Crystal Palace, said: “This partnership will create new opportunities for the club to engage with our fanbase both in the UK and internationally, and creates new ways for us to recognise and reward the fantastic support we receive as a club.  

Socios are leading the way in blockchain in the sports industry, as we have seen from their relationship with other leading Clubs and with their proven track record of helping connect fans with clubs, and we’re looking forward to joining their community.”

McLaren Racing Announces Immersive Labs As Official Partner

McLaren Racing today announced Immersive Labs as an Official Partner, supporting cyber workforce optimisation of the McLaren Formula 1 team from the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Immersive Labs empowers organisations to continuously measure and optimise human cyber capabilities, helping large businesses protect against and respond to emerging threats. McLaren Racing will use the Immersive Labs platform to provide real-time data on the cyber knowledge, skills, and judgement of both technical and non-technical teams, map this to risk and optimise human capabilities.   

The Immersive Labs branding will be represented on the front suspension arms of the McLaren MCL35M race cars from this weekend’s 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and beyond.

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said: 

“People and technology are critically important elements of our team, and we are excited to work with Immersive Labs to support in developing the human cyber capabilities which will empower us to better navigate risk. We operate at race pace both on and off-track, and we look forward to this partnership accelerating the human element of our cyber security.”

James Hadley, CEO, Immersive Labs, said:

“As the impact of cyber risk spreads across the business, it is no longer the preserve of the geeks in the basement. Organisations must respond as a whole, which means continually optimising the cyber knowledge, skills and judgment of everyone from executives to technical teams, at pace.

“Competing in Formula 1 is no different, requiring technology and humans working together in unison to stay ahead. For this reason, the partnership with McLaren Racing is an excellent fit.”

Maui Jim Becomes Official Eyewear Supplier Of The DP World Tour

The DP World Tour has agreed a multi-year partnership agreement with luxury sunglasses and eyewear brand Maui Jim, that will see the company become the Tour’s Official Eyewear Supplier.

As part of the new agreement the Hawaii-based brand, renowned for their superior lens technology and premium collections, will supply eyewear to DP World Tour staff working at events across the world.

Benefiting from global marketing rights as well as an onsite presence at several tournaments throughout the season, the agreement will also enable Maui Jim to further engage with golf fans around the world across traditional news media and digital platforms.

As well as being the Official Eyewear Supplier to the DP World Tour, Maui Jim will also become the Official Eyewear Supplier to two Rolex Series events each season – the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in the UK, and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.

The brand is already a familiar site in professional golf, with brand ambassadors including professionals such as Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jorge Campillo.

Invented more than 30 years ago to combat the harsh rays of the Hawaiian sun, all Maui Jim sunglasses cut 100 percent of harmful UV rays and 99.9 percent of glare from above, below and behind each lens.

Maui Jim’s PolarizedPlus2® lenses increase definition and depth perception, which is particularly important for golf, and can be found in a wide variety sport and casual styles for both men and women.

Martijn Van Eerde Senior Director, Marketing EMEA & APAC of Maui Jim, said: “We take great pride in the renewal of our partnership. In 2019 we boosted our presence in golf by becoming official supplier of the Tour, a relationship that quickly proved to work very well and we immediately saw a great fit between our teams and culture. The pandemic of course abruptly interrupted progress, but now we feel very fortunate to be able resume our joint efforts with this milestone agreement. Golfers around the world, as well as many working in and around the sport, can benefit greatly from using our products and technology. We look forward to working with the European Tour group across the DP World Tour to further develop that potential alongside our efforts in tennis, Formula 1, SailGP and of course Manchester United partnerships.”

Max Hamilton, Commercial Director at the European Tour group, added; “We’re delighted to welcome Maui Jim as our Official Eyewear Supplier and will see their products in use by our teams across the world during the new DP World Tour season. The brand is premium, high tech, and globally minded – so this partnership felt like a perfect fit for both parties. We look forward to promoting the brand to golf fans through a series of digital and tournament specific activations.”

NFL Appoints Alexander Steinforth To Lead Growth In Germany

ALEXANDER STEINFORTH, who is currently Managing Director of Deutsche Sport Marketing, is to join the National Football League as General Manager, Germany, it was announced today.

Steinforth’s role will see him drive and execute the league’s business in Germany, including fan growth, commercial success, live regular-season games and development of community programs. His appointment builds on the tremendous momentum the NFL has experienced in Germany, where the league has 19 million fans and has seen weekly television ratings on ProSieben and DAZN grow by more than 20 percent annually since 2017. Steinforth will be based in Germany and will report to Brett Gosper, NFL Head of Europe and UK.

An experienced sports management expert, Steinforth’s role as head of the commercial arm of the German Olympic Sports Federation has seen him drive record-breaking revenues and profits.

“We are very pleased to welcome Alexander to the NFL,” said Gosper. “He is a well-rounded candidate with strong leadership experience and a sharp commercial brain. He is the ideal person to be at the forefront of the expansion of our business in Germany.”

Before joining Deutsche Sport Marketing in 2020, Steinforth spent three years as commercial director at Bundesliga club Fortuna Düsseldorf and two years as strategy manager at Manchester United. His previous work experience includes Deutsche Fußball-Liga, ProSiebenSat1 as well as the management consultancy Boston Consulting Group.

“I am looking forward to this challenging and exciting new role,” said Steinforth. “The NFL has great momentum in Germany and I am confident I can use my experience to create further opportunities to develop the sport and expand NFL’s fan base. The NFL is committed to growth in Germany and I am honored to be playing a part in that process.”

Steinforth is expected to take up his NFL duties early in 2022.

David Lampitt Appointed CEO Of ATP’s Tennis Data Innovations

David Lampitt has today been announced as the first CEO of Tennis Data Innovations (TDI), a joint venture by ATP and ATP Media.

Formed in late 2020, the TDI group was created to manage the aggregated rights to ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour match data, coupled with certain media streaming rights, to enrich fans’ enjoyment of tennis and make tennis even more accessible to the digital audience.

An accomplished sports industry professional, Lampitt brings a wealth of experience in senior roles across sport, most recently as Managing Director of Sports Content & Partnerships at Sportradar, a global leader in sports data, content and technology. In nearly a decade at the company, Lampitt shaped the commercial and strategic development of the sports data market and delivered partnerships with many of the world’s leading sports organisations, as well as being part of the leadership team that successfully completed the company’s IPO in September this year.

Prior to Sportradar, Lampitt spent seven years at the English Football Association and two years as CEO of Portsmouth Football Club. He also worked as CEO of Supporters Direct, a not-for-profit organisation promoting good governance in sport. He holds a degree in Modern Languages from Bristol University and is an ACA Chartered Accountant.

The appointment marks the first senior executive hire since the formation of TDI. As CEO, Lampitt will be responsible for overseeing the central management, product innovation, and exploitation of tennis data in a variety of downstream markets, including betting and performance analytics. TDI has a number of strategic goals including commercial performance of the data and databases under its control, sales strategy, integrity and compliance as well as the potential future integration of data assets from other tennis stakeholders.

David Lampitt said: “As a lifelong tennis fan, I’m delighted to be joining TDI at such an exciting juncture, as tennis looks to transform the way its data and content is leveraged across the modern game. I’m looking forward to building out the team at TDI and supporting the ATP and ATP Media’s joint mission to deliver the best experiences to tennis fans around the world.”

Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman and TDI Board member, said: “The biggest growth opportunity for tennis lies in media and data. With ATP Media already successfully dedicated to the media side of the ATP Tour, TDI was created for precisely this reason on the data side, to develop new products to enhance the fan experience and to aggregate those data products and scale revenues on behalf of our members.”

Mark Webster, ATP Media CEO and TDI Board member added: “This is an important new venture with huge potential upside, and we needed someone with deep understanding of the space to lead the team. We’re delighted to have attracted someone of David’s skill and experience to come on board as CEO.”

Lampitt begins in the role effective 1 January 2022 and will be based in London, UK.

Viaplay To Launch In The Netherlands At The Beginning Of March 2022

Viaplay and VodafoneZiggo, a leading provider of fixed, mobile and integrated communication and entertainment services in the Netherlands, have entered a multi-year distribution partnership to make Viaplay accessible to almost 4 million households across the country. Viaplay will launch in the Netherlands on 1 March 2022 and will offer Dutch viewers a unique combination of premium live sports, Viaplay Originals, Hollywood films and series, and kids content.

From 1 March, Ziggo customers can add a Viaplay subscription to their TV or broadband package.

Kim Poder, NENT Group Chief Commercial Officer: “We are delighted to announce this long-term deal with one of the leading operators in the Netherlands. Ziggo has significant reach and an established position in sports, and we will work together to help as many viewers as possible get to know Viaplay. This partnership will make it easy for Ziggo customers to enjoy our unique offering from day one.” 

Robin Kroes, Chief Strategy & Content Officer at VodafoneZiggo: “We want to give our customers easy access to all their favourite content, including sports. This partnership helps to fulfil that aim, so we are pleased to have come to a collaboration with Viaplay.”

Live sports available on Viaplay will include Formula 1 featuring Dutch superstar Max Verstappen, current joint leader of the World Drivers’ Championship; PDC darts with three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen; Bundesliga football and much more, with Premier League football to come from August 2022.

In the Netherlands, Viaplay will be available through third-party distribution partnerships and direct subscriptions. The service will be supported by a wide range of devices and platforms, including smart TVs; iOS and Android smartphones and tablets; Chromecast and Apple TV; and PC and Mac.

Endeavor Creates Diamond Baseball Holdings, Acquires Nine MLB Minor League Clubs

Endeavor today announced the creation of Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH), an organization dedicated to supporting, promoting and enhancing the sport of baseball through professional management, best practices, innovation and investment. Endeavor has also signed purchase agreements to acquire nine MLB Professional Development League (PDL) Clubs, which remain subject to customary closing conditions.

Diamond Baseball Holdings will operate select Clubs affiliated with the most iconic franchises in Major League Baseball, including the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, and San Francisco Giants. The initial Clubs are:

  • Iowa Cubs (Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs)
  • Memphis Redbirds (Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals)
  • Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders (Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees)
  • Hudson Valley Renegades (High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees)
  • San Jose Giants (Single-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants)

Subject to the PDL approval process, DBH will also operate all four affiliates of the 2021 World Champion Atlanta Braves:

  • Gwinnett Stripers (Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves)
  • Mississippi Braves (Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves)
  • Rome Braves (High-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves)
  • Augusta GreenJackets (Single-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves)

Endeavor is also in late stage negotiations with a handful of other significant franchises and expects to announce those developments in due course.

“Opportunities to move into an ownership position of a sport so steeped in history are increasingly rare, and we are confident this will drive meaningful growth in the Owned Sports Properties segment of our company,” said Mark Shapiro, President of Endeavor. “Just as we’ve done for the UFC, PBR and Euroleague, we see tremendous potential to turbocharge these storied Clubs using the scale and capabilities of Endeavor. Our expertise across sponsorship sales, event operations, licensing, marketing and content creation will bring incredible value to these Clubs, supporting communities across the country who form the backbone of the Professional Development League system.”

Endeavor has appointed two industry leaders, Pat Battle and Peter B. Freund, to oversee Diamond Baseball Holdings. Battle is Executive Chairman of DBH, bringing extensive experience at the local and national level, as well as ownership interest in two PDL Clubs. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Learfield and serves as an advisor to Endeavor across multiple companies. Freund is CEO of DBH, also bringing to the plate experience as a longtime Minor League Baseball owner and operator. Freund most recently consulted with the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball on the transition of Major League Baseball’s licensed affiliates while spearheading the formation of the MLB Draft League.

“We are excited to lead Diamond Baseball Holdings and create new opportunities for Clubs and communities that play an essential role in cultivating America’s favorite pastime,” said Battle and Freund. “We will be global in our ambitions and hyper-local in our approach, and creating incredible fan experiences will remain our number one priority. Additionally, we look forward to providing opportunities for growth to the employees of PDL Clubs whose passion and ingenuity have built the sport through the decades.”

“As a longtime Minor League owner and operator, I am thrilled that Hudson Valley will now be part of such a dynamic new group of Clubs,” said Marv Goldklang, Chairman of the industry-leading Goldklang Group and a limited partner of the New York Yankees for more than 30 years. “I have known Peter Freund for almost 15 years and have every confidence that with him at the helm, Diamond Baseball Holdings will continue to build on our legacy, which we are incredibly proud of.”

DBH will support its Clubs with ticket sales, partnerships, naming rights, food & beverage, merchandising, content strategy, collectibles/authentics/NFTs and media rights, tapping into the broader Endeavor network including Learfield and Endeavor Analytics for expertise across the various disciplines.