Sportradar White Paper Explores OTT Revenue Potential

Sportradar has launched the first in a series of white papers designed to inform sports rights holders and content owners on how they can successfully leverage and monetise their digital ecosystem.

With the rise of video and the ever-increasing use of multiple devices, The Monetisation of OTT and Data highlights the importance of providing data-driven quality content to engage with sports fans and enhance the user experience as well as how insights can ensure rights holders make informed decisions.

Featuring comment and analysis from industry-leading figures and organisations, the paper explores relationship building to offer personalised experiences, the different options for monetisation and how data is the key element that underpins any successful strategy.

Sportradar provides the platform for our iSportconnect TV.

You can access this valuable white paper here.

Ousted From EFL, Bury Has No Right To Appeal

Bury, expelled from the Football League (EFL) on Tuesday after failing to provide guarantees about their finances, has no right of appeal against the decision, EFL Executive Chair Debbie Jevans said today.

Bury, with 125 years membership of the Football League, became the first team to be expelled since Maidstone in 1992 after a takeover bid fell through just before a deadline to satisfy the EFL about their future.

Reuters reports:

“There’s no appeal process. It is within people’s rights to write to us, we await any correspondence, should it arrive,” Jevans told reporters.

C&N Sporting Risk pulled out of its proposed takeover of the League One side just a few hours before the deadline to meet the league’s requirements saying the club’s finances were full of complications.

Bury, founded in 1885, is the first Football League club to be kicked out since Maidstone in 1992.

League One will now comprise 23 teams for the remainder of the season and the number of relegation places will be reduced to three instead of four.

Jevans said she was upset that the EFL had to expel Bury but added that the process was now completed.

“Devastated, no other word for it. I understand what I’ve heard the fans say. It’s very sad,” she said.

“But that decision was made, the share (in the EFL) has been revoked and is now with the EFL,” she added.

Jevans said the EFL, which had postponed five league games and kicked Bury out of the EFL Cup, had no choice after extending their deadline to work with C&N on a potential deal.

“I don’t honestly know what more we could have done,” she said.

 

Meanwhile, administrators running Bolton Wanderers have been given 14 days to either sell the club or prove they can fund them for the rest of the season, or that club too will be ousted from the EFL.

 

Budapest: “We’re Building The Urban Games As A New Brand In The World Of Sports”

Next month, the city of Budapest will host the inaugural World Urban Games, a new concept  providing a global stage for international federations to highlight their emerging sports disciplines. During SportAccord 2019, Attila Mizsér, Chief Executive of International Sports Bids at Budapest’s Major Public Project Developments Authority (KKBK), updated iSportconnect TV on his city’s preparations for the new event taking place from September 13-15, and its strategy and plans for future projects, including the second edition of the Urban Games, which Budapest will host in 2021

The World Urban Games is an initiative of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). The 2019 programme includes six competition sports and two showcase sports. They include breaking (breakdancing), 3×3 basketball, BMX freestyle park, freestyle flying disc, parkour and freestyle roller skate, as competition sports. Indoor rowing and laser run will feature as showcase sports.

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Valencia CF’s New App Is A One-Stop Shop

The new app from Valencia CF will enable fans to carry out 100% of their club interactions from food to retail, through mobile technology at Mestalla Stadium, where the LaLiga team hosts RCD Mallorca this Sunday September 1. Enjoy a look at Valencia’s digital transformation via the app on iSportconnect TV.

“On the match day, we will make it possible for fans to order food remotely via the app, picking it up from their bar of choice,” said Keishi Matsuyama, Digital Transformation Director at Valencia CF, who will be a guest speaker at the iSportconnect Lausanne Summit coming up on September 17, 2019

“Based on data about fans arrival or shopping, we will be creating personalised offers and delivering these through the app” he said. “With all data running through the app, we will be able to make even more detailed and personal offers to fans as years go by.”

In the future, this data may influence the price of tickets, as the club plans to work with LaLiga attendance systems and its own fan data to determine exactly who is visiting the Mestalla and when.

“We have already worked out how regularly each fan is visiting, putting them into specific offerings and loyalty pricing brackets based on that, Matsuyama notes. “But as this data becomes richer the offers can become more personal, and the offering and pricing more dynamic.”

 

NBA Crossover Returns To London

The NBA Crossover exhibition will return to London next month the U.K. capital, displaying the convergence of the NBA and popular culture, with NBA Legend Kenny Smith on hand for the show from September 20-22.

NBA Crossover takes a unique perspective of the NBA, immersing fans into the league through interactive exhibits, escorting the visitor through a cultural journey focusing on how music, style, art, and entertainment have shaped and influenced the NBA, its teams and players.

Two-time NBA Champion Smith (photo below) will be present throughout the weekend participating in various activities and competitions, signing autographs and interacting with fans at Phonica on Poland Street in the West End.

Throughout his ten-year career, Smith played for six teams, most notably with the Houston Rockets where he spent six seasons, winning back-to-back NBA titles in 1993-94 and 1994-95.  Smith is currently an NBA studio analyst for Turner Sports.

“Fans are in for a treat at NBA Crossover London,” said Smith.  “I look forward to experiencing the event first-hand and connecting with NBA fans from the UK and across Europe as we explore the cultural influence of basketball and the NBA on popular culture.”

“NBA Crossover is a chance for the NBA to showcase its impact beyond the hardwood,” said NBA Managing Director, Europe and Middle East, Ralph Rivera.  “Fans in the UK have a deep appreciation of the role the NBA has on music, style and entertainment.  We are excited to once again host NBA Crossover in London and look forward to working with our partners including Foot Locker, Gatorade, Tissot and 2K to give visitors a unique and authentic NBA experience.”

NBA Crossover will feature specific areas focusing on how music, style, art, and entertainment have influenced the sport of basketball, demonstrating how the NBA has become synonymous with popular culture.  Fans will have the unique opportunity to engage with the league through customized activations including virtual reality experiences, art displays, photos with The Larry O’Brien Trophy and panel discussions with local speakers.

Other activities include the Foot Locker barbershop where fans can get a haircut in an authentic barbershop.  Fans can also bring in their sneakers, leather goods or textiles and visit the special customized section to get unique NBA team logos on their shoes or bags.

Gatorade will be onsite offering fans samples of their products and the chance to participate in different challenges to win Gatorade prizes.

Tissot will host a ‘Buzzer Beater’ game where fans will race against the clock to score as many baskets as possible in 24 seconds for a chance to win tickets to an NBA game in the US.  Fans will also have the opportunity to win a Special Edition Tissot x NBA Chrono XL watch each day through taking part in Tissot’s ‘Code Cracker’ challenge.

There will also be an NBA 2K20 Gaming area for fans to play the latest NBA 2K20 video game launching globally on September 6.

Castrol And Wish Join Brands & Partnership Masterclass Speaker Line-Up

iSportconnect is pleased to announce that Paul Goodmaker – Global Head of Sponsorship and Events – Castrol, and Sam Jones – Managing Director – Wish, will be speaking at the 2019 Brands And Partnership Masterclass slated to take place on 12th September.

As Global Head of Sponsorship and Events at Castrol, Paul has had the opportunity to work on some of the most high-profile sponsorships in the world including FIFA World Cups, UEFA European Championships, Olympics and Formula 1.

He is currently  leading Castrol’s activation of the partnership with the Renault F1 Team, having previously managed Castrol’s sponsorship of 2010 & 2014 FIFA World Cup™ and UEFA EURO 2012™, the rights holder relationships and leading the global football communications programme.

Paul developed the post-football Castrol global sponsorship strategy and was proud to be shortlisted in the Communications Category at 2015 ‘Global Leaders In Sport Under 40’ Awards.

As Managing Director at leading eCommerce platform Wish, Sam is responsible for consumer marketing including partnerships. Wish have 500 million registered users and sell 3 million items a day.

Prior to Wish, he started multiple technology companies in data vizualisation and gaming.  Before this, Sam was a leading executive search consultant in Asia Pacific for 10 years, covering financial markets . Sam started his career at Accenture, he has lived and worked in UK, Australia, Hong Kong & Singapore.

The Brands & Partnership Masterclass will look at the integration of sport and brands, providing an exclusive opportunity to engage with thought leaders in a challenging and fast-changing global business, hearing from expert speakers sharing their experiences of communicating with their target audiences.

To register your interest for the Brands & Partnership Masterclass, please contact Emma at info@isportconnect.com.

Live Webinar On Wednesday: Understanding Online Video Subscribers

Payment solutions leader Vindicia will be hosting a live webinar this Wednesday providing an inside view of the video streaming habits of UK subscribers, and understanding subscriptions and cancellations.

The live webinar will take place on August 28, 2019 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm GMT (London time).

Vindicia commissioned nScreenMedia to examine consumer relationships with streaming video services and their viewing behaviors.

The result is the detailed research study Keep My Customer – Why Consumers Subscribe to, Stay with, Cancel, and Come Back to Online Video Services.

The live webinar will be hosted by nScreenMedia Founder and Chief Analyst Colin Dixon, along with Vindicia Marketing Manager Mark Bishop, who will delve into the actionable research findings for UK consumers.

The comprehensive nScreenMedia study surveyed 500 UK consumers, all of whom use subscription video on demand (SVOD) services.

Key results to be discussed during the webinar include:

  • 40% of UK households have a subscription to at least one streaming video service
  • The average viewer subscribes to 2.9 streaming services and pays an average of £6.61 per service
  • Discounted offerings are an under-exploited opportunity for SVOD service providers
  • Involuntary cancellations are a substantial problem for the industry

You can register for this valuable live webinar here.

Melbourne Basketball Event Experience Leaves Fans Fuming

Following hundreds of complaints from unhappy spectators, Australia’s consumer watchdog has launched an investigation into Thursday’s FIBA World Cup basketball warmup game between the United States and Australia in Melbourne.

Organizers were already under scrutiny for using NBA stars such as LeBron James and Steph Curry in their promo efforts only for them to skip the games.

Fans expressed outrage on social media over seating arrangements at Docklands stadium where many were left with restricted views despite paying top dollar for tickets.

A crowd of 51,218 paid ticket prices ranging from A$69.90 ($47) for the cheapest children’s seats up to well over a thousand dollars for premium courtside seats.

You can see images of the fan experience is this report by Melbourne’s The Age.

Actor Russell Crowe was among spectators left cold by the views of the raised court at the venue, which is mostly used for top flight Australian Rules football matches.

“$1500 a ticket for this view. AUS v USA. Jokes on me,” Crowe wrote on Twitter with a photo showing a restricted view of the court.

“If you weren’t among 50,000 there and you chose to watch it

“It’s a rip-off that people paid hundreds of dollars for a plastic chair, a blocked view and teams that didn’t feature the superstars promised.”

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it was probing the event and would address seating concerns with organizers before the second match between the teams at the same venue on Saturday.

“We take allegations of misleading behaviour very seriously and the penalties for breaching the Act are significant,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims told reporters in Sydney on Friday.

“We have an active investigation under way as to whether there’s been any breaches of the Act in relation to this event.”

Promoters TEG Live were unable to provide immediate comment.

On the court, the USA beat Australia 102-86.

The FIBA World Cup takes place in China from August 31-September 15.

 

 

ING Extends German Basketball Sponsorship

ING will continue to be the main sponsor of the German national basketball team until 2024.

The German team, which features Dennis Schröder of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, will be taking part in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China from August 31-September 15.

ING Germany has been the main sponsor the German Basketball Federation (DBB) and the Wheelchair Basketball Section of the German Wheelchair Sports Association since 2003, and has also sponsored NBA star Dirk Nowitzki, the country’s most famous player, who recently retired after 21 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks.

The new agreement with the DBB will run through September 2024.