Ticketing Solution Outbox Unveiled As Latest Company To Join iSportConnect

London, November 2021 – We are thrilled to announce that Outbox have joined iSportConnect as our latest consultancy client. 

Founded in 2006, Outbox is a white label cloud based digital ticketing platform. The Outbox platform specialises in inventory management, ticketing, CRM, access control and e-commerce. They work with a client to bring together their product mix and operational ecosystem to drive revenue, data requirements, operational efficiency and technical innovation through their innovative, open and modular API driven architecture.

Outbox has supported and managed some of the largest events, venues and brands globally including Cirque du Soleil, other worldwide touring shows, sports teams plus numerous arenas, theatres and clubs. Outbox has proven system strength, crafting & connecting a client’s digital ecosystem while working with our clients to seek out complimentary third-party partners to enhance all commercial offerings.

“We are excited to work with iSportConnect to identify new partners that share our vision for a true digital and integrated ecosystem to drive their business & digital strategy.”

“At Outbox we have a clear vision that a ticketing platform should not only provide excellent fan engagement and be operationally efficient, but for us to bring our combined expertise and experiences so that we can perform as an extension to the core business of our clients and be part of and assist in connecting their digital ecosystem to drive real business benefits and operational efficiencies,” said Outbox Managing Director, Robert Byrne.

“Our white labelled system is integral to every customer’s purchasing journey so we follow the client’s brand and work in partnership with our clients to help them be in control of their data and to have a direct relationship with their fans.”  

“We are excited to work with iSportConnect to identify new partners that share our vision for a true digital and integrated ecosystem to drive their business & digital strategy.”

“The team at Outbox has a wealth of experience and we are excited to be working with them to continue their growth”

“Our philosophy has always been about connecting the business of sport and working with the best in class partners across our industry,” said iSportConnect Chief Strategy Officer, Sandy Case.

“The team at Outbox has a wealth of experience and we are excited to be working with them to continue their growth along with providing the best white label ticketing solutions for organisations who are looking to promote their own brand, work more effectively and grow their own business in partnership with a mobile first digital strategy.”

“It is safe to say everybody missed attending sports and entertainment events during the pandemic. By joining forces with Outbox we hope to ensure as many people as possible are able to get those fantastic experiences back in their lives.”

iSportConnect Consultancy

iSportConnect’s consultancy division works to help our clients with commercial development, marketing and communications and global sports market entry and business strategy. Our consultancy clients include the likes of Vindicia, Tata Communications and Infront X, among others.

About iSportConnect

iSportConnect was launched in 2010 with the aim of bringing together sports business professionals around the world in a networking community enabling them to meet one another, find information and obtain access to a wide range of relevant services. The platform is now the largest global private network of sport business executives, where membership is exclusive and follows a strict door policy.

Tissot To Continue As Official Timekeeper Of MotoGP

Dorna Sports and Tissot are delighted to announce the renewal of their contract that sees the Swiss watchmaker remain Official Timekeeper of the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship for several years to come. This extends the longstanding partnership and also includes an expanded commercial presence within MotoGP™, taking the collaboration to new heights. 

Founded in 1853, Tissot became the Official Timekeeper of MotoGP™ in 2001, with this season therefore marking the 20th anniversary of the collaboration. As the competition continues to gets closer and closer, with races and even Championships decided by such small margins, Tissot’s role has become ever more vital with each passing season.  

Off-track, the partnership between Tissot and MotoGP™ also makes the headlines. The brand takes inspiration from the world of MotoGP™ to create stunning collections of timepieces and watches, reflecting a shared commitment to excellence, accuracy and precision. The rider on pole position in each class at each Grand Prix is also awarded an exclusive watch and Tissot pole position certificate, in addition to the Pole of Poles prize given at the end of the season to the rider in each class with most pole positions.  

Tissot also enjoys an emblematic trackside presence at prime locations throughout the calendar and has recently added a new role as title sponsor for a number of Grands Prix in the last two seasons, further strengthening the collaboration between the watchmaker and the world’s fastest motorcycle racing Championship. This headline presence is now confirmed to continue as part of this new contract, with the Tissot name to take top billing at a Grand Prix each and every season. 

Sylvain Dolla, CEO of Tissot: “The technological world of motorcycling reflects the nature of Tissot perfectly. It shares our passion for products, continuous development and a drive to keep pushing boundaries. It is also a source of inspiration to create unique watches with features that illustrate stunning details of the bike, which can be seen in the Tissot T-Race MotoGP Collection. We look forward to continuing to work with Dorna and to keep inspiring one another to deliver results both in Timekeeping and in our products, for athletes and fans alike.”

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO at Dorna Sports: “We’re delighted to celebrate over two decades of collaboration with Tissot with another important announcement, extending our partnership once again. With Tissot as Official Timekeeper, it ensures our sport will continue in safe and capable hands, and we’re looking forward to seeing each new collection of timepieces inspired by MotoGP too. The Tissot name taking top billing at a Grand Prix each season is also fantastic news, ensuring the Tissot name retains its top line presence in the paddock into another new era of partnership.”

USA & West Indies Confirmed As 2024 Men’s T20 World Host Cup Hosts, ICC Announces Men’s Event Hosts Until 2031

The ICC have today announced the host nations for their upcoming men’s events between 2024 and 2031, as well as the seven host cities for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia with the final line-up for the event now confirmed.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today confirmed the 14 host countries of the ICC men’s white ball events from 2024-2031. 11 Full Members and three Associate Members have been selected to host two ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups, four ICC Men’s T20 World Cups and two ICC Men’s Champions Trophy events.

The USA and Namibia will host an ICC World Cup event for the first time. Whilst Australia, Bangladesh, England, Ireland, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe have previously staged major events and will do so again over the next decade.

The hosts were selected via a competitive bidding process overseen by a Board sub-committee chaired by Martin Snedden along with Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Skerritt. The ICC Board accepted the recommendations of the committee who conducted a thorough review of each bid along with ICC management. A similar process to identify the hosts for ICC Women’s and U19s events for the next cycle will be undertaken early next year.

ICC Chair Greg Barclay said: “We are delighted to have concluded this competitive bidding process for the first time for ICC events. To have 14 Members hosting 8 events is a reflection of the truly global nature of our sport and I’d like to thank every Member that submitted a bid and offer our congratulations to the successful bidders.

“It is fantastic to be returning to so many previous hosts, but what is really exciting about this process is the countries who will stage ICC events for the first time including the USA which is a strategic growth market for us. This gives us the opportunity to deepen our connection with fans in traditional cricket nations and also reach new fans around the world.”

Martin Snedden, Chair of the ICC Hosting Sub-Committee said: “We received a range of excellent bids to host the ICC Men’s events in the next cycle. We were committed to ensuring a broad spread of hosts to align with the ICC strategic objective of global growth and have ended up with 14 countries who will support that long term aim.”

Ricky Skerritt, Cricket West Indies President and ICC Board member said: “The success of this joint bid by CWI and USA Cricket will be a huge boost for our cricket. It offers a vital strategic opportunity to promote and develop cricket, and related commercial activity, in North America and the Caribbean. I take this opportunity to thank all those at ICC, USA Cricket and CWI who helped to make this 2024 venue selection decision possible.”

The awarding of the events to preferred hosts is subject to the completion of the host agreements and the ICC will now work closely with Members to finalise arrangements. 17 Members submitted a total of 28 proposals to host the eight ICC Men’s white ball events.

Hosting the upcoming men’s tournament’s after Australia’s T20 World Cup in 2022 will be:

2024 T20WC: USA, West Indies

2025 CT: Pakistan

2026 T20WC: India, Sri Lanka

2027 ODI WC: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia

2028 T20WC: Australia, NZ

2029 CT: India

2030 T20WC: England, Ireland, Scotland

2031 ODI WC: India, Bangladesh

For the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, which is scheduled to take place between 16 October and 13 November next year, we will see a total of 45 matches hosted across Adelaide, Brisbane, Geelong, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 Final will be hosted under lights at the MCG on 13 November 2022. The semi-finals will be hosted at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Adelaide Oval on 9 and 10 November, respectively.

Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 champions Australia and runner-up New Zealand plus Afghanistan, Bangladesh, England, India, Pakistan and South Africa as the next highest ranked teams will gain direct entry into the Super 12 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.

Namibia, Scotland, Sri Lanka and the West Indies will play in Round 1. The four remaining spots at Australia 2022 will be filled via the ongoing qualification pathway, culminating in two global qualifying tournaments one to take place in Oman in February and the other in Zimbabwe in June/July. For more information on the pathway click here.

Head of Events, Chris Tetley said: “We are looking forward to seeing the return of ICC events to Australia and are delighted to announce the seven host cities for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. Following the success of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2020 and a two year postponement, our sights are now firmly set on planning for the 2022 event in collaboration with the LOC.

“With 12 teams already confirmed in the line-up, we eagerly await the culmination of the qualification process to see which other teams will join them.”

eSkootr Championship And LiveLike Join Forces To Bring Racing Action Closer To Fans Through Interactive Features

TheeSkootr Championship (eSC) is pleased to announce its partnership with LiveLike, an audience engagement platform that incorporates community, interactivity, and gamification to the online user experience. LiveLike’s cutting-edge approach enables sports and media companies to activate their audience and empower their fans via customised, interactive features. With this partnership, eSC will be leveraging LiveLike’s extensive toolkit and invaluable industry expertise to engage a worldwide community of fans and users. 

When eSC takes to the trackfor its first event next spring, the series will present a new competitive sport to the world and a new way of engaging with fans on a global scale. With a diverse range of riders already making eSC one of the most accessible competitive sports worldwide, LiveLike’s technology will ensure that the championship remains highly accessible to fans watching trackside and from home.  

LiveLike will integrate directly into eSC’s digital platform to help fans interact with the event in real time and consumeeSC content in a whole new way. As a technology-driven sport, eSC aims to be as ground-breaking off track as it is on track. Fans will be able to engage directly with other fans worldwide and with racing experts, commentators, and riders through chats, live polls, and even live race interactions.
 

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

“We’re reimagining racing to make it more accessible than ever before. This means creating compelling new ways to connect fans to our riders and races, getting them closer and more involved in the action, whether at trackside or watching from home.  That’s why we’re partnering with LiveLike, like us they’re on a mission to take fan engagement and interactive sporting experience to another level.”

Miheer Walavalkar, LiveLike co-founder and CEO, said:

“Hrag hasbeen a friend to LiveLike for a long time, and we are grateful not only for his support but also his partnership. As the excitement continues to build toward eSC’s big event next year, the opportunity for enhanced fan interaction is clear. Our team is thrilled to be working closely with eSC to help them build features directly into their platform, including gamification elements that will keep their fan community engaged before, during, and after the competitions.”

LiveLike is just one of the media partners working with eSC as the world’s first electric scooter championship gears up for a global racing event which will race on specially created city centre tracks starting in spring 2022. eSC Chief Content Officer Sharon Fuller, will be speaking on a Future Prospects panel at the SportsPro OTT Summit on Tuesday with other sports media and technology leaders. The SportsPro OTT Summit is taking place between 15 – 18 November 2021.  

The Premier League And Panini Reach Multi-Year Renewal Of Partnership

The Premier League and Panini are excited to announce a renewal to their partnership, prolonging the Premier League collectables license that was granted in 2019.

Panini is synonymous with sticker and trading card collecting the world over and has been a firm supporter of the Premier League and its initiatives over the last two years.

This includes Panini assets featuring as part of free Maths resources available to more than 18,000 teachers in England and Wales via the Premier League Primary Stars education programme.

Panini has also participated in activation at international events run by the Premier League such as PL Mornings Live fan festivals run in the US (pictured above).

Domestically, sales of Premier League Adrenalyn trading cards have doubled this year to confirm Adrenalyn as the market-leading brand for trading cards in the UK. 

Panini has also established the iconic Panini sticker album brand as the number-one collectable in the UK with Premier League sticker sales last season climbing to the highest level for 15 years, despite the challenges of the pandemic.

Internationally, Premier League collectables are at an all-time high as Panini leverage the strength of the Premier League brand worldwide thanks to its exhaustive global network.

“Stickers and trading cards are a great way for fans around the world to engage with the Premier League and its clubs,” said Will Brass, Premier League Chief Commercial Officer. “Panini has been a great partner since becoming the Premier League’s official sticker and trading card licensee in 2019, and we look forward to continuing to build our relationship over the coming seasons.”

Mike Riddell, Panini UK Managing Director, said: “We are proud to be awarded the most prestigious license in the UK, and we relish the prospect of continuing to grow the market in the coming years.”

Peter Warsop, Panini Group Licensing Director, added: “Panini has ignited the Football collectables market in the USA, China and internationally. The Premier League will continue to attract new fans and collectors with Panini enjoying continued substantial growth both domestically and through 60-plus other International markets.”

FIBA Boosts Canada By Signing Deal With Market Leader Sportsnet

The world basketball governing body FIBA has expanded its media presence in North America with the announcement of a long-term broadcast rights agreement with the multiplatform Canadian network, Sportsnet. Through this new partnership, Sportsnet becomes the exclusive broadcast rights holder for FIBA’s major events through to 2025. 

Canada has a passionate basketball fan base that is rapidly growing. The national teams for both women and men played at the previous FIBA Basketball World Cups in 2018 and 2019, and Canada won the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in 2017. Both the men’s and women’s Canadian national teams will be on court a lot over the next four years with main events like both FIBA Basketball World Cups, the FIBA AmeriCups and their respective qualifiers. Sportsnet is looking to help build a legacy for basketball in the country by becoming FIBA’s exclusive rights holder in Canada.

Basketball is already part of Sportsnet’s programming as they are the NBA’s broadcast partner. The company is also the official Canadian NHL ice hockey national multimedia rights holder, and it is the Canadian leader in Major League Baseball television broadcasts.

“This is great news for basketball fans in Canada,” FIBA Media and Marketing Services Director General, Frank Leenders said. “The passion for the sport in this part of the world is evident and this partnership with Sportsnet allows for the creation of new synergies and increased levels of commitment which will provide fans with unprecedented coverage and access to FIBA competitions in the years to come.”

“As the home of extensive basketball coverage in Canada, Sportsnet is proud to partner with FIBA to bring Canadians front-row access to the country’s brightest stars on the world stage,” said Bart Yabsley, Sportsnet President. “Complementing our network’s NBA, WNBA and Canada Basketball content, today’s partnership with FIBA reinforces our ongoing commitment to building a basketball legacy for players and fans alike in Canada. We look forward to collaborating with FIBA to make these international games available as part of Sportsnet’s industry-leading portfolio of the basketball games that fans want.”

McLaren Release Statement Denying Sale To Audi

Earlier today reports surfaced from Autocar which indicated that McLaren was on the verge of being sold to Audi and that the german car manufacturer was looking at getting involved with Formula One, however that has been shot down by McLaren in a statement this afternoon.

McLaren said:

McLaren Group is aware of a news media report stating it has been sold to Audi. This is wholly inaccurate and McLaren is seeking to have the story removed.

McLaren’s technology strategy has always involved ongoing discussions and collaboration with relevant partners and suppliers, including other carmakers, however, there has been no change in the ownership structure of the McLaren Group.

The Era Of Sports Content Automation Is Upon Us

Infront X look at how automation is changing the landscape of the content produced by sport.

Automation changed the way humans work, saving countless hours of wasted manpower and money. 

While automation’s roots lie in manufacturing, the concept of automating processes to improve workflows is now part of nearly every industry, from transportation, to health, medicine, sales and marketing. 

Content automation for marketing hasn’t just become the norm, it is a necessity. The modern day content marketer is overloaded with tasks: generating in-depth marketing plans for user acquisition, writing and editing, SEO optimization and content distribution, to name a few. They do everything while keeping up with best practices, following the habits of younger generations and coordinating with other departments. 

“For many marketers, especially those working on small teams, there isn’t enough time to complete tasks correctly. This is where content automation becomes increasingly valuable.”

For many marketers, especially those working on small teams, there isn’t enough time to complete tasks correctly. This is where content automation becomes increasingly valuable. By leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (MLP) and Natural Language Processing (NLP), marketing teams are able to create and distribute content while reducing human error, without additional human resources. 

In most industries, content marketing teams are able to plan ahead and leverage automation for tasks ranging from writing blog posts and creating elaborate infographics to repurposing content for wide distribution and scheduling posts ahead of time.

However, this type of automation isn’t feasible in the sports industry. Sports content teams have been able to utilize some scheduling and analytics platforms, such as Hootsuite and Later, for their content. But these platforms don’t address the fact that in sports, these content editors do not have the luxury of time; they must react to the action and quickly deliver stories and results to many different audiences.

The Challenge of Automating Sports Content

Sports content teams create content that fans care most about – the goals scored, the buzzer beaters, upsets and dramatic finishes. 

“These platforms don’t address the fact that in sports, these content editors do not have the luxury of time; they must react to the action and quickly deliver stories and results to many different audiences.”

In the digital age, if highlights and reactions aren’t posted moments after key events happen, they are considered late. 

Aside from a continuous battle against time, sports entities face additional challenges on a daily basis. They must create large volumes of high-quality, engaging content for fans while competing with the likes of Netflix, Disney+ and OTT platforms for attention. This includes catering to millions of fans of different ages, in different countries and languages, each with their own preferences. 

These factors, as well as the sheer number of social profiles teams must operate – like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat, to name a few – make automating sports content more challenging than that of a typical marketing department. But it is now possible. 

Content X: Your Content, Automated

Advancements in AI and ML propelled sports technologies forward. This allows for the automation of key components of  sports content production: 

  • Creating engaging highlight videos and infographics
  • Generating copy that speaks to fans and is tailored for languages and locations
  • Packaging and distributing  content across platforms
  • Leveraging analytics platforms that show rights owners the real value of their content 

While these advancements were game changers for the industry, they operate independently. Content teams face the issue of navigating through these platforms on their desktops, creating videos on one, infographics on another, downloading content to their computers and manually uploading elsewhere for publication. 

Content X combines the leading technologies to supply sports content teams with a one-of-a-kind, fully-automated platform. It generates in-depth content plans, produces, packages and distributes highly engaging, original content from a central location, while leveraging performance analytics to continuously improve digital game plans. 

Automating the content creation process with Content X allows for a greater volume of personalized content without additional resources, time or man power.

Personalization at Scale

Content X’s ground-breaking technologies enable content teams to overcome one of the biggest frictions they face: creating content that is both personalized and at scale. The technologies generate content for fans of all ages, delivering it to the right audiences, in the right format and language, on the relevant channels and at the right time. This allows content teams to increase their overall reach and engagement, creating a true, global network of fans. 

More content means more assets, leading to more monetization opportunities for rights owners, especially when dealing with personalized content. Personalizing content on such granular levels can enable rights owners to maximize their partnership opportunities and increase the value of their content by pairing it with the best possible sponsor. 

“In reality, most rights owners are missing a significant understanding of where their content is placed and who is watching it.”

It is imperative that rights owners understand the true value of their content. This may sound like common sense; in reality, most rights owners are missing a significant understanding of where their content is placed and who is watching it. The sports world enjoys an abundance of user generated content across the web, resulting in increased exposure for sports entities, brands and sponsors, while making it increasingly difficult to get a real understanding of its value. 

Content X’s analytics show the true value of content by scanning the web for all copies of a piece of content, showing exactly how many copies are online, how many views each has and how many views are on each social channel. Rights owners are given a more holistic view of their content’s reach, allowing them to create new business models based on hard data.

The era of editing play-by-play clips and manual uploads is behind us. Gone are the days of fretting over the correct sponsor activation, at the right moment and with which content. We will no longer agonize over statistics that don’t offer actionable data. 

Automation allows content teams to re-imagine workflows and output, providing faster produced content that is free of human error. The team can then focus on in-depth, premium content. 

The era of automated sports content is upon us, let’s embrace it.

Socios.com Enters NFL And MLS Via Trailblazing Partnership with Kraft Sports + Entertainment

Socios.com, the all-in-one influence and rewards app for sports fans across the world, has announced its first foray into the worlds of American football and soccer via a groundbreaking partnership with Kraft Sports + Entertainment’s New England Patriots and New England Revolution.

The partnerships with the Patriots and Revolution represent Socios.com’s first deals with clubs in the National Football League and Major League Soccer, respectively, adding to the 24 National Basketball Association franchises that have existing agreements with the leading global blockchain provider for the sports and entertainment industry. Today’s announcement extends Socios.com’s ever-expanding American footprint into the six-state New England region and marks the company’s first partnership with an ownership group spanning multiple sports.

“Kraft Sports + Entertainment is home to one of the winningest franchises in NFL history, as well as the top team in Major League Soccer this season, so we are ecstatic to welcome this prestigious, successful group into the Socios.com family,” said Socios.com CEO Alexandre Dreyfus. “We look forward to partnering with the Patriots and Revolution to increase their fan engagement as we continue our surge into the U.S. sports industry.”

The Patriots, tied for the NFL’s all-time lead with six Super Bowl™ victories, will use the partnership to engage with their fan base through activities available in the Socios.com mobile app. Similarly, “Patriots Fan Predictions, presented by Socios.com,” will reward New England fans with prizes for correctly answering five matchup-related questions during each week of the season on Patriots.com and the Patriots mobile app. The partnership also positions Socios.com as the official sponsor of the Patriots’ indoor practice field house.

“Socios.com is an industry leader in utilizing new technologies to engage fans in creative and imaginative ways,” said Jim Nolan, chief operating officer at Kraft Sports + Entertainment. “We look forward to teaming with them and exploring the technologies available to reach new audiences and provide additional fan enhancements.”

The Revolution, winners of the 2021 MLS Supporters’ Shield as the regular season champions for the first time in their 26-year history, enter the postseason as the No. 1 seed in the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs. Socios.com will become the official sponsor of the Revolution’s training center and will display in-stadium signage during action for both teams. Socios.com will also present a fan prediction poll throughout the Revolution’s run in the MLS Cup Playoffs this season where fans can win prizes, including tickets and autographed merchandise.

“We are excited to partner with the pioneering team at Socios.com, a global leader in cutting-edge fan engagement, to offer new and innovative experiences for our fans to connect with their club,” Revolution President Brian Bilello said. “The Revolution look forward to collaborating with Socios.com to enrich the fan experience both virtually and at the stadium, providing them with more access to their favorite club and players than ever before.”

The Patriots and Revolution join a network of more than 100 major sporting organizations on the Socios.com roster, including leading American franchises such as the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers. Internationally, the Socios.com family features European soccer giants FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, AC Milan, Atlético Madrid, Valencia Manchester City, Inter Milan, Arsenal and the Argentina and Portugal national soccer teams, as well as a number of leading teams from F1, esports and cricket.

Socios.com is a direct-to-consumer (D2C) platform that leverages blockchain technology to provide the world’s leading sporting organizations with the tools to engage with and monetize their global fanbases. The company has multiple office locations around the world and has opened new regional headquarters in Madrid, Istanbul, São Paulo and Buenos Aires in 2021, with a new office in North America to open in the near future.

Sky NZ Named As A-Leagues Broadcast Partner In New Zealand

Sky today announced the signing of a multi-year deal as New Zealand’s exclusive broadcast rights partner of the A-Leagues. The partnership, which includes multiple Sky platforms, secures the broadcast rights for all matches in season for both women and men, including the A-Leagues finals series.

The broadcast partnership comes just weeks before the Wellington Phoenix debuts its first ever women’s team in the A-League / Women competition. The women’s debut match against Western Sydney Wanderers on December 3, will be televised live and also available Free to Air on Prime.

“We’re delighted to confirm that every A-League / Women and Isuzu UTE A-League match will be live and exclusive on Sky, served any which way that works for our customers, on their Sky Box or streaming on Sky Sport Now and Sky Go,” says Head of Sport Partnerships for Sky, Adam Crothers.

“We have worked closely with Australian Premier Leagues to put a partnership together that’s so much more than a broadcasting deal. As New Zealand and Australia look forward to the biggest global event in women’s sport, the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, we’ll be working with the APL and other partners like New Zealand Football to grow interest in the ‘beautiful game’ – on the field, in the stands and on air.”

The Isuzu UTE A-League kicks off this Friday, 19 November with Melbourne City v Brisbane Roar, while Kiwis will be excited to see the Wellington Phoenix clash with Macarthur FC on November 21. The following weekend features the long-awaited women’s debut, followed by the men’s team in a Kiwi double-header.

APL Managing Director, Danny Townsend said: “As the most followed sport in the world, our strategy is to grow and engage with football audiences across New Zealand from grass-roots through to professional competitions. By partnering with Sky, we can offer top-level football to an unprecedented reach of Kiwi football fans.

“The strength of Sky’s content and its globally recognised creative prowess are a true asset to the A-Leagues content offering, including our KEEPUP digital platform. We know that with local content from New Zealand, we are in the strongest position to showcase the talent and skill of our A-leagues teams.”

“We’re really excited about the inclusion of the Wellington Phoenix Women’s team in the A-League. APL is a huge champion of the women’s game and the ‘Club Championship’, where both the men’s and women’s teams compete for points to decide the ultimate club is just one example of the APL’s commitment to innovating and growing the League.

“The A-League is yet another important piece in our strategy to lift up women’s sport through greater visibility, more opportunities for women in production and broadcasting and more chances to inspire rangatahi and wāhine in Aotearoa New Zealand,” says Adam Crothers.

While all matches will be available on Sky across multiple broadcast and streaming platforms, selected games and content will be free to air throughout the competition. The double-header on December 3 featuring the Wellington Phoenix A-League / Women debut and Wellington Phoenix Men will be Free to Air on Prime.