NBA TV Network Will Launch Subscription Service

Partnering with Turner Sports, NBA TV will now be available for customers via a subscription offering.

They will now be the first league TV channel to offer a direct-to-consumer subscription. The channel will broadcast over 100 live matches, and allow users to view NBA TV content on mobile, with it now being accessible through the NBA app.

Chris Benyarko, the NBA’s senior vice president for DTC, said: “NBA TV is the ultimate destination for around-the-clock access to premium NBA games and programming. We are thrilled to offer more ways than ever to access NBA TV and provide a preview of the future live game viewing experience.”

“Innovation has always been at the core of our NBA Digital partnership. The launch of this direct-to-consumer product, paired with new content initiatives, will provide NBA fans even greater opportunities to engage with NBA TV and our collective portfolio of brands,” Executive Vice President and General Manager of Turner Sports, Tina Shah, commented.

One Month To Go: iSportconnect Dubai Summit

There is now just one month until the iSportconnect Dubai Summit!

We are looking forward to hosting the event, which will take place at the Dubai Sports Council‘s headquarters, on the 5th of December.

iSportconnect are also delighted to reveal that H.E Saeed Mohammed Hareb, General Secretary of the Dubai Sports Council, will be giving an opening to the day’s events.

We can also announce that Kinda Ibrahim, Director of Partnerships – MEA, Pakistan and Russia at Twitter and Arjoon Bose, Europe-Australia Head of Brands Experience, Creative and Partnerships at General Mills.

This adds to our fantastic list of speakers who are already confirmed to take part in the event. They are Manu Sawhney, CEO of the International Cricket Council, Brett Gosper, CEO of World Rugby, Alexander Brown, Commissioner of Major League Lacrosse, Christian Volk, Director of eFootball and Gaming at FIFA, Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer at Extreme E, and Juli Ferre, Commercial and Marketing Officer at AS Monaco.

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 2019 iSportconnect Dubai Summit, please contact Joe Condon at joe@isportconnect.com

Invitation Policy: The Dubai Summit 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.

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

Bruin Sports Capital Gets $600m Boost

Bruin Sports Capital has announced a wide-ranging, long-term strategic partnership with renowned private equity firms CVC Capital Partners and The Jordan Company.

The deal gives Bruin access to billions in capital, plus a global network of resources from the partners beginning with an initial combined investment for $600 million.

George Pyne, Founder and CEO of Bruin Sports Capital, said: “We are extremely proud to have the partnership and support of CVC Capital Partners and The Jordan Company, not only for what it says about our progress but also what it means for our businesses and future opportunities.

“To be able to say to a partner that on top of our track record and user-friendly model, we can tap into all the capital and global resources necessary to accelerate their business is quite powerful. As we enter this next chapter for Bruin, and with our partners, we will be even more bold and aggressive in building the platforms that lead the sports and entertainment industry forward.”

Chris Stadler, Managing Partner at CVC Capital Partners, added: “George and his team have built an impressive franchise, and we are delighted to be partnering with them to invest in and develop high-growth, high-performing global sports and entertainment companies. Our extensive European network and deep experience in sports, media, and entertainment ideally complement Bruin’s impressive existing platform.”

“We are excited to partner with George, an extremely talented leader with an exceptional track record of business transformation, that continues with Bruin Sports Capital,” said Rich Caputo, Chief Executive Partner of The Jordan Company. “In a sector undergoing fundamental shifts to the way it does business, he and the team have demonstrated a unique ability to uncover potential and turn it into significant value. We are going to provide the full gamut of our resources to Bruin and the partnership, and we look forward to great things ahead.”

Susanna Dinnage To Step Down From Discovery

Global President of Animal Planet at Discovery, Susanna Dinnage, will be leaving her role at the company.

This news comes less than 12 months after Dinnage turned down joining the Premier League as Chief Executive to replace Richard Scudamore, after reneging on an agreement to take up the role.

Discovery will be undergoing a restructure which will see Discovery and Factual’s Chief Brand Officer take control of Animal Planet.

David Zaslav, Discovery President and Chief Executive, said: “As we thought about this new structure, we arrived at the difficult conclusion that there is no longer a need for a standalone president role for Animal Planet. Susanna Dinnage, who has been an integral and deeply valued member of our leadership team for a decade, is supportive of this decision and will step down from her role as global president of Animal Planet and leave Discovery at the end of the year.

“Susanna has made enormous contributions here, first in her role overseeing Discovery’s 14 UK brands and businesses and steering the London-based production and development department and, most recently, leading Animal Planet.”

Dinnage added: “I have had an incredible decade at Discovery and been privileged to be part of such a purpose-driven, and truly global, company. As the world looks ever more closely at conservation, the past two years at Animal Plant have been particularly rewarding. It’s a very exciting time to be in the world of media and content and I look forward to the future.”

XFL Streaming Rights Secured By ESPN

ESPN will be streaming every game of the new XFL season, including the playoffs, to fans in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

This new deal will give fans the chance to watch more than 40 XFL football games live and on-demand on desktop, tablet, Android TV and mobile.

The 2020 XFL is due to kick off on Saturday 8 February when the DC Defenders host the Seattle Dragons at 7pm GMT.

Bragg Gaming Group, In Partnership Alongside Kambi, Join With Seneca Gaming Corporation

Bragg gaming Group have announced an agreement, in partnership with Kambi, with Seneca Gaming Corporation.

The deal will need to be approved by regulators, however it signals clear intent from a U.S. Casino to move into sports betting, as this becomes their first major casino and sportsbook deal.

Dominic Mansour, CEO, Bragg Gaming Group, said: “The agreement with Seneca and Kambi is a game-changer for Bragg. The U.S. casino and sports betting market is rapidly expanding, and Bragg’s ORYX’s expertise in PAM, casino, marketing and operations services, and integrations between land based and online, positions us well to take advantage of this growth. Entering the market with two such strong partners as Kambi and Seneca is an ideal scenario.”

Kristian Nylén, Chief Executive Officer of Kambi, commented: “I’m delighted to agree this sports betting agreement with Seneca Gaming Corporation, along with Bragg Gaming, a platform and gaming provider that will enable a fully-managed sportsbook and gaming service.”

Speaking on the deal, Holly Gagnon, President and CEO of Seneca Gaming Corporation, added: “The agreement with Bragg and Kambi is a huge win for our customers. Providing access to sports betting has been something that our customers have long looked forward to, and Bragg’s world-class casino and player account management services, together with Kambi’s market-leading sports wagering products, will create a fantastic customer experience that we can’t wait to offer.”

Celta Vigo Sign Sponsorship Deal With Maldives Government

RC Celta and the Maldives government have signed a sponsorship and collaboration agreement for the next three years.

The agreement is worth close to a reported $2.5 million, and includes the promotion of the country on the first team’s home and training jersey sleeves as well as on the official bus and various areas in the Abanca Balaídos stadium and training camps.

RC Celta President Carlos Mouriño said: “It is an honour and an enormous satisfaction for us, RC Celta, that we have been chosen to promote the beauties of their islands,” he said during the presentation of the team’s new sponsor.”

“We would like to thank RC Celta for allowing us to bring the sunny side of the Maldives to this club. We’d like us to be the sunny side of the RC Celta from now on,” commented Minister of Tourism for the Maldives government, Ali Waheed. “This agreement will greatly promote tourism and sport and will strengthen the backbone of our national team and all of our country’s football.”

Leadership Masterclass Speaker Spotlight: Keith Pelley

Keith Pelley is the Chief Executive Officer of The European Tour, he will be speaking at iSportconnect’s Leadership Masterclass on the 27th of November in London.

He will be joined by Javier Tebas, President of LaLiga and a number of other speakers at the event later this month.

Bio

Keith became the fourth Chief Executive in the history of The European Tour in August 2015. Prior to joining The European Tour, he was President of Rogers Media in Toronto where he was responsible for leading the overall operations of the company’s diverse portfolio, including Television, Radio, Publishing, Digital Media, The Shopping Channel, subscription-based content services, the Toronto Blue Jays and Rogers Centre.

Prior to that, he was Executive Vice-President of Strategic Planning at CTVglobemedia, President of Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium, President and CEO of the Toronto Argonauts Football Club, and President of The Sports Network in Canada, a company he first joined as an Editorial Assistant in 1986.

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 2019 iSportconnect Leadership Masterclass, please contact Joe at joe@isportconnect.com

Invitation Policy: The Leadership 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.

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

PTI Consulting Ungdergoes Rebranding

PTI Consulting has been renamed as PTI Smarter Ventures following the coming together with stadium digital, media and advertising specialist Smarter Venues Ltd.

This will combine technology and commercial expertise across a portfolio of 70+ clubs and venues.  PTI Smarter Venues will comprise of three divisions, each providing expert solutions that are specifically focused on the sports and entertainment venues; PTI Consulting, PTI Media and Advertising and PTI Managed Services.

Mike Bohndiek, Chief Executive Officer at PTI Smarter Venues, says: “We are excited at the opportunity to help clubs drive technological change and deliver immediate commercial return on their investments. smarterVENUES have made steady progress with their media offering in the last six months and now PTI are able to add data, insights and smarter delivery systems to the mix.”

“With our updated portfolio of Consulting, Media and Advertising and Managed Services propositions we can now work with a venue to deliver technological transformation, increase their revenues and manage their technology estate all under one PTI relationship. 

“The convergence between sport, technology and media is ever increasing and now widely acknowledged; so being able to provide all three elements from a single source is a significant step forward.” 

Eurosport Agrees Deal With ITF To Broadcast Davis Cup Finals

Eurosport has announced that it has reached a two-year TV and digital rights partnership with the International Tennis Federation to show the Davis Cup Finals in six countries.

Fans in the UK, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Iceland will be able to watch the new and revamped Davis Cup Finals on Eurosport and Eurosport Player.

This year’s event is set to be extremely interesting, with the format having changed massively from the year-long event, into a one-week tournament between 18 competing nations.

Laurent Prud’homme, SVP Rights Acquisitions & Syndication for Eurosport, said: “There is great synergy between the Davis Cup and Eurosport with both synonymous with passion. The Davis Cup always brings out incredible displays of patriotism in all players representing their home country, while at Eurosport we continue to power people’s passions for tennis by delivering the best events to millions of fans across the continent.

“We are delighted to partner with the ITF and Kosmos for this event, an agreement that serves to reinforce Eurosport’s position as the Home of Tennis in Europe.”