NBA And The Sports Channel Announce Multi-Year Partnership Expansion In Israel

Ahead of the 2019-20 NBA season restart tipping off tomorrow night, July 30, the NBA and The Sports Channel today announced a five year broadcast and multiplatform partnership expansion that will see The Sports Channel continue as the NBA’s official and exclusive broadcast partner and online destination in Israel.  The expanded partnership marks the NBA’s most extensive partnership ever in Israel, spanning three decades of collaboration between the two organizations.

Beginning tomorrow night, fans in Israel will be able to watch 54 live “seeding games” exclusively on The Sports Channel, including 17 games starting from 19:30 local time, the most-ever primetime games in Israel in a two-week period.  Fans will experience a whole new game with a more connected and immersive experience for fans, including the use of more than 30 cameras – many in robotic form – that will be repositioned closer to the court and showcase never-before-seen camera angles in places that are otherwise not accessible with fans in the arena.  Microphones around the court will capture enhanced sounds from the floor, including sneaker squeaks and ball bounces.  DJs and announcers will be in-venue to help replicate the sounds and experiences teams are accustomed to in-arena.

Fans in Israel will also be able to digitally cheer for their team through the NBA App, NBA.com and on Twitter using team hashtags throughout the game.  Virtual cheering will be reflected on the video boards in-venue with graphics and animations that capture the level of fan engagement around the world.

The first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs, which tip off Aug. 17 ET/Aug. 18 Israeli Time, will feature additional primetime games on The Sports Channel.  Beginning next season, The Sports Channel will broadcast more than 150 live games each season, the weekly customized show “NBA Magazine,” and a range of NBA TV programming.

“As we build on our long-standing partnership, we are thrilled that The Sports Channel will continue to be the home of the NBA for fans in Israel,” said NBA SVP, Global Media Distribution and Business Operations, Matt Brabants.  “We look forward to working with The Sports Channel to bring live NBA basketball to our fans in Israel for years to come.”

“We are pleased and proud to prolong our exclusive and strong partnership with the NBA which will offer more live NBA content for the sports fans in Israel,” said The Sports Channel CEO, Tomer Tourgeman.

Member Insights: Discovering A New Path Towards Professionalism In Esports?

How players get into professional Esports has been a difficult process for a number of years, however thanks to a new way of entering the space, there could now be a far more clear method to take the next step as a player.

Willingness. Dedication. Patience. These are some of the criteria required to become a professional esports athlete and characteristics Esports brand Nicecactus have identified and worked towards to provide an upgraded version of their initial training method. After months of hard work and intense collaboration with talented pro players, Nicecactus is proud to release its new Premium Status, with brand new features dedicated to help any player to improve his game.

“Based on our knowledge of the Esports environment and the precious inputs of many in-house professional players, we developed a unique method that can be applied to anyone, as long as they aim to improve in their game. Our method has been fully tested prior to launch with excellent results. With the launch of our premium offer, we aim to push our method to a supreme level,” said Mike M. Hessabi, CEO and co-founder of Nicecactus.

By subscribing to the new Premium Status, users can unlock completely new features with many more things to work on and improve. The first one is the unprecedented training program created by Nicecactus for amateurs to improve skills through effective methods. The amateurs of different levels will be guided by systematic video lessons, which are designed by multi-awarded professionals. Also created is a smart training system that will personalise the training progress for each individual. This will allow users to navigate through various methods to help them improve their skills and leadership, as well as maintaining their interest in the training program. And in the blink of an eye, pro players will be born.

The values of the Training Program are numerous. Players will be able to track their performance by viewing their strengths and weaknesses in real-time, which will allow them to perfectly master aspects of games to make progress. Our unique training methodology, which is based on esports learning techniques, will let the users benefit from a simple and efficient interface. Gaming skill will be improved with an adjusted training process from our comprehensive training plan, so we can guarantee that anyone will level up with the Nicecactus Premium Training Program.

The all-in-one platform for gaming and esports just launched a Premium offer to increase all of its functionalities.

Among other features, a whole Premium environment has been created with many more things to do outside of just training. Premium online tournaments with higher cash-prizes will be displayed, as well as qualifiers for offline events, which would be held in the Nicecactus Esports Arena based in Barcelona! Last but not least, we also developed a team composed of former pros who will be in charge of spotting future esports stars and help them reach the next step in their career. 

Gregory Bolle, Nicecactus’ Revenue Officer, added: “Thanks to the multiple partnerships we have in esports with prestigious teams like G2 Esports, AS Monaco, GamersOrigin, and NBA-Magic Gaming, we act as an intermediary between teams in search of fresh blood and promising young players. A ladder new path that young talented players can aim to reach their objectives.”

ABOUT NICECACTUS

NICECACTUS.GG is an online platform that is driving a groundbreaking new ecosystem within the esports sector, by empowering amateur and novice players with an exclusive solution and tools to help them engage in competition, as well as progress towards achieving a professional career. Through esports, Nicecactus is acting as the key bridge between the business world (brands, companies) and the Millennial generation.

Founded on the French Riviera by Mike M. Hessabi and Alexandre Amoukteh, Nicecactus is an all-in-one online platform dedicated to esports and gaming. The company has soon expanded internationally and has opened offices in Paris, Nice, Barcelona, Berlin, and Los Angeles.

The platform now boasts over 1 million registered users and hosts over 1,500 online tournaments every month, covering more than 20 major esports titles, like League of Legends, Rocket League, FIFA, and Fortnite.

Nicecactus has exclusive partnerships with the biggest international esports clubs, such as G2 Esports, AS Monaco, GamersOrigin, NBA-Magic Gaming. Every day, these valuable partners and their teams of champions contribute their expertise and experience to enrich and enhance Nicecactus’ unique method.

DraftKings Becomes PGA TOUR’s First Official Betting Operator

The PGA TOUR and DraftKings Inc., have announced an expansion of their multi-year content and marketing relationship today that now designates DraftKings as the first “Official Betting Operator of the PGA TOUR.” In July 2019, DraftKings became the TOUR’s first “Official Daily Fantasy Game of the PGA TOUR” as part of a multi-year, exclusive arrangement.

“The PGA TOUR couldn’t be more pleased with growing our collaboration with DraftKings,” said Norb Gambuzza, PGA TOUR Senior Vice President, Media and Gaming. “The growth in consumption and fan engagement we have seen over the last year in our DraftKings Daily Fantasy games has been tremendous. The expansion of the relationship to now include sports betting is a natural evolution and one which fully supports and promotes the PGA TOUR’s objectives of reaching and engaging new segments of fans while introducing them to our players, tournaments and media platforms.”

By becoming the first to join the TOUR’s Official Betting Operator program, DraftKings will have rights in the United States to use PGA TOUR trademarks, rights to advertise within TOUR media and TOUR partner platforms, plus content and video rights allowing DraftKings’ Sportsbook solution to create pre-game and post-game betting programming, as well as distribution of highlights to users who have placed bets.

“DraftKings and the PGA TOUR have continued to make history with the innovative additions to our agreement which began last year,” said Ezra Kucharz, Chief Business Officer of DraftKings. “We are excited to further our relationship with the PGA TOUR as their first Official Betting Operator as well. Golf has been an especially important outlet for fan engagement over these past few months, and this latest collaboration is a significant next step for both the golf and gaming industries.”

SuperSport Renews Media Rights Agreement With LaLiga

SuperSport has renewed its media rights agreement with LaLiga, extending a partnership that has been central to SuperSport being the home of football on the African continent.

The multi-year agreement, for rights throughout sub-Saharan Africa (in all languages other than Arabic and French) will form an important part of SuperSport’s content strategy that will see LaLiga’s dedicated 24/7 English-language channel, LaLigaTV, made available to DStv subscribers.

“We’re delighted to have finalised a new deal as football is one of our popular broadcast pillars,” said Gideon Khobane, chief executive of SuperSport. “LaLiga is a fantastic product and our viewers enjoy the excitement on show from week to week.”

“SuperSport has been a strong partner for LaLiga in Africa for many years and our fanbase across the continent has grown significantly during this time,” said Melcior Soler, director of the LaLiga audiovisual department. “We look forward to further years of success together.”

Gulf Oil International Partners With McLaren For Multi-Year Partnership

McLaren and Gulf Oil International Ltd have today announced a multi-year strategic partnership which will see Gulf, one of the most iconic brands in the world, partner with world-famous race team McLaren Racing and luxury supercar company McLaren Automotive.

The partnership reunites two renowned brands that have a long-standing and successful history together and symbolises a united ambition to use both brands’ innovation and class-leading capabilities to refine a winning formula, both on the track and on the road.

Gulf’s link with McLaren started in 1968 and continued until the end of the 1973 season, with Gulf and McLaren enjoying success in both Formula 1 and the Can-Am series, in which the partnership won over 40 races. The partnership was then renewed at the Le Mans 24 Hours in the 1990’s, with the famous McLaren F1 GTR running in Gulf colours throughout the decade.

Mike Jones, CEO, Gulf Oil said:

“This is a very exciting partnership that brings the Gulf brand back into elite motor racing. The history books are full of remarkable tales that tell of what Gulf and McLaren have achieved in the past. Now we are together once more to write the next chapter of this unique partnership.

“We’re proud to be working alongside a brand that shares our future aspirations and our ambition for innovation both on the road and on the track. We look forward to working together and developing both Gulf and McLaren’s class-leading capabilities further.”

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing said: 

“We’re delighted to welcome Gulf back to McLaren and reunite two iconic brands back together in a new and exciting partnership. Gulf is part of McLaren’s history and are well-known for their innovation and technical excellence in the industry, with which aligns with McLaren perfectly. We are looking forward to starting our partnership together this season.”

Mike Flewitt, CEO, McLaren Automotive said: 

“It’s great to be able to welcome back Gulf after a long historical association which has seen the name adorn many McLaren road cars and race cars over the years. McLaren has a rich history of working with class-leading partners and we’re delighted to continue this trend via our renewed partnership with Gulf. Like McLaren, the Gulf name is synonymous around the world with technical excellence and innovation and the excitement of going racing and motoring.

“Every supercar will have Gulf fuel and lubricants when it leaves the McLaren Production Centre and I know our customers will be thrilled to be able to work with our in-house bespoke team on the option of being one of the few to be able to personalise their McLaren supercar in the iconic Gulf livery.”

AC Milan And Emirates Renew Partnership Until End Of 2022/23 Season

AC Milan is delighted to announce the renewal of its sponsorship agreement with world-class airline Emirates until the end of the 2022/23 season. The Emirates logo will remain on the front of shirts for the senior men’s team, youth teams and for the Rossoneri Academy, which has been the case for the previous 10 years.

The AC Milan and Emirates partnership brings together two leading brands with global ambitions, underpinned by shared values that include excellence, innovation, elegance and style.

The announcement of the extension is the latest milestone in a long-standing and successful relationship between the Rossoneri and the Dubai-based airline. At the end of this three-year term, the total duration of the partnership will have reached 17 years. 

Emirates first became a partner of AC Milan in 2007 and in the 2010/11 season the global airline took its place on the front of the club’s shirt, bringing the brand to prominence in the hearts and minds of millions of football fans all over the world. 

Emirates continues as a Principal Partner, the Principal senior men’s team shirt sponsor and Official Airline Partner of AC Milan. The new deal provides AC Milan with the opportunity to welcome new Principle Partners to the club’s growing partnership family, with space on the club’s first team shirt sleeve, training kit and women’s team shirts available independently for the first time.

Casper Stylsvig, Chief Revenue Officer, AC Milan, said: “We are thrilled to announce a 3-year extension to our relationship with Emirates, one that has truly stood the test of time. This renewal is a testament to the value both parties have brought to the table throughout this long term and collaborative partnership. The partnership of these two brands, with such strong international visibility, is an extremely powerful one.

We are delighted to support Emirates in showcasing the excellence and quality of their experience all over the world. Coming out of a global pandemic, our new deal with Emirates has also allowed the club to redefine its partnership strategy, providing an increased sponsorship inventory and therefore greater potential for further commercial partners moving forwards.”

Flavio Ghiringhelli, Italy County Manager, Emirates, added: “AC Milan has been a great partner for Emirates. With them, we have found a like-minded brand with the same drive and vision for delivering quality experiences, and bringing the world together to celebrate a shared passion. We are delighted to renew our partnership, which demonstrates our long-term commitment to the club, and to fans of the sport in Italy and globally.”

Vodafone Named Lead Partner For British & Irish Lions 2021 Tour Of South Africa

Vodafone is today revealed as Lead Partner of the British & Irish Lions for the 2021 Tour of South Africa. The two brands are united by a shared passion and commitment to connect people to each other and the things they love – in this case, the highly anticipated Lions Tour against the World Champions.

Like no other team in the world of sport, the Lions have a unique ability to unite fans from across the UK & Ireland behind one iconic squad. The power of Vodafone’s network, now more than ever, unites and unlocks potential in us all, making the sponsorship the perfect pairing, bringing the UK and Ireland’s best mobile data network together with the best of the best in rugby.

Lucky Vodafone customers will also be eligible to enter competitions to win much-coveted tour tickets and merchandise giveaways through Vodafone’s VeryMe loyalty programme.

As Lead Partner, Vodafone’s logo will be displayed on the front of the Lions’ jersey, making Vodafone an integral part of the ‘Sea of Red’ that will sweep every ground and city it travels to. The sponsorship also includes the provision of communications equipment to keep everyone involved in the Tour connected and technical support for training and player performance.

Whether fans are enjoying the Tour at home or away, thanks to Vodafone and the Lions, they will be able to immerse themselves in the action through a dedicated app, interactive games, and plenty of exclusive content. Vodafone will be creating innovative fan experiences through experiential activations both at home and in South Africa.

Max Taylor, Commercial Director, Vodafone said: “Nothing in sport unites us quite like the Lions. The team bonds nations that normally compete, unites families and friends and brings generations closer together.

“At a time when connection, unity and community are more important than ever, the Lions 2021 Tour gives us a great opportunity to bring people together in a way that no other sporting event can. The build up to this incredible touring event starts now. It’s time to unite the pride.”

Ben Calveley, Managing Director of the British & Irish Lions, added: “Today’s announcement represents two iconic brands coming together.  Along with supporting Warren and the team, Vodafone will also help to enhance the experience of Lions supporters through the very best technology and innovation.

“The fans are a crucial aspect of any Lions tour and we will need to ensure they feel part of the team, to ignite their incredible support, if we are to overcome the World Champions.

“In Vodafone we have found a partner who shares our passion for connectivity, and we are delighted to have them on board to enhance the experience of the Lions fans across the world.”

Extreme E Confirms Broadcast And Streaming Partnership With Discovery

Extreme E, the innovative electric off-road motor racing series, and Discovery have agreed one of the championship’s most expansive broadcast and streaming partnerships that will see millions of motorsport fans offered the best live and on-demand race coverage across Europe and North America.

The three-year agreement will see Extreme E screened in over 50 European markets on Eurosport, Discovery’s leading multi-sport brand, and in North America via MotorTrend, the number one network for automotive superfans and the only subscription streaming service dedicated entirely to the motoring world. World-class coverage of Extreme E on Eurosport and MotorTrend will feature an exciting range of programming including live race action, highlights shows and on-demand access so viewers can watch wherever and whenever they choose, all delivered in local languages by the best motorsport experts.

Extreme E kick-starts in early 2021 and features five races in the most challenging and remote locations including arctic, desert, rainforest, glacier, and coastal, all of which have been negatively impacted by climate change and human influences. The unique series aims to raise awareness of these issues through world-class, sustainable motorsport action that inspires viewers to consider their own environments impact.

Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer at Extreme E, said: “It is fantastic news that Discovery has joined our expanding list of broadcast partners. With its extensive portfolio of channels and direct-to-consumer platforms around dedicated passion verticals, Discovery’s brands are visible all over the world and will be instrumental in bringing Extreme E to a truly global audience.

“We are working really hard to have everything in place for Season 1 and deliver a truly engaging range of programmes, not only from a race perspective but also to highlight our three key pillars: environment, equality and electrification.

“As a sport for purpose, our broadcast partners are vital in helping deliver a message focussing on sustainability, green technology and innovation, bridging the gap between research and development, racing and road. This not only excites fans on the capabilities of electric vehicles, but also challenges some of the best female and male drivers on some of the most extreme environments in the world.

“Extreme E is a future facing broadcast product incorporating virtual reality, augmented reality, 3D, unique data overlays, new camera angles, gamification, fan voting and drone racers filming the action. Gaming meeting reality in the most extreme corners of the earth!”

Trojan Paillot, VP Rights Acquisitions at Eurosport, said: “By partnering with Extreme E, we are harnessing our global portfolio of brands, channels and products across the wider Discovery network to scale a unique and invigorating event to viewers across the world.

“We have a rich history of showcasing the world’s most exciting and sustainable motorsport events including Formula E and Eurosport Events operated PURE ETCR, the world’s first all-electric touring car championship. By building on this knowledge and expertise, we are confident we can bring Extreme E to millions of screens and build passionate communities of fans in key markets around the world.”

The agreement with Eurosport is the latest broadcast partnership to be announced by Extreme E, with the championship also set to partner with BBC (UK), FOX Sports (United States, Canada and the Caribbean), FOX Sports Asia (Southeast Asia), FOX Sports Australia, Mediaset (Italy), Sony India (Indian subcontinent), TVNZ (New Zealand), RTM (Malaysia), Dubai Sports (Middle East), RDS (Canada), China Sports Zhibo.tv (China), RTL 7 (The Netherlands), ORF (Austria), RTS (Senegal) and BTRC (Belarus).

FC Cincinatti Display New Stadium To Supporters Via Virtualisation Technology

Major League Soccer is in the midst of an unstoppable expansion, gathering more and more American supporters and attracting the attention of international spectators, with the latest new franchise, Charlotte FC, confirmed this week.

One of the newest franchises to enter MLS is FC Cincinnati, who entered their debut season in the league in 2019. Upon the approval of the team’s incorporation, ambitious plans were drawn up for the construction of a top MLS stadium. West End Stadium is to be the new home of FC Cincinnati, with a capacity of over 25,500 fans, and a modern and welcoming design. 

Although the opening is scheduled for 2021, it is already possible to see what the final look of the stadium will be like thanks to its 3D representation. The 3D Digital Venue team has been responsible for the virtualisation of West End Stadium, with the goal of providing fans with an accurate view of their new home as well as to start organising the technical aspects of the transition to the new venue.

This is possible thanks to the technology provided by 3DDV, which allows for an accurate interpretation of all aspects of the venue, such as seat positions, colors, textures and materials. The result is a 3D model in the form of a widget that is integrated into the teams ticketing platform, SeatGeek, making the season ticket buying process both visually appealing and simple for all FC Cincinnati fans in their first season at the new stadium. 

In addition, all the VIP spaces have been virtualised to offer future guests a true representation of the premium area amenities. Customers interested in this type of product will be able to see the exact suite or club they are interested in, as well as its decoration and view perspective of the pitch.  

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NEW STADIUM VIRTUALISED HERE

3D Digital Venue  is a technology solutions company that creates 2D and 3D images of stadiums, arenas and other types of live event spaces, offering ticket buyers the opportunity to view the venue, and their view of the performance area, during and after the ticket buying process.

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, 3DDV’s technology currently integrates with over 35 different ticketing platforms in 20 countries, virtualising some of the most iconic venues in the world, including Staples Center in LA, Wembley Stadium in London and Stadio Olimpico in Rome. 3D Digital Venue has been successfully building best in class 360-degree 2D and 3D interactive solutions that excel in delivering greater fan satisfaction, increasing season ticket holder renewal rates and providing special viewing for prospective VIP buyers.

Case Study: “Golf Is Undergoing Something Of A Transformation In Terms Of Broadcasting.”

Tata Communications look at the broadcasting success of their work with the European Tour and the technology behind it with the help of Michael Cole, the European Tour’s Chief Technology Officer.

Michael Cole, Chief Technology Officer Of The PGA European Tour: “Golf is undergoing something of a transformation in terms of broadcasting. The wider perception is that it’s old-fashioned, and fixed in traditional media. But, unlike many other global sports organisations, we are actually in the unique position of having seen our audience increase in recent times.

Now this could be down to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games – it helped golf connect with new audiences who had never watched before. We’re talking more than three billion people worldwide. The knock-on effect is huge. But, also a large part of this can also be attributed to the European Tour’s desire to lead the transformation of the sport by putting content at the centre of our operations.”