Denmark Rules To Block Pirate Sports Streaming

For the first time in Denmark, a court ruling has established that sites offering illegal streams of live sport can and should be blocked.

Denmark’s RettighedsAlliancen (the rights holders alliance), in cooperation with the Spanish football league LaLiga, led the first blocking injunction case concerning illegal streaming of live sports in the country.

Live sport is very popular among Danes, but not everyone obtains access to live streaming of sports matches legally.

From February 2018 to February 2019, RettighedsAlliancen registered 18 million visits to the most popular illegal live sports services in Denmark. At the same time, RettighedsAlliancen observed an increase of 15 % to the services in the same period.

Maria Fredenslund, CEO at RettighedsAlliancen, who litigated the case before the court, said: “We see heavy traffic to websites that offer illegal live streaming of sports events. Especially football matches attract the attention of Danish users and with an average of 1.4 million monthly visits by Danes there is talk of a widespread and very serious problem.”

Fredenslund added that this problem goes beyond the rightsholders because the users of these illegal services are also unaware of the risks.

“Reports show that the risk of being infected with malware when using this type of illegal service is very high. At the same time, the huge amount of traffic to these sites generates a lot of money from ads, which ends up in the pockets of the criminals behind these sites”, she explained.

In this case RettighedsAlliancen and LaLiga have asked the court to order the Danish Internet Service Providers to block the nine most popular illegal live sport streaming services. These services are the most popular among Danish users and have provided access to content that LaLiga owns the rights to.

LaLiga’s Audiovisual Director, Melcior Soler, explains that illegal streaming of LaLiga’s matches has been a big problem for a long time:

“Audiovisual Piracy is illegal and has significant consequences, not only for us, but for the league and the future of the game, so we are very happy that RettighedsAlliancen has joined us in the fight. We know that Denmark is at the forefront of the development of digital tools to fight online piracy, and this is a big issue for us,” he said.

“We are now looking forward to seeing the effects of the blockings and hope that they can serve as an example for other countries, so that we can stand together in the fight against online piracy.”

Ladbrokes-Coral Group Calls For End To All Sports Betting TV Ads – And Goes Even Further

GVC Holdings PLC , the global sports-betting and gaming group which owns Ladbrokes and Coral, has today called for an end to all UK sports-betting broadcast advertising, at any time of the day, on live and repeated sporting events (exempting horseracing).

Under GVC’s proposals advertising specifically promoting responsible gambling and safer gambling campaigns would be permitted, but strictly limited to one advertisement per commercial break.

The call goes far further than the forthcoming pre-watershed, whistle-to-whistle advertising ban which is set to be introduced at the start of the 2019-20 football season in August.

While GVC helped to bring about the new restrictions, the company said they do not go far enough, and is therefore calling on its industry peers to join it in helping to revolutionise the marketing of gambling brands.

GVC has also today committed to unilaterally ending all football shirt sponsorship deals with UK teams and banning perimeter board advertising at football grounds, to allow sporting fans to watch their favourite teams without seeing any incentives to bet.

The Company has urged its industry peers and UK football governing bodies to support this move and take action in this area.

GVC’s CEO, Kenny Alexander (above) said: “Whilst the vast majority of our customers enjoy our products responsibly, it is high time that the industry did more to protect its customers from potential harm. As the UK’s largest gambling company, and owner of Ladbrokes and Coral, we at GVC are doing exactly that. I call on our industry peers to help us bring about an end to broadcast advertising which promotes sports-betting in the UK no matter the time of day.”

“Increasing investment in research, education and treatment ten-fold by 2022, funding treatment centres and using technology to intervene before a problem develops, alongside our existing behavioural analytics, brings to life our commitment to be the most trusted and enjoyable betting operator in the world.”

“The industry should and can do more to protect the vulnerable, and today’s announcement demonstrates GVC’s commitment to delivering on that.”

 

PGA TOUR Heads To Japan For First Official Event

Tiger Woods announced Wednesday that he will return to Japan for the first time in more than a decade to compete in the inaugural ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP.

The ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, the first official PGA TOUR event in Japan, will be played Oct. 24-27, 2019, at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club outside Tokyo.

“I’m excited to play in the inaugural ZOZO Championship in October, and return to Japan, one of my favourite countries,” Woods said. “It’s going to be a fun fall.”

Woods made his last appearance in Japan in 2006, when he lost a playoff to Padraig Harrington at the Dunlop Phoenix. Woods had won that event the previous two years. He also played the 2001 World Cup of Golf in Japan, famously chipping in for eagle on the final hole to force a playoff. The South African team of Ernie Els and Retief Goosen won in extra holes.

Woods’ last appearance in Asia came at the 2012 CIMB Classic in Malaysia.

Woods is coming off a win at the Masters, which was his 15th major championship and 81st PGA TOUR victory. It was his second win in his last seven PGA TOUR starts. He’s now one short of Sam Snead’s mark for most PGA TOUR wins.

Riot Games: “Big Brands Already Understand Esports”

Esports is no longer the new kid on the block in the competition for sports sponsorship investment.

“A lot of people would probably be surprised with just how sophisticated many of the big brands already are about esports,” said Ryan Geddes, Head of Marketing UK, Riot Games. “They have done the work.”

Riot Games is the publisher of League of Legends, the most played PC game in the world and a key driver in the explosive growth of esports.

One area where brands do have to adjust their thinking is activation, where learnings from mainstream sports don’t necessarily translate.

“We want to make sure that we are doing things for our players and our fans that really resonate with them and help create and strengthen an emotional connection with this thing that they love,” Geddes said.

Founded in 2006, the Los Angeles-based company was majority-acquired by China’s Tencent group in February 2011 and fully acquired in December 2015.

Riot Games operates the League of Legends Championship Series comprising leagues in North America and Europe and shown on ESPN+. There are more than 100 teams in Riot Games’ 14 regional leagues around the world.

Among the team owners in Riot Games’ leagues are owners and investors from the NBA and other high-profile backers.

Enjoy the interview.

Learfield IMG Acquires Big 12 Sponsorship Rights

The Big 12 Conference of American college sports has announced Learfield IMG College as its new comprehensive sponsorship rights holder.

The Big 12 encompasses five states with over 40 million people within its footprint and includes many big-time sports powerhouses. Members are Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech and West Virginia.

Learfield IMG College will have the worldwide sponsorship rights to all 16 Big 12 championship events and the right to sell title, presenting, and other secondary sponsorships to a broad array of Big 12 events as well as certain other advertising inventory.

“Given the scope of Learfield IMG College in the collegiate space, and its existing relationships with all of our member institutions, the Big 12’s sponsorship rights will be well positioned,” said Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby. “To add the Learfield IMG College name to our portfolio furthers the best-in-class relationships of the Big 12 Conference.”

“We have worked with individual Big 12 schools for many years, and we are honored to now have the opportunity to work with the Big 12 Conference,” said Greg Brown, President and CEO, Learfield IMG College. “We appreciate Bob and his team trusting us to drive sponsorships on a league level.”

Learfield IMG College will establish Big 12 Sports Properties, which will operate from the conference office in Irving, Texas.

SportAccord Confirms Silver Partners For Gold Coast

SportAccord has confirmed Edmonton Events, EventScotland and Beijing Olympic City Development Association (BODA) as Silver Partners for the global convention getting underway in less than two weeks in Gold Coast, Australia.

The big annual gathering will take place in the home to last year’s Commonwealth Games from May 5-10, 2019

Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord said: “We are delighted to welcome the return of Edmonton Events and EventScotland as Silver Partners for the 17th edition of the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit and heartily appreciate their continued involvement, support and loyalty to the event.”

“We are also honoured to welcome BODA onboard this year as a Silver Partner and look forward to working with them on the 18th edition of SportAccord, scheduled to take place in Beijing from 19 – 24 April 2020.

“Our Silver Partners are exceptional and we wish them the very best for SportAccord in Gold Coast.”

SportAccord brings together international sports federations, cities and regions, and top decision-makers from the global sports community.

The event enables attendees to enjoy multiple networking events and access to 50+ conference sessions.

Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #SA2019, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook.

Spanish FA Chief Wants To Take Super Cup To Saudi Arabia

The president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) says he is looking into the possibility of playing the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia beginning next year.

The Associated Press reports:

RFEF President Luis Rubiales, who was elected one year ago, says playing in the Middle East is one of the options being considered for the tournament, as well as a “final four” format with the top finishers in the Spanish league and the Copa del Rey.

The competition has been played in a one-game final between the champions at the beginning of the season. The idea is to play the new Super Cup in January.

The proposal will be made during the federation’s general assembly next week.

Rubiales did not confirm reports the deal will be worth €30 million a year for six seasons, saying “it will be difficult” to reach that value.

The 31st edition of the Italian Super Cup was played on January 16 at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.

Odgers Berndtson Adds Key Partner In U.S. Practice

Global executive search firm Odgers Berndtson has hired Jamie Crittenberger as a Partner in its U.S. Sports Practice. He will be based in Washington, D.C.

Crittenberger from Spencer Stuart, where he was a member of its global consumer practice and the co-leader of its North American Sports Business Practice.

“We’re very excited to welcome Jamie to the Odgers team,” said Steve Potter, CEO of Odgers Berndtson U.S. “He’s a gold standard recruiter and has more than twenty years of experience working with many of the world’s most influential sports organizations. He’s going to play a big role at Odgers.”

Crittenberger was the CEO and co-founder of Starbridge Media Group, a VC-backed global sports advisory and production firm that worked with teams, leagues, agencies, universities, athletes, and corporate brands around the world.

Previously, he held roles for leading sports organizations and broadcasters, including the Washington Redskins, SFX Sports, Clear Channel Entertainment, and Viacom.

Coming just months after the firm first opened its U.S. Sports Practice, Crittenberger’s addition amounts to a significant expansion of Odgers Berndtson’s commercial sports capabilities.

Greg Santore, who was brought in last July to head the Sports Practice, said: “Jamie’s addition to the firm is a win for Odgers and the industry,” said Santore said. “His extensive work with professional sports leagues, teams, and related entities nicely augments our current expertise in collegiate sports, gaming, and esports, and helps to further expand both our domestic and international client offerings.”

Non-Gaming Brands Are Getting Big Exposure Via Esports

Non-endemic brands account for a large chunk of the broadcast exposure companies are getting from their esports sponsorship, according to a new report issued today.

Reuters reports:

From snack companies to carmakers, 39% of brand exposure in esports’ competitive video game broadcasts is coming from non-gaming related companies in 2018, Nielsen said in the report.

“Over all forms of entertainment, their biggest passion is video games,” Nicole Pike, Managing Director of Nielsen Esports, said of enthusiasts of professional video gaming.

Such companies are called “non-endemic” since they are not as naturally aligned with esports as those that manufacture gaming computers, consoles, chairs and other gear, for instance.

The list of non-endemic brands in the sector and already includes State Farm, Disney, Spotify, Toyota, Mastercard, Cheez-It, Hershey, Chipotle, Sephora , Wendy’s and Head & Shoulders, and is getting longer.

The bulk of fans are typically between 18 and 35 years old, referred to in the Nielsen report by esports sponsor Doritos as “emerging adults.”

They have more disposable income than other sports fans and many have cut the cord to traditional media.

According to Nielsen, 61% of esports viewers on Twitch, a main platform for watching esports streams, do not watch television on a weekly basis.

Reaching out through esports does seem to work, since 90% of Twitch’s esports viewers can name at least one non-endemic sponsor, Nielsen found.

Brands seen as authentically interested in the space fare better than those that just slap their logo on a jersey, advertising and esports experts say.

PepsiCo’s Doritos, for instance, sponsored a “Doritos Bowl” hosted by Twitch for a Call of Duty battle royale tournament between top streamers.

Fans watched nearly 550,000 combined hours of that tournament, Nielsen said.

When 20th Century Fox wanted to promote the digital release of its movie “Deadpool 2 Super Duper Cut,” it turned to the gaming advertising and talent agency Ader.

Ader partnered with top Fortnite influencer DrLupo and also created new custom designed Deadpool “emotes” – essentially emoji characters – that viewers use in Twitch chat windows.

An influx of non-endemic brands also adds credibility to the evolving esports ecoystem, said Chad De Luca, Head of Gaming and Esports at Publicis Sport & Entertainment.

“It is a mark of approval from a blue-chip company,” he said.

WNBA Adds CBS To Television Coverage

The WNBA will double its television coverage in the U.S. thanks to a new multi-year deal with CBS Sports, which will televise 40 of the league’s games per season.

The league’s 23rd season tips off next month as the Seattle Storm try to defend their championship.

On May 25, the Minnesota Lynx and the Chicago Sky will face off to begin CBS Sports’ WNBA coverage.

The 12-team league also has a deal with ESPN to show 16 regular-season telecasts, including three on ABC.

Last year, the WNBA’s combined average viewership across ESPN2 and NBA TV was up 31% over 2018.

“Through our partnership with CBS Sports Network, the WNBA is joining an elite lineup of premium sports programming,” stated NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “We thank CBS Sports for making such a meaningful commitment to women’s basketball and for providing another platform to showcase the world-class athletes of the WNBA.”

CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus stated: “We are truly excited to partner with the WNBA, bringing the country’s premier women’s sports league to CBS Sports Network. This partnership is one of the biggest and most impactful women’s sports programming arrangements ever at CBS Sports, offering national exposure of 40 games per year,”

“This agreement provides great live content throughout the summer in prime time and on weekends, and aligns two great brands in the WNBA and CBS Sports. We look forward to working with the WNBA for many years to come.”