Two Weeks To Go: BT Sport, Sportradar And Formula 1 To Speak At Broadcast Masterclass

We are thrilled to reveal three more speakers for our upcoming iSportconnect Broadcast Masterclass on Thursday the 19th of March.

Matt Stagg, Director of Mobile Strategy, BT Sport, Patrick Mostboeck, Commercial Director – OTT, of Sportradar, and Frank Arthofer, Global Head, Digital Media and Licensing, Formula 1.

iSportconnect’s Broadcast Masterclass is taking place at the Chelsea Harbour Hotel in London and will explore a number of different sectors in the broadcasting space, including topics like 5G and direct to consumer models.

Lindsey Clay, CEO of Thinkbox, Luis Vicente, Chief Executive Officer at ELEVEN SPORTS, and Johan Cederqvist, Head of Sports Channels and Sports Rights Acquisitions at Swedish company TV4 Media will be taking part in the event.

We will also hear from Paul Stimpson, EVP of Rights at DAZN and Alistair Gosling, Founder and CEO of Extreme.

Matt Stagg

Matt has over 25 years’ experience in mobile media and entertainment and Sport. He was voted in the top 50 most influential people in online TV for four years and in 2017 he was awarded the TV Connect People’s Choice award for the ‘Person who made the biggest impact on the connected entertainment industry’.

Within BT Sport he is responsible for developing the broadcaster’s mobile capabilities and long-term mobile strategy recently leading the team that delivered the award-winning worlds 1st remotely produced live sporting over 5G. He is also currently developing the strategy and roadmap for Augmented and Mixed Reality

As part of the wider BT Group Matt is also developing the technology strategy for the Broadcast, Media & Entertainment over 4/5G. This encompasses an end to end approach incorporating both contribution and distribution of media. He is also a member of UK5G Advisory Board representing Sport and the the Creative Industries. UK5G is the national innovation network dedicated to the promotion of research, collaboration and the commercial application of 5G in the UK

Patrick Mostboeck

In his role as a Commercial Director OTT Patrick overseas Sportradar’s global end-to-end technology and business approach to support sports rights holders and content owners with their direct-to-consumer offering. Clients include enterprise customers such as Deutsche Telekom, Tennis channel or Onefootball as well as Federations, Leagues & Promoters such as International Table Tennis Federation or International Tennis Federation.

Patrick joined Sportradar in 2014 including prior Sportsman Media time that has been acquired by Sportradar in 2016 with the aim to grow it’s audiovisual and sports media footprint. Prior to that, Patrick was part of a four-headed founding team to create Austria’s leading platform for grassroots football. Achievements include expansion from Austria to Germany as well as opening up additional business verticals to the editorial content platform such as an online store, a magazine distributed via a regional network of media partners as well as an indoor soccer tournament with more than 2,000 active participants. Patrick holds university degrees in marketing & sales and media & communications consulting.

Frank Arthofer

Frank is the GM of F1 Digital and Licensing, his responsibilities include leading product, content and business development for all owned and partnered digital properties. He also leads Formula 1 licensing business, leading growth through strategic partnerships with the likes of YouTube, Facebook, Amazon and others.

Prior to F1, Frank Arthofer was a Principal in the Tech, Media and Telcom Practice at Boston Consulting Group in LA, and previously Sr. Director of Business Development for Disney / ESPN / ABC.  Some of his experience includes developing the initial business plan for ESPN’s 30 for 30 series, developing a growth strategy for DreamWorks TV unit and launching the redesign and new business plan for YouTube Red.

To register your interest in attending the 2020 iSportconnect Broadcast Masterclass, please contact Theresa Muller at theresa@isportconnect.com

Invitation Policy: The Broadcast Masterclass is a complimentary event for iSportconnect members who are from governing bodies, sports teams, brands and broadcasters. There is no fee to become an iSportconnect member. No sports agencies, professional service providers & suppliers are allowed at our Masterclasses.

For limited partnership opportunities, please contact brandon@isportconnect.com

Major League Soccer And Facebook Partner To Bring Game Recaps To Facebook Watch

Major League Soccer has announced a partnership with Facebook to create robust recaps of all matches during the 2020 season for Facebook Watch. In addition, MLS will host a weekly Watch Party on Facebook, enabling fans around the world to connect while viewing game recaps and videos together in real-time, and create official Facebook Groups for select teams across the league.

“Facebook’s innovative Watch Party experience is the perfect place for Major League Soccer fans around the world to exchange views and share their passion for our clubs and players,” said Chris Schlosser, MLS Senior Vice President, Media.  “We’re proud to collaborate with Facebook to deliver exciting game recaps and engage globally with MLS fans.”

Fans will be able to stay up to date with the latest highlights by following the MLS Facebook Page at facebook.com/MLS. Between league, team and player accounts on the platform, the MLS Facebook community exceeds more than 30 million people. The agreement will also bring archival clips, featuring top moments in MLS history, and player-centric highlights to Facebook Watch.

“Major League Soccer is one of the fastest growing leagues in the U.S., and we’re excited to help it continue to reach new fans through this partnership,” said Rob Shaw, Facebook Director of League and Media Sports Partnerships. “This content will bring people together to celebrate wins, commiserate over losses and share the top plays with their friends, making it a fantastic fit for Facebook Watch.”

Fans will be able to access MLS content on Facebook via Facebook Watch on mobile apps across Apple and Android, on desktop, laptop and on a variety of TV apps.

Sportradar Opens Legal Proceedings Against Betgenius and FDC

Sportradar has revealed they are serving legal proceedings against two companies, Betgenius and Football DataCo.

Football DataCo are the Premier League’s data company, who are partnered with Genius Sports to provide the Premier League’s betting data. Sportradar argue this deal is removing competition and in breach of UK law.

Sportradar stated:

“This legal action is embarked upon with reluctance and Sportradar has not taken the decision lightly. Sportradar had hoped to find a fair solution that enables it to build its own database and to compete effectively in the market, but that has not proved possible.

Sportradar remains open to the possibility of finding a resolution. However, ultimately, Sportradar supports a competitive marketplace in which there is genuine choice between suppliers. This competition is vital for innovation, genuine product choice and fair pricing and we believe these elements are worth protecting. The step Sportradar has taken is focused on that outcome.

Sportradar is, and has always been, willing to pay for access, and to be part of an integrated, accredited, and fair system of collection and distribution which enables competition. Sportradar believes that the system put in place by Betgenius and FDC does not allow for this outcome; and that the current arrangements are in breach of UK and EU Competition Law.

This status is not only harmful to data supply companies like Sportradar, but also to the downstream market (bookmakers and their customers) where product choice is being restricted or removed in favour of an information monopoly. This is why Sportradar has now sought adjudication by an independent specialist tribunal in the hope that matters can be resolved fairly and equitably.”

Volvo Car UK Renews Its Sponsorship Of British Triathlon

Volvo Car UK is pleased to announce it is to continue as the Official Vehicle Partner of British Triathlon for a further three years. The decision follows a successful first year in its association with the sport’s National Governing Body in 2019.

Once again, Volvo cars will support a busy calendar of major triathlon events around the country, including the annual season-launching Triathlon Show at London’s ExCeL exhibition centre (27-29 March). Its vehicles will also be used by British Triathlon coaches and officials in their work throughout the year.

Key dates for 2020 include the AJ Bell World Triathlon Leeds (6-7 June), part of the ITU World Series where the world’s best triathletes will be in action. The calendar will also feature the highly popular Accenture Mixed Relay Triathlon event at Canary Wharf in London.

The partnership between Volvo and British Triathlon is founded on their shared core values, including respect and care for the environment, sustainability and a sense of adventure. Both also share a focus on people, helping them to enjoy active lifestyles and explore new opportunities.

These messages have been amplified by the work of the first two triathletes to be appointed Volvo brand ambassadors: multiple World and European Championship winner and Rio 2016 Paralympic silver medallist Lauren Steadman, and John McAvoy, an ex-career criminal turned full-time professional athlete.

Lauren and John are to be joined by further star names from the world of triathlon; details will be announced soon.

Kristian Elvefors, Managing Director, Volvo Car UK, said: “We have enjoyed an excellent first year supporting British Triathlon, helping us connect with thousands of people who enjoy the challenge and excitement of the sport – both as competitors at all levels and as spectators. In our second year of sponsorship we look forward to growing our relationship and reinforcing the messages around our shared values, helped by the excellent work of our sporting brand ambassadors.”

 Andy Salmon, British Triathlon CEO, said: “We are delighted that our partnership with Volvo is set to continue. It has been great to work alongside a company that shares our core values and I know as the sport moves forwards we will continue to grow together. Volvo not only has a passion for promoting active lifestyles, but also has safety, quality and care for the environment at its heart, which resonates with our membership and audience. I am looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together in the future.”

Coronavirus Advice On FAQs From ATPI

How has the ATPI Group been impacted by Coronavirus and what measures have you put in place to manage it?

  • As a global travel company ATPI is committed to the health and safety of our clients and staff. We are closely monitoring the situation via both the World Health Organisation and local government and health authorities.
  • As part of our commitment to delivering a comprehensive service clients can, via their account manager, sign up to receive ATPI Alerts™ , providing live updates on the current status of Coronavirus to ensure the information they have is accurate.
  • We continue to offer clients robust duty of care support to ensure traveller safety remains a priority.

What advice are you offering to clients who are concerned about the risks presented by travelling? 

  • We are committed to the health and safety of our clients and staff.
  • We are closely monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and are aware that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued advice for those affected or who might be affected. In all instances we advise clients to refer to the WHO and their local government websites for the latest advice and status on the situation.
  • For the latest updates on the situation clients can opt to sign up to ATPI Alerts™  via their account manager.

If I need to contact ATPI to make urgent changes or cancel my reservation due to the evolving COVID-19 situation, what do I do?

  • Call your company’s ATPI operations team by using the number shown at the top of your itinerary.
  • You can find your most local ATPI office here.

What do I do if I begin to feel unwell or show symptoms of COVID-19 whilst travelling?

  • It has been suggested by the WHO that those who feel unwell and suspect COVID-19 as a cause should self-isolate as much as possible.
  • Check authorities such as the WHO and local governing bodies for official recommendations and guidelines
  • If you feel unwell prior to travel then it is advisable that you do not go ahead with your trip. If you need to change your travel plans as a result of this then please call your ATPI servicing team. You can find the contact details of your local ATPI office here.

Will my travel be refunded?

  • This will depend on a number of factors and can change at any time.
    • If the airline has cancelled your flight(s), then they will refund you.
    • If your company has advised you not to travel, and you cancel your travel, please inform ATPI as quickly as possible in order to avoid no-show charges by the airline. In general, the rules of the ticket issued will apply. ATPI will inform you if your ticket is refundable, non-refundable, or has cancellation charges associated.
    • Some airlines are allowing travellers to re-book or cancel flights free of charge due to COVID-19, but this is a constant changing picture.
    • Please ensure you sign up to ATPI Alerts™  via your account manager for the latest updates on all airlines and measures they are taking.

How can I decide if it is safe to travel?

  • Follow communications your company is issuing regarding this topic and associated travel policy amendments. Furthermore, there is a wealth of information available, and we suggest you refer to any of the following:

I’m a travel booker, how can I check where all my travellers are currently, and what future travel they have planned?

  • Talk to the person in charge of travel for your company about what the process is for tracking travellers. ATPI also offer a range of duty of care services, including the ATPI Traveller Tracking System™ (TTS), for a fee, which allows you to run reports for any given date range on who is currently travelling to certain destinations, as well as where people are planning to travel. Get in touch with your ATPI account manager for more information.

Sky Sports Appreciates ‘Responsibility’ As It Targets Greater Female Audience In 2020

Sky Sports is to target a larger female audience as it targets expanding its existing coverage and strengthening its digital output in relation to women’s sport.

In recent years women’s sport has been on a huge rise in the UK, following events such as the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup and 2019 Netball World Cup hosted in England, as well as women’s football gaining a huge boost from the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“Sky Sports has been a long-standing partner and champion of women’s sport and this is a natural next step to ensure that brand new audiences are able to connect with the drama and excitement created by the players and teams,” said Rob Webster, Managing Director of Sky Sports.

“Sky Sports News will continue to be at the heart of this pledge and will ensure consistent 24-hour editorial coverage of women’s sport across both linear and digital platforms. The evolution will mean no longer grouping women’s sport collectively in a standalone programme each week, but instead ensuring it is represented across our output in our rolling 24-hour coverage.

“We appreciate the responsibility we have, we know the platforms we own help sports grow and prosper, this is an important step in the right direction for our all-round coverage of women’s sport.”

Georgina Faulkner, Head of Multisport, said: “Sky Sports is investing in a 360 approach to covering women’s sport. The live streaming will bring fans closer to the action, the 24/7 rolling Sky Sports News coverage will keep fans constantly updated and our world-class digital production and storytelling will peel back the layers of women’s sport like never-before. This digital-led initiative will bring more sporting stories to new audiences with the ambition of creating long-term connections for both existing and future generations.”

Over decades of committing to high quality coverage, Sky Sports has seen women’s sport reach more fans than ever before, with sporting icons such as Katie Taylor and Fallon Sherrock bringing in big audiences in recent times.

24 years since first broadcasting women’s cricket back in June 1996, more than 1.8 million people watched the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup final. Sky Sports was also the first broadcaster to show netball in 2004, over the following 16 years popularity has visibly increased as viewing figures saw 550k people tune in to watch as England’s Vitality Roses were beaten in a thrilling Netball World Cup semi-final last year.

Now, even more of this incredible live women’s sport will be accessible on Sky Sports YouTube channel, enabling new audiences to watch and engage with some of the world’s best female athletes.  This is supported by a full schedule of live coverage across Sky Sports channels, including Main Event, Action, Arena, cricket, golf and Sky Sports Mix which will show a number of key events this year.

So far in 2020, Sky Sports has live-streamed the Netball Superleague with plenty more to come including, women’s cricket, women’s major golf tournaments, WNBA and the Women’s Six Nations, which is set to reach an exciting climax on 15 March.

A new ‘Extraordinary Women’ series, ‘Training with MMA Star Leah McCourt’ and behind the scenes with Lucy Bronze ‘My Life in Lyon’ are just a few exciting pieces to look out for in 2020.

Formula 1 And 188BET Unveil First Ever Betting Partnership

Formula 1 has officially unveiled 188BET as its first ever Betting Partner. 188BET have been named as ‘Official Asian Sponsor of Formula 1’ with a five-season agreement in a deal brokered with Interregional Sports Group (ISG) that will see 188BET featured exclusively throughout the Asian broadcast market for each Formula 1 season until 2024.

This ground-breaking agreement is the first of its kind in Formula 1 history.

At a special launch day at the home of British Motor Racing, Silverstone Circuit, Formula 1 and 188BET officially signed their agreement, with under two weeks to go until the F1 2020 season-opening race in Melbourne, Australia. Formula 1 Managing Director of Motor Sports, Ross Brawn, 188BET Representatives Tom Earl and Eugenia Jones and ISG’s Chris Buckley were joined by former F1 driver Paul Di Resta to present the deal to the world’s media.

Formula 1 Managing Director of Motor Sport, Ross Brawn, said: “We are really excited to start our new partnership with 188BET and working with them as our official Asian betting partner for the next five years. Their expertise in this space will ensure Formula 1 and sports fans can have access the most comprehensive pre and live race information available and enhance their betting experience.”

188BET Representative Tom Earl added: “I’m delighted to announce 188BET’s partnership with Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport, to become the first ever official Formula 1 Betting Partner. As Official Asian Sponsor of Formula 1, our new partnership will allow the 188BET brand to reach a growing F1 fan base in Asia.”

ISG’s Chris Buckley said: “We’re delighted to have 188BET as the first ever betting partner of Formula 1. ISG is the world leader in using virtual advertising technologies to help brands target specific audiences through televised sport. We have always believed that Formula 1, with its global fan base, is perfect for this approach and have worked hard with F1 to make this possible. We are confident that 188BET will be delighted with the impact this partnership will have.”

In addition to Ross Brawn, leading figures from F1 attended the official unveiling of Formula 1’s new Official Asian Sponsor, where former Force India and Williams F1 driver Paul Di Resta drove special guests around the Silverstone Circuit in a specially-branded 188BET liveried two-seater F1 car.

188BET Asia Brand Ambassador, Peter Schmeichel, said: “As the Asia Ambassador of 188BET, I am excited for the brand’s foray into motorsports as F1’s first ever betting partner for Asia, and looking forward to see the partnership grow the sport in the coming years.”

Virtual trackside advertising will see 188BET featured exclusively throughout the Asian broadcast market until the end of the 2024 F1 Season. The deal will also see Formula 1 and 188BET co-ordinate on various marketing opportunities across social and digital channels. Significant marketing activation across Asian races in 2020 will bring the partnership to life.

The Hundred To Feature Equal Prize Money For Men’s And Women’s Winning Teams

​The Hundred has announced that it will offer women and men equal prize money for the inaugural competition this summer.

This announcement will make The Hundred one of the first major cricket events to offer equal prize money for the two competing genders, taking another step forward in terms of gender equality within the sport.

The total prize budget of £600,000 will be split 50/50 between the men’s and women’s competitions and is a step towards the ECB’s long-term commitment to making cricket a gender-balanced sport.

The Hundred is an action-packed, unmissable new 100 ball cricket competition that will put you on the edge of your seat. Taking place in the summer holidays, the competition aims to attract a broader, more diverse audience to grow the game.

Featuring world-class players and homegrown talent, the eight brand new city-based women’s and men’s teams will compete over five weeks each year (17 July – 15 Aug 2020), with both competitions running side-by-side.

Beth Barrett-Wild, head of The Hundred women’s competition said: “We’re really proud of our movement towards making cricket a gender-balanced sport and whilst we’re aware there is more to do in this space, this is an important step in the right direction. It’s recognition for the women’s players and the huge value they bring to The Hundred.

“The ECB is committed to transforming women’s and girls’ cricket, from inspiring young girls to pick up a bat for the first time, through to establishing the women’s game as a professional career option. This announcement today represents one signal of intent towards that commitment.”

Heather Knight, captain of London Spirit women’s team adds: “This is a great announcement for women’s sport. Women’s professional cricket is on an exciting journey and whilst there is still a way to go to realise gender parity, this move from The Hundred is a significant step in the right direction. We’re all really excited about playing in the new competition and hopefully inspiring more young girls and boys to pick up a bat and ball.”

Major League Baseball Selects Google Cloud As New Data And Analytics Partner

Google and Major League Baseball (MLB) today announced a powerful multi-year collaboration to upgrade MLB’s business processes and  support next-level experiences that inspire fans around the world.

Google Cloud will become MLB’s Official Cloud and Cloud Data and Analytics partner, with MLB’s business operations, including Statcast—the automated tool for analyzing player movements and abilities—now running on Google Cloud. Additionally, for a third season in a row, MLB will use Google Ad Manager and its Dynamic Ad Insertion feature to power its ads business.

“Every season we work to apply emerging technology to engage and support our fans, clubs and broadcasters in new and exciting ways,” said Jason Gaedtke, MLB’s Chief Technology Officer. “MLB has enjoyed a strong partnership with Google based on Google Ad Manager’s live ad delivery with MLB.tv as well as YouTube’s strong fan engagement during exclusive live games. We are excited to strengthen this partnership by consolidating MLB infrastructure on Google Cloud and incorporating Google’s world-class machine learning technology to provide personalized and immersive fan experiences. We couldn’t have picked a better technology partner across ad delivery, streaming, cloud computing and machine learning.”

MLB will migrate its cloud and on-premise systems to Google Cloud and leverage Google’s industry-leading machine learning, analytics, application management, and data/video storage  capabilities to increase reliability and manage governance at scale. Google will also become the underlying data analytics technology of Statcast, MLB’s state-of-the-art tracking technology that has become indispensable for players, coaches, umpires, broadcasters and fans alike. Google will collaborate closely with MLB to bring the next evolution of Statcast, as well as a number of new technological innovations, to life.

“MLB, which has led the sporting world in the use of data since the early 1990s, has shown the sports industry and sporting fans globally what’s possible when you combine data with human performance,” said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud. “We’re looking forward to working with MLB to usher in a new era of innovation in sport, and together we can have a substantial impact on the game, giving the next generation of fans a different way to experience America’s favorite pastime.”

MLB’s migration to Google Cloud has already resulted in an exponential improvement in analytics and decision making, enabling MLB to provide teams with a unified data plane to enable accelerated decision making. MLB and the teams will maximize the value of Google Cloud capabilities in machine learning, network, and analytics for the development of the fan experience today and beyond.

The Google Ad Manager platform also continues to help MLB grow its media business by delivering ads seamlessly across screens wherever viewers are watching, whether that’s on mobile, desktop, or connected TV devices. Additionally Ad Manager’s integration with Google Cloud BigQuery enables the organization to better analyze its advertising data.

NENT Take Exclusive Formula 1 Rights To Formula 1 From 2022 To 2024

Nordic Entertainment Group, the Nordic region’s leading streaming company, has acquired the exclusive pan-Nordic media rights to Formula 1 from 2022 to 2024.

For the first time, NENT Group’s Viaplay streaming service will be the home of Formula 1 in Finland, where stars such as Kimi Räikkönen rank among the country’s most famous sportspeople and Formula 1 attracts huge and passionate audiences. Viaplay will also be the home of Formula 1 in Iceland, where the service will launch in the coming months. Viaplay will continue to offer every practice session, qualifier and race from the world’s most popular motorsport competition to fans in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, where NENT Group already holds exclusive rights to Formula 1 up to and including the 2021 season. The current offering and new agreement include coverage of Formula 2, Formula 3 and the Porsche Supercup series.

Finland is the world’s most successful Formula 1 nation per capita, with three drivers – Kimi Räikkönen (2007), Mika Häkkinen (1999 and 1998) and Keke Rosberg (1982) – capturing the World Drivers’ Championship, and two more (Heikki Kovalainen and the new Mercedes phenomenon Valtteri Bottas) winning races.

In addition to Formula 1’s massive popularity in Finland, the sport enjoys a dedicated and broad following across the Nordic region. The upcoming season, which kicks into gear on 15 March at the Australian Grand Prix and spans 22 races on four continents, will feature Danish driver Kevin Magnussen along with superstars such as Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen and six-time champion Lewis Hamilton.

NENT Group’s Formula 1 coverage will include expert studio analysis and extensive local language commentary. As well as Viaplay, every race will be shown live on NENT Group’s Viasat pay-TV channels, with highlights on the company’s free-TV channels. NENT Group and Formula 1 will also offer an additional streaming service for the most dedicated Formula 1 fans.

NENT Group offers coverage of the very best motorsport on both two and four wheels, including Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR, MotoGP and speedway.

Anders Jensen, NENT Group President and CEO: “This is the first time that Formula 1 will be shown on the same platform in every Nordic country. Once again, we are announcing a pioneering agreement that underlines our position as the region’s leading streaming company. In a short time, NENT Group has secured the pan-Nordic rights to Formula 1, Premier League (excluding Iceland), FIS winter sports, the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, Bundesliga and much more. Our coverage of Formula 1’s high-octane thrills will set new standards, and Viaplay is unquestionably in pole position as the home of unique sports experiences.”

Ian Holmes, Formula 1 Director of Media Rights: “We are very pleased to announce our new three season deal with NENT Group, which will provide pan-Nordic media rights to Formula 1 and our support races from 2022. NENT Group has been a long-term partner of Formula 1 in the Nordic region, and its position as a highly popular multi-platform TV broadcaster and streamer, and its addition of Finland and Iceland, will offer our fans in the region the best access to the F1 season and all the drama on track. Alongside this agreement, F1 TV Pro will be available throughout the region and we will be working closely with NENT Group in promoting its availability to ensure F1 fans have every opportunity to follow the season.”

NENT Group brings millions of fans closer to the sports they love – every shot, every goal, every touchdown, every putt, every punch, every lap, every time. NENT Group shows more than 50,000 hours of the world’s best live sporting action every year on its streaming services and TV channels, including NHL and KHL ice hockey, UEFA Champions League, Premier League, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 football, Formula 1, IndyCar, NFL American football, boxing, UFC, tennis, basketball, handball and golf.