PSG Team Up With CoinCasso And Launch Cryptocurrency On Socios.com

Paris Saint-Germain and cryptocurrency exchange platform CoinCasso have joined forces in a multi-year international partnership, with the virtual currency giant becoming an Official Partner of the Parisian club in all markets outside of France.

CoinCasso is a blockchain specialist and will now be in a position to capitalise on Paris Saint-Germain’s high profile in its key regions of Europe, Asia and the USA, where the company is hoping to establish itself as a benchmark platform.

Luke Ozimski from CoinCasso said: “The cryptocurrency exchange market is both young and innovative. We are delighted to be one of the first specialists to reach out to the general public and team up with one of the most popular football clubs in the world. Paris Saint-Germain is an innovator, having been one of the first to engage with blockchain players back in 2018. Together we share a leading position that will allow us to showcase the quality of our service around the world.”

Marc Armstrong, Chief Partnerships Officer of Paris Saint-Germain, commented: “We are delighted to welcome CoinCasso into the Paris Saint-Germain partner family. The club continually strives to be an innovation leader and we are monitoring the development of cryptocurrency very closely, along with its potential to further enhance the experience enjoyed by our supporters across the world. This partnership with CoinCasso, will allow Paris Saint-Germain to further strengthen its position in this market.”

PSG have also signed another cryptocurrency fan token today, to choose an inspirational captain’s armband using $PSG fan tokens.

Each $PSG Fan Token will be priced at around €2 depending on the exchange rate of Chiliz $CHZ, the digital currency of Socios.com, at the time of purchase. Once acquired, $PSG Fan Tokens cannot be spent and can be used to take part in all votes on the app.

Marc Armstrong, of Paris Saint-Germain, said: “This is a very meaningful moment in the Paris Saint-Germain x Socios.com partnership history. Thanks to the launch of PSG Fan Token, our fans will now be able to drive important and symbolic decisions for the Club. As of today, the Club reinforce its proximity with fans, which is one of our main values.”

Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO & Founder of Socios.com, said: “What better way to influence Thiago Silva and future leaders of the team, than with an inspirational message of support to go inside the captain’s armband.

“The message $PSG Fan Token holders choose in this vote will have the potential to inspire captain’s of Paris Saint-Germain for generations to come, creating a new legacy between the club and its fans. Building a stronger connection between the club and its fans is the raison d’etre of Socios.com. Thanks to $PSG Fan Tokens, supporters will be able to play a part in reshaping the identity of the club, while accessing some amazing rewards and experiences along the way.

“I look forward to the outcome of this first poll and hope it proves truly inspirational for Thiago and the future captains of Paris Saint-Germain.”

Infront Acquires Stake In AI Company Videocites

Infront has acquired a stake in Videocites, an AI-based video tracking and analytics company and will look to introduce the company’s technology and services to current and future rights partners. This includes content protection, media monitoring and content management.

The investment was led by Infront Lab, a new unit within the group which explores opportunities for intelligent solutions to challenges facing clients and partners in an agile and efficient manner.

Videocites’ unique fingerprinting technology uses visual properties within videos in order to immediately track all copies of live, on-demand and promotional content across all channels. This gives content owners deeper insight into consumer behaviour than traditional analytics, helping them to better understand their audience and influencers.

Moreover, the tool provides more detailed information on earned media value, a valuable indicator for sponsors to see the impact of their sponsorship. It also identifies pirate streams of on-demand and sports events, removing them immediately and substantially reducing the number of illegal broadcasts and lost views.

Christian Müller, Infront Senior Vice President People, Innovation & Corporate Services said: “Videocites’ technology can help gather intelligence for our partners whilst also protecting their content, solving two common issues currently facing the industry. This investment is a continuation of Infront Lab’s work with some of the world’s most exciting technology start-ups which has provided huge benefits to our clients.”

Eyal Arad, Videocites CEO said: “Videocites’ unique advantage comes from our Video-AI search engine that scales to any number of videos to track all copies immediately. It is immune to all existing video manipulations and is used to offer high-end content protection, true viewership and fan engagement metrics across numerous channels. The partnership with Infront Lab will allow us to introduce our technology and services to some of the world’s top sports properties, assuring rapid market penetration and significant growth.“

Connexi Turns The Lights On With Wigan Warriors And Utility Alliance Partnership

Utility Alliance and Wigan Warriors announce their partnership for the upcoming 2020 BETFRED Super League Season and the years to come.

The partnership will see Utility Alliance, one of the fastest-growing energy consultancies in the UK, positioned as the Club’s new Official Energy Partner.

This partnership will focus on improving energy efficiency in order to reduce usage and costs, Utility Alliance will be working very closely with the Club, its commercial network and local businesses to deliver mutually beneficial relationships which will add value to the whole community.

Kirstie Wallace, Corporate Relationship Manager at Utility Alliance, said: “We are delighted to be involved with Wigan Warriors ahead of what promises to be an exciting season.

“We have spent a lot of time working behind the scenes with the executive team at Wigan, and we look forward to building up a mutually beneficial relationship moving forward.

“Wigan Warriors are one of the most iconic brands in rugby league, and to be linked with the club as their official energy partner is something which gives everyone connected with Utility Alliance a great deal of pride.”

Dan Burton, Commercial Director for Wigan Warriors “Utility Alliance, have demonstrated their expertise throughout this process, both in the form of leading industry experts as well as their excellent customer service culture which has been second to none.

“We look forward to working with Utility Alliance and welcoming them to the Club, where they will add tremendous value to our existing commercial partners as well as the wider business and education communities.

“I would also like to thank Rory Stewart-Richardson and Connexi, who have been a valuable partner throughout this process. Connexi provides us with the opportunity to engage in qualified discussions with brands, where as an active member within their innovative marketplace, we have benefited greatly from their data driven approach.

“Our relationship with Connexi presents an engaged environment which produces both mutually beneficial, and commercially relevant, discussions.”

FOX Sports And Concacaf Agree Exclusive Three-Year US English Language Rights Deal

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football and major US network FOX Sports have penned an exclusive three-year English language rights agreement which begins this week with live coverage of the Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifiers.

The tournament – which kicks-off tomorrow – includes current FIFA Women’s World Champions USA, and fellow World Cup participants Canada and Jamaica, as they compete with Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Haiti and St Kitts & Nevis for the two regional spots at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Continuing the road to Tokyo 2020, Fox Sports will also broadcast live the Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifiers, taking place in Guadalajara, Mexico, in March.

This new multi-tournament agreement will see English language coverage of the Gold Cup – the region’s flagship men’s international competition – remain exclusively on Fox Sports for the next two competitions (2021 and 2023), continuing a hugely successful partnership that began in 2013.

FOX delivered first-class coverage of the 2019 Gold Cup last summer, including the Final between Mexico and USA which was FS1’s most watched non-World Cup game in the network’s history.

FOX Sports’ commitment to bringing Concacaf competitions to fans in the US also includes the next three editions of the region’s premier club competition: the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.

This elite club knock-out tournament is the only official competition that features competitive matches between the region’s best club sides, including from MLS and Liga MX. It is also the only route for clubs in the region to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup, the revamped format for which will include more clubs from this region, starting with the 2021 competition.

“FOX Sports is an excellent partner for Concacaf and we are extremely pleased they have invested in our rights across so many competitions, beginning with what should be an exciting Women’s Olympic Qualifiers,” said Concacaf President, Victor Montagliani. “They have an outstanding track record of delivering high-quality soccer coverage that reaches big audiences making this great news for fans, international teams across the region and clubs competing in our Champions League.”

“FOX Sports is excited to further its commitment to the sport of soccer through this new agreement with Concacaf,” said Mark Silverman, FOX Sports President, National Networks. “The U.S. Women’s National Team captivated a country with its World Cup victory last summer, and we’re honored to showcase this inspirational team once again as they begin their Olympic journey this week. Furthermore, we look forward to offering more men’s soccer, including the next two editions of the Gold Cup and the U.S. Men’s National Team Olympic Qualifiers.”

Sporting World Pays Tribute As Kobe Bryant And Daughter Gianna Die In Tragic Helicopter Crash

Legendary former NBA player Kobe Bryant has died following a helicopter crash in California on Sunday morning.

Bryant is regarded as one of the greatest NBA players of all time and is the league 4th highest point score ever.

He played all of his 20 seasons in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers and became a figurehead for the league not just in America but all over the world.

Bryant was an extreme competitor and the sadness of his death has been felt across the entire sporting world, with tributes taking over social media throughout Sunday and Monday. His daughter, Gianna, an up-and-coming young player who had aspirations of playing in the WNBA, was tragically also lost in the crash.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement saying: “The NBA family is devastated by the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna.

“For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning.  He was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game with accomplishments that are legendary:  five NBA championships, an NBA MVP award, 18 NBA All-Star selections, and two Olympic gold medals.  But he will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability.  He was generous with the wisdom he acquired and saw it as his mission to share it with future generations of players, taking special delight in passing down his love of the game to Gianna.

“We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Vanessa, and their family, the Lakers organization and the entire sports world.”

He is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and three remaining daughters.

 

Verizon Partners With Dignitas Esports For 5G Training Facility In Los Angeles

Verizon and Dignitas have joined forces to launch the nation’s first 5G esports training facility, the Verizon 5G Gaming Center. Located in Verizon’s 5G Lab in Los Angeles, the 5,522-square-foot training facility will serve as Dignitas’ west coast headquarters and home to its League of Legends teams. Dignitas’ 2019 World Championship-qualifying team will train exclusively at this facility and compete in the League Championship Series, which kicks off January 25th in Los Angeles.

By working together at the Verizon 5G Lab, Verizon and Dignitas will identify and develop ways that Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network can enhance player performance, improve recovery, and enable players to connect with fans in new innovative ways.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the largest ownership group in esports, and have our LA Lab be home to the nation’s first 5G esports training facility,” said Nicki Palmer, chief product development officer at Verizon. “With 5G’s fast speeds, high bandwidth and low latency, players will be able to do things like stream high-quality gameplay in real-time, stay connected with fans on-the-go, and experience console quality multi-player gaming on their phones.”

“Partnering with a world innovator like Verizon brings immense new opportunities,” said Michael Prindiville, CEO of Dignitas. “The technologies we are collaboratively building will help us strengthen support for our current and future partners far beyond today’s capabilities. We are honored to be Verizon’s trusted guide into esports and look forward to telling engaging stories through content, social media and experiences in ways esports has never seen before.”

World Golf Group Reveals Proposal For Competitor Tour, The Premier Golf League

Plans for a potential Premier Golf League have now been revealed by the company behind the creation, World Golf Group.

World Golf Group are aiming to start a new tour which would compete with both the PGA Tour and European Tour, with each tournament’s prize money exceeding $10 million.

However, they state that Premier Golf League would like to work with both tours in order to make this happen, while both current organisations have refused to engage with this possible competition.

The PGA Tour told Reuters: “We don’t comment on the business of other tours, real or hypothetical. We’re focused on our business.”

Premier Golf League said in a statement: “If you want the world to watch, you have to showcase your best product, week-in-week-out. Golf doesn’t do that currently.”

“If you had the chance to start again you wouldn’t create professional golf as it exists today. The League is that chance.

“We believe we’ll succeed because the League is what fans, sponsors and broadcasters want — and the best players deserve. It will revitalise the sport for this and future generations.”

Announcement: iSportconnect Esports Masterclass – BLAST Premier, Burton Kligerman Esports’ Owner Join Lineup

iSportconnect’s Esports Masterclass will be taking place on the 20th of February at Withersworldwide in London.

We are happy to announce our latest two speakers for the day’s events, Leo Matlock, Commercial Director for Blast Premier, and Parker Kligerman, professional NASCAR racing driver in the United States and owner of Burton Kligerman Esports.

They join current speakers Alban Dechelotte, Head of Sponsorships and Business Development at Riot Games, Charlie Allen, Director of Global Brand Partnerships for ESL and Julian Tan, Head of Digital Business Initiatives and Esports at Formula 1.

With a maximum of 150 invite-only delegates, iSportconnect provides a media/agency free opportunity to network with influential senior-level sports business executives. We are famous for our intimate and relaxed environment, encouraging ideas exchange and helping to introduce you to the right new connections.

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

Invitation Policy: The Esports 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

LaLigaTV Becomes Available In Ireland

There’s more great news for football fans as Sky Ireland today confirms that from Wednesday 29 January, LaLigaTV, the new dedicated channel showing all live content from Spain’s top-flight LaLiga Santander including Saturday 3pm games, will be available at no extra cost to Sports Extra customers. 

It means that football fans who take Sports Extra alongside Sky Sports will now be able to enjoy all live matches from Spain’s top international football league including the next El Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona on Sunday, 1 March at 8pm alongside every single live English Premier League game, all in one place. 

On top of every available live match and expert analysis, LaLigaTV will also broadcast daily studio shows, archive footage, features and documentaries on Spanish football, and much more. The new channel is available on channel 435 on Sky. 

JD Buckley, CEO Sky Ireland, said: “This is fantastic news for sports fans who want all the action in one place. We are delighted to be able to offer Sports Extra customers top class LaLiga fixtures via LaLigaTV on top of a wealth of football action on the Sports Extra pack.”

Activision Blizzard Relocates To YouTube From Twitch, Also Partners with Google Cloud

Activision Blizzard and Google have revealed a multi-year strategic relationship to power new player experiences.

Google Cloud will serve as the preferred provider for Activision Blizzard’s game hosting infrastructure and YouTube as its exclusive streaming partner worldwide, excluding China, for live broadcasts of its popular esports leagues and events — including Overwatch League, Call of Duty League, Hearthstone Esports, and more.

With hundreds of millions of monthly active users around the world, Activision Blizzard sought a partner to help enhance its gaming infrastructure, as well as deliver superior, low-latency player experiences. The company turned to Google Cloud because of its highly reliable global footprint, advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, and commitment to open source, creating a platform for building future gaming innovations.

Players will benefit by experiencing premium network quality-of-service, including low latency and packet loss when playing high-fidelity games on any device. They will also have optimal personalized interactions, as Activision Blizzard can tap into Google Cloud’s AI tools to offer curated recommendations for in-game offers and differentiated gaming experiences.

“We’ve worked closely with Activision Blizzard for the past few years across mobile titles to boost its analytics capabilities and overall player experience,” said Sunil Rayan, Head of Gaming, Google Cloud. “We are excited to now expand our relationship and help power one of the largest and most renowned game developers in the world.”

“We’re excited to partner with Google to drive the next generation of gaming innovation for the industry. Google Cloud’s best-in-class infrastructure gives us the confidence to deliver great entertainment to our fans around the world,” said Jacques Erasmus, Chief Information Officer, Activision Blizzard.

Beginning this week, YouTube will host the official live broadcasts of Activision Blizzard’s popular esports leagues and events including the newly created Call of Duty League, Overwatch League, Hearthstone Esports, and more. The inaugural Call of Duty League season kicks off on Friday, January 24, with 12 teams competing in Minnesota, and the Overwatch League’s 2020 season will follow on February 8. All competitions will be livestreamed on each league’s YouTube channel and will include archived and other special content.

“With more than 200 million gamers a day watching more than 50 billion hours of gaming content per year, YouTube provides gamers and their passionate fans with the most popular video gaming platform in the world,” said Ryan Wyatt, Head of Gaming, YouTube. “Both the Overwatch League and Call of Duty League are the quintessential examples of world class esports content. As a former Call of Duty esports commentator myself, I couldn’t be more excited for Activision Blizzard to choose YouTube as its exclusive home for the digital live streaming of both leagues. This partnership further demonstrates our dedication to having a world class live streaming product for gaming.”

“This is an exciting year for Activision Blizzard Esports as we head into the inaugural season of Call of Duty League and our first ever season of homestands for Overwatch League all around the world,” said Pete Vlastelica, CEO of Activision Blizzard Esports. “It’s our mission to deliver high-quality competitive entertainment that our fans can follow globally, live or on-demand, and to celebrate our players as the superstars that they are. This partnership will help us deliver on that promise at new levels, by combining our passionate communities of fans and players with YouTube’s powerful content platform and exciting history of supporting next-generation entertainment.”

This collaboration with Activision Blizzard represents Google’s ongoing commitment to supporting game developer success around the globe. Across its business units, Google offers comprehensive solutions for game developers, empowering them to create great games, connect with players, and scale their businesses.