eBay And The EFL Announce New Three-Year Partnership

The EFL has today announced a new three-year partnership ahead of the start of the 2021/22 season with eBay that will celebrate the businesses powering local communities around all 72 EFL clubs. Through the launch of ‘Small Businesses United’, the partnership will see eBay donate advertising space at EFL grounds to the small businesses at the heart of their marketplace.

Showing the power of community, 85% of EFL clubs were supported by a small local business in the last year, despite the financial hardships of businesses during the pandemic.  EFL clubs were instrumental in their communities during the pandemic delivering over over 1.4 million food parcels, more than 179,000 items of PPE, 22,000 prescriptions and donating over 2,100 laptops and tablets to people facing technology poverty. Club staff and their players have had in excess of 527,000 outgoing and incoming conversations with fans and vulnerable people. 

Although the EFL lost £250m when football went behind closed doors, the end of lockdown and Euros fever has seen a huge surge in interest in attending games. ‘Small Businesses United’ will allow eBay sellers to further connect with their local EFL clubs, and see their own brand under the bright stadium lights now that they’re back watching their team.

Ben Wright, Chief Commercial Officer of the EFL, said: “The long-term relationship we have agreed with eBay is an exciting addition to the EFL portfolio of Official Partners and highlights how we want to support the local businesses who have in turn done so much to help our clubs.

“We are really pleased to be able to support growing businesses through all 72 EFL clubs and the ‘Small Businesses United’ initiative. It is a fantastic opportunity for supporters of our Clubs to see their own businesses advertised in EFL stadia nationwide, and demonstrates again how the EFL can support positive and impactful local community activation on a national scale.”

Rob Hattrell, SVP & Head of eBay Europe said: “eBay UK and the EFL know that local business and football clubs are the backbone of our communities, sharing a history of mutual support that we’re so excited to celebrate with Small Businesses United. After the financial trials of the pandemic, it’s more important than ever for eBay to continue to shine a spotlight on the power of small business, and to champion the sport we know and love.

“The excitement surrounding English football is at a real high this year, and we’re seeing that replicated on eBay with huge demand for the equipment needed for the grassroots game. That’s why we’ll be looking to extend our support beyond the professional clubs, to further boost local communities – all thanks to the power of eBay’s 300,000 small business sellers.”

The partnership offers a brilliant opportunity for football fans and small business owners, including 21 year old Joe who runs JoeJoeJMS Cards & Collectibles. Revealed by TV presenter and former professional footballer Dion Dublin at AFC Wimbledon’s Plough Lane, Joe found out this week that his eBay business will be the first to be represented at his local team’s ground. Joe’s story will be mirrored by many other eBay small business owners at EFL stadiums up and down the country.

Former professional footballer and TV presenter Dion Dublin commented: “As an ex-footballer, and someone who has run my own businesses, I think it’s incredibly important that football clubs work closely with businesses in their surroundings. This partnership between the EFL and eBay will help many small businesses to grow in size and will bring a real sense of community to the 72 clubs involved.”

‘Small Businesses United’ launches ahead of the start of the 2021/22 season, which begins as AFC Bournemouth host West Bromwich Albion in Friday night’s Sky Bet Championship curtain-raiser. All EFL clubs and competitions will be involved in the initiative until the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

Sky Sports Win Exclusive Bundesliga Rights For UK & Ireland In Four-Season Deal

Sky Sports has today announced that it has won the exclusive rights to show the Bundesliga in the UK and Ireland for the next four seasons.

As the home of German top-flight football in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, football fans will be able to tune in to Sky Sports to watch superstars including Borussia Dortmund pair Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham, 30-time Bundesliga champions FC Bayern München and relative newcomers RB Leipzig as they challenge for domestic glory from the 2021/22 to 2024/25 seasons.

Sky Sports’ coverage of the league will begin at 7.30pm on Friday 13 August with champions FC Bayern München travelling to Borussia Mönchengladbach, before 2012 league winners Borussia Dortmund take on Eintracht Frankfurt on the Saturday, kick off at 5.30pm.

In addition to the Bundesliga, Sky Sports will also broadcast the German Supercup live, which is an early “Klassiker” match-up, with Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München going head-to-head on 17 August at Signal Iduna Park, kick off is at 7.30pm.

The premium fixture of each weekend will be shown live every Saturday at 5.30pm on Sky Sports Football, with further matches broadcast via Sky Sports linear or digital channels including Sky Sports YouTube.

The deal widens the Sky – Bundesliga partnership, with deals in place across the Sky Group in UK/ROI, Italy, Germany (including German language rights in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and South Tyrol) and Austria.

Sky Sports Managing Director Jonathan Licht said: “We’re delighted to have acquired the rights to the Bundesliga. Sky Sports customers will have the opportunity to watch some of the best players in the world as well as some of the leading teams in Europe.

“This new four-year agreement adds to our football offering in the UK & Ireland which already includes Premier League, EFL, Scottish Premiership and FA Women’s Super League as well as international action in the form of World Cup Qualifiers, placing Sky Sports as the home of live football.

Bundesliga International CEO Robert Klein added: “This is a partnership that will deliver the best of the Bundesliga week-in, week-out, through world class production and multi-platform coverage. With Sky as our partner, Bundesliga fans will benefit from a first class football viewing experience. This, paired with the Bundesliga’s trademark attacking style of football, means that fans can expect an action-packed season – featuring some of the world’s best players and the most exciting up-and-coming talent.”

Rugby League World Cup Postponed Until 2022 Following Withdrawal Of Australia And New Zealand

Rugby League World Cup 2021 (RLWC2021) and the UK Government have today announced their intention to stage the flagship event in the international Rugby League calendar in 2022.

The extremely difficult decision was taken by the RLWC2021 Board, which includes representation from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and the International Rugby League (IRL) Board.

This follows extensive and urgent consultation conducted by RLWC2021 Chief Executive Officer Jon Dutton and his team, which engaged players, competing nations, the Rugby League Players Association (Australia), UK Government, hosts, commercial and broadcast partners.

Tournament organisers faced several unique and complex challenges with the most significant being the non-release of up to 400 players, match officials and staff members from the NRL competition in Australia. This is despite all requests from international rugby league federations having been met which included the rigorous health measures that have been keeping thousands of elite athletes from around the world safe whilst competing in major sporting events across the UK over the last year.  

Ultimately this decision has been detrimental to the plans and ambitions of many of the competing nations and potential replacement teams. A key factor was ensuring that fans of Rugby League are able to enjoy the best possible tournament, which was not possible under these circumstances.

Jon Dutton, RLWC2021 Chief Executive Officer, said:

“Today is a challenging moment for everyone involved in Rugby League, but most importantly the players and fans of the competing nations.

“Ultimately, time and competing priorities from others forced us to make the most difficult decision in our six-year history. However, we and the sport of Rugby League are resilient, and next year we will deliver our vision of the biggest and best Rugby League World Cup ever.

“We have always prioritised player voice and player choice. We have established a player working group, met with senior players and in the last few days commissioned a player survey to domestic players in Australia and New Zealand that showed more than 85% wanted to compete at RLWC2021 this year. However, following the disappointing decision of the ARLC and NZRL to withdraw, and the subsequent impact on player availability for other competing nations, it is apparent that delivering the tournament this year would not be feasible.

“The wellbeing of all those involved in the tournament, particularly players and team officials, has been our priority. I would like to thank the RLWC2021 Board and my team for the relentless hard work and extraordinary measures that had been undertaken to create a safe and secure environment in line with other major sports events that have been successfully hosted in the UK this year.

“I would also like to thank all our committed partners as well as the Rugby League community at large who have been so supportive of our trailblazing event. We appreciate the continued and unequivocal support of the UK Government, as well as the understanding of our competing nations.”

Chris Brindley, RLWC2021 Chair, added:

“This process has shown that the RLWC Board are responsible leaders who have put the solidarity and unity of the sport first. The Board will now seek the commitment and alignment of all key partners immediately to deliver a clear timetable for the tournament next year.

“Now is the time for everyone who loves our game to come together, to show that Rugby League deserves its place on the international stage, and that the RLWC is a tournament we can all be proud of.”

Troy Grant, IRL Chair, said:

“On behalf of the whole international Rugby League community, I must thank Jon Dutton, Chris Brindley and their team for their unstinting efforts.  I know that their focus is now on 2022. I also place on record our thanks to the UK Government, our sponsors and partners for their support throughout this whole process. They have been outstanding and understanding friends and we look forward to continuing the journey with them.

“We must now move forward quickly from this point to build confidence in our sport internationally and to seize the opportunity which still presents itself; to deliver the best Rugby League World Cup ever. I look forward to 2022 and the future with optimism and a renewed focus on the importance of international Rugby League for all our members large and small.

“We have seen the success that the Olympic Games and the Euro 2020 championship experienced after their postponements, and we are all determined to deliver the best Rugby League World Cup ever in 2022.”

Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said:

“I am disappointed that we’ve needed to take the decision to delay the Rugby League World Cup. Despite working tirelessly to explore solutions that would allow us to go ahead as planned, circumstances beyond our control have meant that postponing the Rugby League World Cup until next year is the strongest option for staging a successful tournament.

“In the best interests of the sport and its millions of supporters around the world, I look forward to the Rugby League authorities in all competing nations accommodating a rearranged tournament in 2022, so we can put on the spectacle the fans deserve.”

Leeds United Launch $LUFC Fan Token Through Socios.com

Leeds United, in partnership with Chiliz, the leading global blockchain providers for the sports and entertainment industry, have announced that they will launch a $LUFC Fan Token on the fan engagement and rewards app Socios.com.

The $LUFC Fan Token will launch soon, with all existing MyLeeds members and season ticket holders having the option to receive a free $LUFC Fan Token for a limited time. Just one $LUFC Fan Token is enough to allow holders to access every engagement opportunity on Socios.com.

Fan Tokens are collectible digital assets, minted on the Chiliz $CHZ blockchain, that will create new experiences for Leeds supporters across the world, allowing them to become part of a vibrant and engaged digital community on Socios.com.

Fans can put their skills to the test against other fans from around the world in club-related games, competitions and quizzes, competing in global leaderboards and earning real-life and digital club-related accolades, benefits and experiences along the way. Fans will be able to access club related content and participate in interactive votes with the club over the course of the season. Fans will also be able to experience Socios.com’s geo-location, augmented reality feature ‘Token Hunt’. 

Socios.com is a direct-to-consumer (D2C) platform that leverages blockchain technology to provide the world’s leading sporting organisations with the tools to engage with their global fanbases.

48 major sporting organizations have partnered with Socios.com to launch Fan Tokens, including FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, AC Milan, Atlético Madrid, Manchester City, Inter Milan, Arsenal, Everton and the Argentina and Portugal national football teams, as well as a number of leading teams from F1, esports and cricket. 

Created by Chiliz, the leading blockchain provider for the global sports and entertainment industry, Socios.com has major expansion plans for 2021 and is targeting many more Fan Token launches throughout the world. Socios.com has multiple office locations around the world and has already opened new regional headquarters in Madrid, Istanbul, São Paulo and Buenos Aires. The company will open a new office in North America in the near future. 

“This partnership with Socios.com is another step forward for Leeds United as we look to provide more opportunities for our fans around the globe to get even closer to the club” said Paul Bell, Executive Director at Leeds United. “We are committed to innovation on and off the field and this represents our first step into blockchain technology, we are delighted to take this step with Socios.com” 

Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Chiliz and Socios.com, said: “Leeds United is already a globally recognised club, but they won new fans the world over with their impressive return to Premier League action last season.

“The club understands the importance of global fan engagement. Through $LUFC Fan Tokens, Leeds supporters the world over will be able to join a global community of fans brought together by their passion for the club, where they can enjoy influence, exclusive content, games, competitions and access to once-in-a-lifetime experiences and rewards.

“Leeds United become our fourth Premier League partner, but there’s more to come. The shift from passive to active fans through global fan engagement on Socios.com is now taking shape on the biggest stage in English football.”

CVC Purchase 10% Of LaLiga For 2.7 Billion Euros ($3.2b)

LaLiga has announced a strategic agreement called “Boost LaLiga” with the leading global investment fund CVC which will see a cash injection of 2.7 billion euros into the competition and its clubs. This ambitious investment plan, approved unanimously today by the league’s Executive Committee (Comisión Delegada), will provide LaLiga and the Clubs with all the necessary resources to fulfil its transformation strategy to become a leading global player in the digital entertainment market, while at the same time bolstering the competition and transforming the fan experience.

The transaction values​​LaLiga at 24.25 billion euros, a price tag that acknowledges LaLiga’s leadership as one of the most prominent sports competitions in the world, as well as recognizing its growth potential through a greater digital presence. In a coordinated effort between LaLiga and its clubs, the league will target greater direct interaction with fans, investment in the brand, the sport and in the internationalization of both. This is a higher figure than previous assessments considered for other projects with similar characteristics, which can only reflect the excellent work that has been carried out by LaLiga to date.

This agreement aims to lead the transformation currently experienced in the global entertainment sector, and to maximize every growth opportunity available to the clubs to develop a new business model that will allow them to diversify and maximize revenues through marketing models that will help to accelerate their digital transformation. Moving from the current single-product model, based almost exclusively on the game and the sale of audiovisual rights, to a multi-product/multi-experience one with a direct relationship with fans, amplified by technology and digital and analytical capabilities. In this sense, LaLiga is already well on the way to becoming a global player, with the best entertainment content, a strong digital presence and the ability to capture and analyse data that facilitates direct omnichannel interaction with fans all over the world, with a clear focus on the optimization of their experience with the brand.

The investment in improving the competition will drive growth in fan numbers and their experience with LaLiga. The technological capabilities of the LaLiga and the clubs’ ecosystem will also be strengthened, offering new content, new channels and new markets.

90% of the 2.7 billion euros proposed to be invested by CVC Funds will be earmarked for the clubs, including women’s football, semi-professional and non-professional football under the guidance of the Royal Spanish Football Federation and the Higher Sports Council (more than 100 million euros). Thus, making this strategic agreement an inclusive, equitable and democratic one that not only bolsters the economic viability of all Spanish football clubs but also opens up a new present and future for them by allowing them to advance in their development and transformation by at least a decade.

The resources provided by the agreement between CVC and LaLiga will also have a multiplier effect, not only in the world of football, but also in its contribution to building Spain’s image abroad via Brand Spain, in creating jobs for the sector and in attracting talent.

For the implementation of this strategic plan, the clubs take on a commitment to allocate the investment they receive to the promotion of their own Development Plan, agreed with LaLiga, which will include the following main areas: sports strategy, infrastructure, international development, brand and product development, communication strategy, innovation, technology and data plan and content development plan on digital platforms and social networks. All incorporating sustainability, good governance and diversity as fundamental values​​of the model.

LaLiga will keep its sports responsibilities as well as the organization and management of audiovisual rights sales.

CVC Funds bring to this project its financial firepower, its management capacity and its expert knowledge in the development of sports businesses thanks to its extensive experience of over 25 years in international competitions such as rugby, volleyball, tennis, Moto GP, Formula 1, plus the relationships it has firmly established with essential technological partners for the implementation of the specific projects contained in this plan.

This will enable LaLiga to continue their global expansion, which has recently been boosted by a new eight-year deal with ESPN to broadcast the league across the United States.

Beginning in August, hundreds of live matches across both LaLiga Santander and LaLiga SmartBank will be available each year, exclusively on ESPN+.

Beyond live matches, ESPN+ will offer a variety of surround programming, including match previews, highlights, magazine shows – and will continue to cover LaLiga extensively on signature ESPN+ shows including ESPN FC, Jorge Ramos y su Banda and Fuera de Juego. 

Select matches will air across ESPN networks each season, with coverage and highlights also available on SportsCenter and other ESPN studio programs, as well as on ESPN digital and social platforms.

HotForex Extends Partnership With Paris Saint-Germain

Leading global multi-asset broker HotForex has announced a renewal of the company’s Official Partnership agreement with Paris Saint-Germain ahead of the 2021-22 season.

With this partnership extension, HotForex plans to expand its global presence in key markets around the world while also strengthening its presence in the markets where it already operates. Acting as the French football club’s Official Online Trading Partner for a second consecutive season, the company will continue engaging its clients and football fans with new activities and educating them about the shared values of online trading and football.

Paris Saint-Germain has been at the forefront of this summer’s transfer window, building an incredible squad for the upcoming season, with Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Georginio Wijinaldum and Achraf Hakimi joining a star-studded squad already boasting the hikes of Neymar Jr, Kylian Mbappé and Ángel Di María.

Commenting on the extension of the agreement, a HotForex spokesperson said: “We are very proud to renew our partnership with Paris Saint-Germain ahead of another exciting season. Our partnership has proved to charge both parties with even more energy to strive for excellence. We would like to wish the team the best of luck on the pitch for the 2021/22 season and look forward to creating new fan activations which will bring our clients and football fans closer to the action, as well as continuing to help educate people on investing.”

Marc Armstrong, Paris Saint-Germain Chief Partnerships Officer added: “We are delighted to be renewing our partnership with HotForex, a leading broker in the financial industry. It is great for us to be able to collaborate with such a prestigious brand that will provide Paris Saint-Germain’s fans across the world with a reliable and effective trading platform.”

The Tour of Britain and Women’s Tour Reveal Tiki Tonga As Official Partner

Specialty coffee roaster Tiki Tonga have been appointed as the Official Coffee Partner of the Tour of Britain and Women’s Tour, Britain’s leading procycling events.

Cycling and coffee literally go ‘cup in hand’ and Tiki Tonga Coffee specialises in producing the best coffee for active people. A mixture of performance and social blends, expertly crafted, it aims to be the fuel for all athlete’s superpowers, ‘packing the winning punch’ right there.

Tiki Tonga’s specific aim is to utilise the benefits of caffeine for active sportspeople. With the numerous trends and fads in dietary advice, one thing we do know, is coffee is completely natural, no additives, free from the preservatives and sugary contents of most energy drinks.

Coffee is well known for its health benefits, for instance, did you know that a 75mg serving of caffeine is associated with increased attention and alertness? This equates to just one cup of Tiki Tonga coffee.

Brad Barritt, co-founder of Tiki Tonga Coffee, said: “We are delighted to be taking Tiki Tonga on tour again as it visits some of the most interesting places the length and breadth of the UK. The race will give us the opportunity to meet some of our customers after such a challenging year, and also to find new faces to meet and greet. We look forward to some great rides, plus coffee and conversation long the way.”

Miles Rose, Tour of Britain and Women’s Tour commercial director, added: “I love Tiki Tonga’s range of coffees for all occasions. Coffee and cycling go hand in hand; Tiki Tonga were founded by athletes to not only enjoy coffee, but to also bring people together. I trust our cycling community will enjoy the benefits of this partnership, either at our events or through some of the special promotions we will develop together.”

Tiki Tonga will be available for hospitality guests at both prestigious events in September and October 2021, while also engaging with fans at the Tour of Britain and Women’s Tour stage finishes, where they will have a retail presence in the Tour Village.

The FA Announces Alzheimer’s Society As Official Charity Partner

The FA and Alzheimer’s Society want to ensure that more people from the football community are  aware of dementia, come forward for available support and are provided with the help that they need.  

Over the next two years, the partnership will:  

• Raise awareness of dementia and the support services Alzheimer’s Society offers to help bring dementia out of the shadows and end the stigma faced by all those who it affects; 

• Raise money for Dementia Connect, Alzheimer’s Society’s personalised dementia support  service; 

• Show how clubs can be more dementia friendly by ensuring that stadiums and grounds are  accessible, staff understand the difficulties people encounter and people can enjoy watching  football for longer;  

• Enable local football clubs and The FA to refer their employees, players, former players and  fans to Alzheimer’s Society’s support services so they can access the help that they need; • Offer The FA’s employees an opportunity to become a Dementia Friend and volunteer for  Alzheimer’s Society by helping people with dementia to keep connected over the phone; 

• Provide The FA with access to leading scientists and research expertise to understand more  about dementia causes and risk factors.  

The new partnership will officially launch at The FA Community Shield supported by McDonald’s on  Saturday 7 August 2021, with activations across The FA’s channels, matchday programme, Wembley  Stadium connected by EE’s digital screens and ITV as its new host broadcasters from this season.  

Alzheimer’s Society was appointed as the official charity partner of The FA following an open  application process that began in March 2021. Several charities were shortlisted and subsequently  submitted presentations that were voted on by The FA’s employees and the England national teams.  

England players will support and be an active part of the charity partnership, including donating a  significant sum to the charity from their match fees. An international fixture will be dedicated to Alzheimer’s Society during the partnership and The FA will match any players’ contributions through  funds raised from the Community Shield, as well as employee and external fundraising.  

Edleen John, Director of International Relations, Corporate Affairs and Co-Partner for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, said: “We were really pleased to present our employees and players with an  excellent range of charities that were committed to using the power of football as a force for good.  We wanted our teams and staff to have a voice in our charity partner selection,so we gave them an opportunity to vote for the one that they are personally and professionally passionate about alongside  recognising our organisation’sstrategic objectives. 

“Alzheimer’s Society is a fantastic headline charity partner choice. With further research, early  treatment and support, many people with dementia will be able to lead full and active lives. Together,  we hope to make a significant difference to all those impacted by dementia and to ensure that the  football community is aware of the signs, advice available and can access support when they need it.” 

Kate Lee, Chief Executive at Alzheimer’s Society added: “It’s been brilliant for all of us to enjoy an  incredible few weeks of football after the year we’ve all had. For so many fans and former players  living with dementia, that passion and common interest is their form of escapism after a diagnosis.  Our partnership with The FA is a huge step in changing how people experience dementia within the  sporting industry and couldn’t have come sooner.  

“Following a catastrophic time for people with dementia, this is a massive opportunity to help support  those who have never needed it more. Together, we can help ensure that the millions of football  supporters and their families know our services are here, change how fans and players receive support  and create a dementia inclusive industry, so people with dementia can continue to remain part of the  game. Together, we can showcase the power of football to change lives for the better.”

FTX Signs Up As Partner Of LCS In Long-Term Deal

The cryptocurrency exchange will present the new Most Improved Player Award and FTX Gold across all LCS matches.

It’s time to extend our gold lead. We’re proud to announce that FTX is the Official Cryptocurrency Exchange of the LCS. Our seven-year partnership with FTX represents the largest sponsorship agreement Riot has ever signed for an esports league.

Starting this weekend, fans will notice FTX branding on the LCS broadcast around the most valuable currency in League of Legends: Gold. Player net worth, total team gold and those rollercoaster gold graphs will all be presented by FTX. Additionally, FTX will directly sponsor the LCS Most Improved Player Award, to be voted on by a cross-section of Rioters, media and team representatives.

At the forefront of every LCS partnership, we consider the sentiment and interests of our fans. This data strongly informs our decision-making process, helping us hone in on partners who are relevant to our audience and can elevate the LCS for years to come. Those metrics pointed to a direct interest in the crypto category, where FTX stands out as an innovative, thoughtful leader in a space our fans understand. Together, we’ve only just begun to press our advantage.

LCS Playoffs begin this weekend with Evil Geniuses versus Dignitas (Saturday at 2pm PT), followed by Cloud9 versus Team Liquid (Sunday at 1pm PT). Catch all the action on Twitch, YouTube, LoLEsports or with your favorite Watch Party streamer.

Cinedigm Partners With Real Madrid To Expand Reach Of The Team’s Branded Sports Streaming Channel

Cinedigm, the leading independent streaming company super-serving enthusiast fan bases, has announced a partnership with Real Madrid.

The partnership will significantly expand the distribution of the team’s branded sports streaming channel making the team more accessible to North American fans than ever before. Real Madrid TV will feature thousands of hours of fan-centric football content leading up to the 2021-2022 season and will also feature 2-3 matches per week once the season kicks off.

The service will be available in the United States & Canada for linear and AVOD platforms on connected TVs, digital set-top boxes, media-streaming devices, as well as the web. The streaming channel is the latest addition to Cinedigm’s roster of channels currently live across the broader OTT landscape on distribution partners including The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Samsung, TCL, Tubi and many more.

The deal was negotiated by Josh Thomashow, Executive Director, Acquisitions of Cinedigm, and SPORTFIVE on behalf of Real Madrid.

“Soccer is the most popular sport in the world with an extreme level of fandom,” said Erick Opeka, President of Cinedigm Digital Networks. “Partnering with Real Madrid, and giving this global club an exclusive home to many of the biggest OTT distribution partners in North America, will allow viewers to experience never before released content in the United States. Fans will feel like they are part of all the action with interviews, matches and news they can’t get anywhere else, and content will be refreshed weekly to keep fans engaged.”

With a loyal and passionate global fanbase, Real Madrid is one of the most recognized brands in world sport. Real Madrid is the most successful club in Europe winning the coveted Champions League a record 13 times. Founded in 1902, the club would come to dominate the next century, earning the unprecedented honor of FIFA Club of the 20th Century in 2000. Since then, their fortunes have only increased, and the club has been a highly sought out destination for the best football players on the planet.

The channel will provide viewers one of a kind access to matches, showing 2-3 matches per week during the season of Real Madrid’s La Liga games, as well as their UEFA Champions League and Cup tournaments. In addition, the channel will air classic programing, exclusive club insight, breaking news and more. Over 8,000 hours of content will be made available annually. At launch, the streaming channel will feature the following programming:

  • Live Press Conferences
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • Live Training Sessions
  • Classic Matches
  • Magazine Shows
  • Real Madrid News Programming
  • Special Features

An innovator in the digital transformation of the entertainment industry for more than two decades, the deal continues Cinedigm’s core mission to entertain the world by building the world’s best portfolio of enthusiast channels and services for the streaming generation. Through a diverse mix of premium SVOD services and dedicated AVOD and FAST channels, Cinedigm’s streaming portfolio reaches indie film (Fandor), horror (Screambox & Bloody Disgusting) and family entertainment (Dove Channel), as well as dedicated channels for iconic entertainers, led by Bob Ross (The Bob Ross Channel). Cinedigm’s ultimate goal is to build destinations that immerse viewers in content they love while staying at the forefront of technology as the streaming industry continues to evolve.