WSC Sports has raised $23 million in Series C funding, bringing the company’s total funding to $39 million. The new capital will be used to further expand WSC’s growth across new sports, products and geographic regions.

Tel Aviv-based WSC Sports’ platform generates personalized sports videos for every platform and every sports fan – automatically and in real-time.

Currently being used by leading media rights owners such as WarnerMedia, NBA, MLS, US Open, PGA Tour, Bundesliga and others, WSC Sports’ platform utilizes advanced AI capabilities to analyze live sports broadcasts, identify each and every event that occurs in the game, create customized short-form video content, and publish to any digital destination.

This enables partners to instantly generate and distribute professionally edited personalized clips and videos on a large scale to engage audiences and maximize video monetization opportunities.

The new funding round was led by Eyal Ofer’s O.G. Tech Ventures (the international tech investment arm of Ofer Global), along with NTT DOCOMO Ventures, HBSE Ventures (the venture arm of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment), Maor Investments, ISF and Go4it Capital.

Roy Oron, Managing Director at O.G. Tech, will be joining the company’s board of directors. This follows the June announcement that David Stern, Commissioner Emeritus of the NBA, and John Kosner, former Vice President of Digital Media at ESPN, have joined WSC Sports as advisors.

In 2018, WSC Sports analyzed more than 17,000 sporting events and produced more than 850,000 videos for its customers.

“I am thrilled that such strategic investors have joined WSC Sports and am incredibly appreciative that our existing investors believe in the company and continue to support us. I am proud of what we have built so far with our amazing team and unique culture, and confident this new round of funding will help us to continue to grow and impact the way sports media rights owners provide the best experience to their fans” said Daniel Shichman, CEO and Co-Founder, WSC Sports.

Eyal Ofer, Chairman of Ofer Global, said: “We are proud to be a part of WSC Sports’ journey as it leads the way in revolutionizing the way in which people consume sports around the world. O.G. Tech’s lead role is consistent with our strategic ambition of focusing on unique growth opportunities led by exceptional founders. We are delighted that this funding will help the company with its global expansion across new sports, products and countries.”

 

Formula 1 has confirmed that the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix will continue to be held in Mexico City until at least the end of 2022.

The agreement between Formula 1, the Corporacion Interamericana de Entretenimiento (CIE), the promoter of the event, and the Government of Mexico City was formally signed today in a press conference held in the Antiguo Palacio del Ayuntamiento in Mexico City.

The agreement means the city will carry on staging a round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which first hosted the race in 1963.

There is an incredible enthusiasm for Formula 1 in Mexico demonstrated by the fact that over 1.3 million fans have attended the race since 2015, the global cumulative television audience from 2015 to 2018 was 380 million and there is an F1 fan base of 45 million across the country.

The Grand Prix is one of the most spectacular of the year, loved by the drivers and the fans. This year, the race, which has seen the drivers’ title decided five times in the past, celebrates its 20th edition. From 2020 the official event title will change to Mexico City Grand Prix to emphasise the support given by the Government of Mexico City.

Chase Carey, Chairman and CEO, Formula 1, said: “We are pleased to have renewed our partnership with Mexico City, which will now host the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix until at least 2022. Ever since it returned to the championship calendar in 2015, this event has always proved to be amazingly popular with the public and fans, not just in Mexico, but also around the world. Proof of this is the fact that the race promoter has won the FIA award for the best event no fewer than four years in a row and, in those four years, over 1.3 million spectators have attended the Grand Prix.”

“The Grand Prix has also been an important economic driver for the city, reinforcing its credentials as a centre for tourism. I would like to thank the Mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and the entire government of Mexico City for all their efforts in ensuring that Formula 1 continues in Mexico and I look forward to seeing another big crowd of fans at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez from 25 to 27 October for the Formula 1 Gran Premio de Mexico 2019.”

Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, Mayor of Mexico City, said: “The presence of Formula 1 in the city for further three more years, was achieved for the first time through a new financing model in which public resources are not used. Previously the Federal Government collaborated with the payment for the event. The Mexico City government will be an intermediary, creating a trust that will raise the private investment required to deliver this international event. The price of the tickets will remain the same as in previous years.”

Alejandro Soberon, President and CEO of CIE, said: “I want to deeply thank Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum and the Government of Mexico City for the vote of confidence they have entrusted in us. At CIE, we remain committed to promoting and operating the highest quality events in the world. Through this international platform, we have the opportunity to showcase the diverse cultural wealth of this fantastic city. We look forward to welcoming the thousands of tourists, both domestic and foreign to this award-winning event. In addition, I want to thank the Formula 1 fans both in Mexico and abroad – without a doubt, your energy and passion has made our Grand Prix a very unique and special experience.”

 

Honda has announced a significant new partnership with the Riot Games League of Legends Championship Series (LCS), launching in conjunction with the Summer Split Playoffs, which begin in Los Angeles tomorrow (August 10), and the Finals in Detroit later this month.

As the exclusive automotive sponsor of LCS, Honda will build on the brand’s existing partnership with three-time LCS champion Team Liquid, and streaming platform Twitch, which began in January 2019.

Honda becomes the first automaker in North America to sponsor both a preeminent esports league and a team.

Honda and Riot’s partnership elements also include sponsorship of the League MVP, the LCS Scouting Grounds (the premier tournament for new players), access to scarce advertising inventory live on LCS game days, and custom content highlighting the imagination and determination of the League’s top athletes.

“Through this partnership with the LCS, Honda will continue to forge a strong connection with the next-generation of car buyers who happen to be fans of the incredible athletes of Team Liquid and the League of Legends Championship Series in North America,” said Phil Hruska, Manager of Media Strategy at American Honda. “We understand the passion of esports fans and how strongly they support the gaming community, and Honda is fully vested in creating one-of-a-kind, unforgettable experiences for gamers as we launch the next phase of Honda’s endeavour in esports and gaming.”

“Honda is one of the most storied and trusted car manufacturers in the world, and we are proud to announce an exclusive partnership between the League of Legends Championship Series and an automotive brand of this calibre,” said Matthew Archambault, Head of Esports Partnerships and Business Development for North America at Riot Games.  “Honda’s commitment to esports is clear from their history in the space, including their sponsorship of Team Liquid, and we’re excited to show LCS fans the new initiatives and content that we’ll be collaborating on, starting with the Summer Split Playoffs this weekend in our LA studio.”

The world has a new richest race, with the announcement of the creation of the $20 million Saudi Cup, to be run at King Abdul Aziz Racetrack in Riyadh on February 29, 2020.

Details of the contest were announced yesterday by Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al-Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, at a launch event in Saratoga, New York.

The race will be run on over a distance of nine furlongs on dirt and will have a maximum field of 14 starters. The race will be free to enter and to participate in.

The prize for the winning horse will be $10 million, with horses down to 10th place sharing another $10 million between them.

Riyadh-based Arab News reports:

The Saudi Cup will take place four weeks after the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park, Florida, and four weeks prior to the Dubai World Cup.

The Pegasus World Cup had a peak value of $16 million in 2018, while the Dubai World Cup is currently worth $12 million.

“The introduction of the Saudi Cup as an international race is without doubt the most significant event in the history of horseracing in Saudi Arabia, and demonstrates our resolve to develop this great sport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and also our ambition to become a leading player on horseracing’s world stage,” said Prince Bandar.

“We look forward to welcoming international horsemen and women, the media, racing enthusiasts and the public to Riyadh in 2020.”

The Saudi Cup will take place four weeks after the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park, Florida, and four weeks prior to the Dubai World Cup.

This means that the top horses in training have the opportunity to compete in all three of the most valuable dirt races in the world.

The Pegasus World Cup had a peak value of $16 million in 2018, while the Dubai World Cup is currently worth $12 million.

The promoters of the Mexican Grand Prix have announced on social media that they are set to sign a new three-year deal with Formula 1 today.

F1.com reports:

The Mexican event, held since 2015 in its second iteration at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, was among several races – along with Spain, Germany Italy and Great-Britain – whose future beyond the current year was in doubt.

“The City of Mexico’s #FIESTA will continue! Thanks for being the best fans on the planet. Stay tuned on our social channels tomorrow to know all the details,” organisers announced on the race’s official Twitter account.

The news was also confirmed in a video released on Twitter by Mexico City’s mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum.

“I want to share some good news that I just received,” she said.

“Formula 1 is staying in Mexico City. The FIA president is going to be here tomorrow to sign it. This is good news for the city.

“I also want to tell you that this is thanks to a group of businessmen who made this possible because this time the city is not using any public funds.

“It’s good news for the city. It brings tourism, it brings income, and it’s also good for the country.”

A popular event for both fans and teams since its return to the calendar four years ago, the Mexican GP’s future had been put in jeopardy by the decision of Mexican president Manuel Lopez Obrador to pull the plug on the race’s public funding.

Monza and Barcelona have yet to formally announce new agreements with F1’s commercial rights holder Liberty Media, but both races are expected to remain on the sport’s schedule for 2020.

However, lingering doubts remain about Germany and Hockenheim, with the event’s promoters still searching for the necessary financial backing to save their race.

Lidl will be an official sponsor of the European Handball Federation’s EURO 2020 men’s tournament taking place in Sweden, Austria and Norway from January 9-26.

It is the first time three countries will host the event and a record 24 teams are set to compete.

As exclusive Official Fresh Food Partner of the event, Lidl will show one of its core competencies by supporting the event with qualitative fresh food and water for players, representatives, referees and volunteers in order to raise awareness about the importance of exercise and health-conscious nutrition.

The partnership, brokered by Infront, follows Lidl’s sponsorship of the 2018 event, providing the retailer with broad visibility through exposure on LED boards, floor stickers and interview backdrops.

This will be complemented by a focus on digital activation, with branded content, tailor-made clips for Lidl’s key markets and other similar methods to reach and engage with handball fans via social media.

The 2018 edition of the tournament enjoyed a cumulative TV audience of over 1.05 billion across 175 territories.