European Leagues, ELEVEN And OneFootball Strike Groundbreaking Global Nine Competition Broadcast Deal

ELEVEN and OneFootball will broadcast live matches and highlights from nine European professional football leagues across the world in a landmark collective deal with The Association of European Professional Leagues (European Leagues).

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For the first time ever, European Leagues worked with nine of its members to bundle their broadcast media rights outside their domestic markets. Thanks to the joint initial three-year deal with ELEVEN and OneFootball, football fans around the world will be able to view top-tier matches live and for free from the following professional leagues: Danish Superliga, Icelandic Top Football, Professional Football League of Kazakhstan, Latvian Optibet Virsliga, Northern Ireland Premiership, Norwegian Eliteserien, Polish Ekstraklasa, Slovak Fortuna Liga, Swiss Super League.

Chris Gerstle, Head of Business Development and Knowledge Centre for European Leagues, told iSportConnect earlier this year: “We believe a centralised international media rights offering of multiple, top-tier European professional football will increase opportunities for fans to engage with leagues they may have previously been unable to view due to archaic media agreements and outmoded forms of program distribution.

“The breadth of league rights included in this RFP will also better enable fans to follow players from their respective home markets that play professionally in Europe, often moving between leagues and clubs.”

This new strategic partnership will allow fans worldwide to view year round “non-stop” free-to-air live action, with matches delivered from both winter and summer leagues including regular UEFA Champions League participants such as FC Copenhagen, BSC Young Boys, and Legia Warsaw. Live matches will be available across select ELEVEN linear channels, and the ElevenSports.com and OneFootball platforms, and will be complemented by shoulder programming, highlight clips, archive material, and editorial.

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On top of securing guaranteed international broadcast revenues, for the first time these nine leagues and their clubs will be able to reach their existing passionate fans wherever they are. By showcasing both the elite football talent in their competitions and their highly competitive championships, leagues and clubs will also find new supporters by tapping into the huge audiences across the globe that OneFootball and ELEVEN afford.

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The partnership kicks off this weekend with live matches from six leagues, including Professional Football League of Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland Premiership, Norwegian Eliteserien, Polish Ekstraklasa, Slovak Fortuna Liga, and Swiss Super League. The structure of the agreement will allow further members of the European Leagues to easily join the partnership at any time.

Jacco Swart, Managing Director, European Leagues: “It is fantastic to see this international media rights partnership happening between 9 members of our Association and ELEVEN and OneFootball.  It represents another innovative example of how we at the European Leagues aim to provide valuable services to our member leagues. We are uniquely positioned to take advantage of opportunities such as these and we will continue to support the development of our members in relation to league business development. I’m excited about how we can leverage both the ELEVEN and OneFootball platforms to amplify the international reach of our member leagues and their clubs. Our intention is for sure to increase the number of participating leagues over time and to keep on exploring new business areas so as to collaborate with the companies we partner with in the most mutually beneficial way and grow the relationship over the long-term.”

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Pedro Presa, Chief D2C Officer, ELEVEN Group: “We’re so excited to bring this fantastic offering of top-tier European leagues to our pioneering ElevenSports.Com platform. We want to deliver for fans who were previously unable to watch the teams they love play and we want to give all football lovers the chance to discover new leagues and players. This new deal enables us to deliver on that mission in a big way via OTT, linear distribution, and original content, and we can’t wait to get started.”

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Nikolaus von Doetinchem, VP OTT & Media Rights, OneFootball: “OneFootball is thrilled to be part of such a ground-breaking deal, setting a new precedent in the wider football media rights industry. This deal provides obvious benefits to fans around the world who will now have access to a huge range of live action at their fingertips, for free. Partnering with OneFootball gives these nine leagues and their clubs an unprecedented global audience and we are convinced that many other leagues will see the benefits of agreements like this over the course of this season and beyond. We look forward to getting started this weekend.”

RECUR Announces Seven Top Collegiate Partnerships Ahead Of NFTU Platform Launch

RECUR, the technology company that designs and develops on chain branded experiences allowing fans to buy, collect, and resell digital products and collectibles (NFTs), today, announced seven additional collegiate university partnerships for NTFU, its new collegiate sports NFT marketplace.

Florida State University, Mississippi State University, Michigan State University, Texas Tech University, Virginia Tech, West Virginia University, and The University of Utah have officially announced partnerships with RECUR to bring their college sports moments as digital collectibles to fans everywhere. These premiere universities join the Pac-12 Conference, as well as Syracuse and Louisiana State University, who announced their formal partnerships with RECUR last month.

“We are thrilled to welcome these incredible universities to our NTFU network,” said Trevor George, Co-CEO of RECUR. “As we bring these schools’ biggest moments to life as NFTs for the first time, we couldn’t be prouder to help their fans, students and alumni engage with their favorite schools in an entirely new way.”

The NFTU marketplace will launch in 2022. For more information, please visit www.recurforever.com and follow @_NFTU on Twitter.

NBA And Tissot Announce Multiyear Renewal

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Tissot today announced a multiyear extension of their marketing partnership, which will expand upon the global agreement that began in 2015.  As the Official Watch and Official Timekeeper of the NBA, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the NBA G League, the partnership will continue to champion Tissot’s precision timekeeping, performance and style to fans across the globe.

To commemorate the extension, Tissot is bringing NBA fans closer to the game through its recently launched T-Touch Connect Solar timepiece.  The hybrid Swiss watch that combines a traditional masterpiece with connected functionalities now allows NBA fans to track their favorite teams.  Features include access to key information such as game schedules and team standings.  In addition, users will soon be able to follow NBA games live through the watch’s silent notifications, which will provide game scores and key statistics.  The watch is available for purchase immediately at Tissotwatches.com and select jewelers nationwide.

“Tissot is honored and happy to renew its contract with the NBA,” said Sylvain Dolla, Tissot CEO.  “Being the Official Timekeeper of this league offers a tremendous potential of growth as well as a deep feeling of pride.  Tissot’s aim is to continue to develop watches and timekeeping solutions that will enhance the NBA experience for all basketball fans.”

The brand, which counts top NBA players including Damian Lillard, Clint Capela and Klay Thompson as brand ambassadors, is a fixture at major NBA events, including NBA All-Star, the NBA Draft presented by State Farm, and NBA Summer League.

 “We are thrilled to tip off the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Season by renewing our partnership with Tissot,” said Salvatore LaRocca, NBA President, Global Partnerships.  “Tissot is synonymous with the excitement of our game through its state-of-the-art oncourt timekeeping system in all of our NBA arenas and it continues to bring our fans around the world closer to the NBA through its T-Touch Connect Solar timepiece.”

Tissot and the NBA developed an innovative precision timekeeping system that has been used in all 29 NBA arenas since the start of the 2016-17 NBA season.

Ninjas In Pyjamas & Aser Ventures Launch Shinobi Sports

Legendary esports organisation Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP) and leading sports, media and technology investment platform Aser Ventures are partnering up to launch Shinobi Sports — a joint venture that will offer a suite of management, studio and media services to sports clubs looking for opportunities in the esports sphere. 

In late 2020, NIP partnered with English Premier League club Leeds United to develop the club’s esports strategy. NIP’s international FIFA star Olle “Ollelito” Arbin successfully represented Leeds in the ePremier League, making it all the way to the 2021 final. The success of this project laid the foundations for the new joint venture. 

Shinobi Sports will help partners, including football clubs, to define and execute their esports strategies. Services will include launching and managing esports teams, player recruitment, team management and gaming strategy. Shinobi will also empower clubs to maximize the commercial and fan engagement opportunities associated with esports.

Danny Menken, who is Group Chief Business Development Officer for Aser Ventures’ portfolio company Eleven Sports, will head up the joint venture as Shinobi Sports CEO. 

Andrea Radrizzani, Aser Ventures Founder and Chairman, said “The world of esports has exploded in recent times and has brought with it a big opportunity for sports teams to engage their fans in new ways. Shinobi will play an important role in bridging the gap between traditional sport and esports to create new value for clubs, fans and partners. It will also add exciting new capabilities to the Aser Ventures group.”

Danny Menken, CEO, Shinobi Sports, said: “Aser Ventures has deep expertise in media rights, production and content distribution. Ninjas in Pyjamas has a 20 year track record of leading the way in esports. By bringing these capabilities together, Shinobi will offer a compelling proposition to clubs looking to capitalise on the opportunities now associated with esports.”

Hicham Chahine, CEO at NIP and Shinobi Sports Co-Founder, added: “We first connected with Aser Ventures last year, and our discussions led to an extremely successful collaboration with Leeds United. We were impressed with Aser Ventures´ track record, experience and vision in the sports industry, and soon developed a desire to expand our collaboration. We know there is a lot of potential to introduce esports as an attractive extension to sports clubs, and believe that Shinobi are ideally placed to support this process. We are extremely excited to bring this project to life and share it with the world!” 

ICC Names Dettol As Hygiene Partner For Men’s T20 World Cup 2021

As millions of fans across the globe eagerly awaited the return of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the International Cricket Council and Dettol have joined forces to ensure world-class protection across the tournament with the power-brand announced as the Official Hygiene Partner.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 is hosted by the BCCI and is taking place in the UAE and Oman from 17 October. The partnership will see Dettol provide world class disinfection products for thousands of cricket fans across the tournament.

Known for its commitment to innovation and excellence for more than 80 years and keeping people safe in more than 124 countries, Dettol is part of the Reckitt portfolio, which has a mission to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world.

According to recent findings of a study published by the American Journal of Infection Control, the active ingredients in Dettol and Lysol are effective in breaking the chain of infection of COVID-19.

“Cricket is more than just a sport in this part of the world and hygiene has never been more important,” says Tahir Malik, Senior Vice President, Africa & Middle East, Reckitt. “We are delighted to help play a crucial role in ensuring spectators can watch the world’s best players in action with the peace of mind that comes with the trusted protection of Dettol”

Anurag Dahiya, Chief Commercial Officer, ICC, “The safety of everyone connected with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 is of absolute paramount importance, and Dettol will play a critical role in ensuring this over the coming weeks. We are grateful to have Dettol’s hygiene and sanitization products available at all World Cup venues, and to be supported by their broader expertise behind the scenes at this event. It has taken an immense amount of effort to prepare for this tournament and the ICC is proud to be staging another global spectacle for our sport, one that we hope brings joy to communities and homes around the world during these difficult times.

McLaren Racing Creates The McLaren Racing Collective NFTs

McLaren Racing today announced the creation of the McLaren Racing Collective, a global community of collectors and fans served through an innovative digital platform, where fans can buy McLaren Racing digital collectables in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

The platform will be McLaren Racing’s primary location to allow fans and blockchain enthusiasts alike to engage with the brand, with the first drop featuring different digital components of the MCL35M 2021 Formula 1 race cars, originated from the McLaren Racing CAD system.

The initial digital components will be gifted free to fans who join the McLaren Racing Collective platform. From there, fans can collect one or multiple components as they are released in an experience which enables fans to accumulate all 22 available components and assemble the full digital MCL35M race car. The collectables will be released in five stages, with the first four components available on Sunday 24 October.

The McLaren Racing Collective is operated on the energy-efficient blockchain of the team’s Official Technical Partner, Tezos, who are collaborating with McLaren to create the limited digital assets so that fans can connect directly with the brand.

The first person to complete a full MCL35M will win a trip to a McLaren Formula 1 VIP race weekend experience in 2022. The inaugural drop will be the first of many NFT drops and campaigns as McLaren Racing integrates this pioneering marketplace into its long-term fan engagement strategy. 

Lindsey Eckhouse, Director, Licensing, ecommerce and esports, McLaren Racing, said: 

“We are excited to launch the McLaren Racing Collective, which will help us engage our fans in an innovative new space. Collaborating with our partner Tezos, we are creating new ways to evolve our fan experience through a bespoke McLaren Racing digital collectable marketplace.

“The first NFT drop heroes our papaya-liveried MCL35M F1 car. This will give our fans a fantastic opportunity to collect and see each component from every angle while allowing them to win incredible experiences and prizes.” 

McLaren Racing has also announced Medallia as the Official Feedback Partner for the McLaren Formula 1 team

Medallia, the global leader in customer and employee experience, will be the Official Feedback Partner for the McLaren Formula 1 team for the 2021 US Grand Prix this weekend. 

As Official Feedback Partner, Medallia brings its expertise in capturing customer and employee insights for the team. Launching this week at the US Grand Prix, the partnership with Medallia will provide McLaren with a suite of solutions to capture feedback from fans and team members.

Medallia’s award-winning SaaS platform, the Medallia Experience Cloud, leads the market in the understanding and management of experience for customers and team members. Medallia captures feedback created on daily interactions in person, with call centres, digital channels, over video and social media, and even IoT interactions. Applying proprietary AI technology, Medallia reveals personalized and predictive insights that can drive action with tremendous business results.

The Medallia brand will be represented on the McLaren MCL35M race cars for the US GP, and then on the rear wing of the race cars and pit crew helmets from the 2022 season. 

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing said: 

“We are delighted to announce our partnership with Medallia ahead of the US Grand Prix. This partnership brings a high level of expertise to our knowledge of our fans and our people at McLaren Racing. Our fans and people are two vital elements of our team and having a partner that can assist in refining these experiences will continue to improve how we serves our growing fan base and help us improve our culture.”

Leslie Stretch, President and CEO, Medallia said:

“McLaren has pushed the boundaries of racing and technology since 1963. We are proud to support the team as the Official Feedback Partner of McLaren Racing and to help them capture insights and deliver world-class racing experiences.” 

LDN UTD Signs Partnership With Durham University

Durham University has become the first UK university to form a collaboration with social purpose driven esports org LDN UTD. Working with the leading esports organisation, the partnership will bring the benefits of esports to students as well as the wider Durham community. 

Esports are already an integral part of the University’s wider student experience offer, with over 1,300 students currently holding membership to the esports society. This partnership with LDN UTD, which uses the medium of gaming and esports to address social issues and promote health and wellbeing, will further increase the opportunities for Durham students to develop their skills, learn about the industry, gain access to work experience opportunities and stay healthy while playing. 

At LDN UTD we work with all levels of player and staff talent, from grassroots through to the highest levels of professionals, to develop and educate gamers, ensuring they hone their skills as well as look after their bodies and minds. 

By working together, we hope to be able to offer students a more advanced programme of support around many elements of esports including:   

  • Seminars and talks relating to mental health, career development and esports content creation, with speakers from our professional and support rosters. 
  • Digital skills workshops to bolster student skill sets relating to topics including: Mental Health, Coaching, Team Management, Events Management, Nutrition etc. 
  • Online tournaments and offline large-scale events in the form of an “Esports Festival,” providing entertainment and social interaction for all ages. 
  • Esports Scholarships for those attending Durham University, aimed at creating a pathway into the esports industry as the end result. 
  • Durham will support LDN UTD’s professional players making use of Durham University’s expertise in enhancing an athletes’ personal support matrix (nutrition, mental health, physical fitness). 
  • Creating a successful bond between Higher and Further Education, esports and the organisations therein, to enhance the employment opportunities within the sector for those interested, without the need for having an Esports aligned Degree. 

It’s not just Durham students who are set to benefit from the partnership. Plans are also afoot to extend support to competitors, gamers and prospective gamers in the County Durham area who may be interested in learning more about esports. 

Director of Experience Durham, Quentin Sloper, said: “This partnership opens up some outstanding opportunities for our students and the wider County Durham community. Working with the team from LDN UTD and going head to head in competition with some of their professional gamers will provide a platform for our students to test their skills at the highest of levels whilst giving them exposure to the range of career opportunities, beyond competing, that are now rapidly opening up within the industry.  

“We already have a long-standing, highly successful University esports society, so I’m also excited to see how this partnership can advance this group of players and ensure even more success for Team Durham in the future.” 

Current Esports Club President, Lordie Bevan, said: “Working with the team from LDN UTD will help us develop our playing and knowledge of the esports sector so much. This is not only important for our student members, but also for the wider Durham community. We at DUEG feel strongly about promoting a happy, healthy, and fulfilling community experience through the median of esports here at Durham. LDN UTD’s support provides a great opportunity to combat the issues of mental health and isolation that have affected our community during the Covid pandemic. We’re looking forward to our partnership and we can’t wait to get started!” 

Founder/CEO of LDN UTD, Oliver Weingarten, said: “The reputation of Durham University speaks for itself, and as we look to broaden the mission of LDN UTD, we look forward to partnering to support the students and engage a wider community.  Education is a key tenet of the LDN UTD values, alongside wellbeing, diversity and inclusivity in the esports space. We believe the industry specific support and guidance we can provide will ensure the success of Durham’s esports projects going forward. ” 

BWF And HSBC Agree To World Tour Deal Extension

In the spirit of a fantastic first four years in partnership together, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and its Principal Global Partner and title sponsor of the BWF World Tour, HSBC, can confirm they have extended their current commercial relationship by one year.

This announcement aligns with the extension of the current HSBC BWF World Tour hosting cycle until the end of 2022. It also consolidates the reputation of the HSBC BWF World Tour as one of the world’s premiere sporting circuits in a forever changing climate.

The global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic meant it was necessary for the BWF to extend its hosting contracts by one extra year. BWF would like to thank HSBC for their continued commitment to the delivery of the HSBC BWF World Tour and global promotion of badminton.

The HSBC BWF World Tour 2021 season ends with a three-tournament Asian leg in Bali, Indonesia culminating with the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals from 1-5 December 2021.

Both BWF and HSBC will then look forward to a bumper 2022 season where together we aim to elevate the electric HSBC BWF World Tour to new levels as part of the extended partnership deal.

IMG Appoints Jo Ormston As Director Of Business Development

IMG has appointed highly-experienced broadcast professional Jo Ormston to the newly-created position of Director of Business Development for its global production business, one of the largest producers of sports programming in the world.

In this role, Ormston will explore and develop content and programming opportunities for new and existing production clients as a direct report of Stephen Cook, IMG’s SVP, Director of Content. She is based at IMG Studios at Stockley Park, near London’s Heathrow Airport.

Cook said: “Jo brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise and understands the business of production from both a broadcaster and federation point of view. With content consumption trends ever-changing, Jo will play an essential role in ensuring we stay connected to the various trends, platforms and key players across the world of sport.”

Ormston set up her own production company OrchestraBlue in 2012 with a roster of clients including UEFA (Euro 2020), Gfinity (Qatar WEGA Esports Global Games), HBS (FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019, FIFA World Cup 2018 Russia and FIFA World Cup 2014 Brazil) and EXPO 2020 in Dubai. She was also brought in by BT Sport to plan broadcast operations for the Champions League from 2015-18.

Ormston has also worked with RedBull Media and World Sports Group and on four Olympic Games, winning the IOC Golden Rings Award at the 2012 London Olympics for host broadcast for sailing. Previously, she was with independent production company North One, where she was Head of Production for World Rally Championships from 2001-2011, with additional responsibility for Olympic projects and North One Australia.

Coinbase Becomes Exclusive Cryptocurrency Platform Partner Of The NBA/WNBA/NBA G League/NBA 2K League And USA Basketball

Coinbase Global, Inc. and the National Basketball Association today announced a multiyear partnership that makes Coinbase the exclusive cryptocurrency platform partner of the NBA, Women’s National Basketball Association, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and USA Basketball.

The deal, which marks the first cryptocurrency platform partnership for each league, will consist of unique content, innovations, activations and experiences from Coinbase to educate fans on the increasing advancements happening across the cryptoeconomy. Beginning with tonight’s tip off of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary season, Coinbase will have a brand presence featured during nationally televised games.  The company will also become the presenting partner of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup and the USA Basketball men’s and women’s national team exhibition tours, as well as a partner of NBA G League Ignite.

“The freedom to participate and benefit from the things you believe in is at the heart of Coinbase’s mission.  Nobody believes this more than NBA and WNBA fans. We’re proud to become the Leagues’ official cryptocurrency partner,” said Kate Rouch, Chief Marketing Officer of Coinbase. “As part of the partnership, we will create interactive experiences to engage with the NBA and WNBA’s incredible community and athletes around the world.”

“As a trusted cryptocurrency platform used by millions, Coinbase is a natural fit as the NBA’s first-ever partner in this thriving category,” said Kerry Tatlock, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing Partnerships and Media, NBA.  “We look forward to collaborating with Coinbase to provide fans with new ways to engage with the league and each other, while also enhancing the experience for fans who are already Coinbase users.”

“Our partnership with Coinbase is representative of the WNBA’s emphasis on innovation as we continue to find opportunities to meet our fans where they are,” said Phil Cook, WNBA Chief Marketing Officer.  “As we build off the success of the WNBA’s first 25 seasons, innovating alongside Coinbase will help us explore the future of fan engagement.”