iSportconnect adds ATP Media to Broadcast Masterclass speaker lineup

iSportconnect is delighted to confirm that Shane Warden – Director of Broadcast & Technology at ATP Media – has been added to the speaker lineup for the Broadcast Masterclass on February 28, 2018.

Warden is set to bring extensive insight to the day’s content programme, courtesy of 28 years’ experience in Technical and Operational Management covering all aspects of sports media, data, broadcasting technology and operations.

Staying ahead of the broadcast curve has never been more difficult, with new opportunities coming online every single day, and the Masterclass will offer a unique opportunity for leading executives to learn more about an integral – and ever-changing – sector of the sports industry.

Panel discussions and debates are set to focus on key topics such as the rise of OTT, digital tools and current competition within the sports rights market landscape. A series of networking sessions will ensure those in attendance are able to share opinions, experiences and best practices in a relaxed environment.

No agencies or press will be in attendance and, as we follow Chatham House Rules, all panel discussions will remain confidential, promoting a free exchange of ideas between delegates.

The all-day event will be held at K&L Gates’ London office, which is located in the modern iconic premises of One New Change.

Want to attend? See our invitation policy below:

  • There is no fee to attend this event. However, the Broadcast Masterclass is open exclusively to senior sports business executives from broadcasters, rights holders and sponsorship brands only.
  • No agencies or press can attend and, as we follow Chatham House Rules, all discussions will remain confidential.
  • Capacity is capped at 150 delegates allowing intimate access to key decision makers in the sports industry.

A full speaker lineup for the event will be confirmed in due course. Please contact Chris Edbrook (chris@isportconnect.com) to register your interest in attending.

Confirmed speaker lineup:

Peter Hutton, CEO of Eurosport

Jonathan Licht, Director of Strategy at Sky Sports

Aarti Dabas, Head of Media Rights, Broadcast & Digital at the International Cricket Council

Ian Holmes, Director of Media Rights at Formula 1

Shane Warden, Director of Broadcast & Technology at ATP Media

Dragon Racing Team and InstaForex extend Formula E partnership

InstaForex and the Dragon Racing Team have announced an extension to their sponsorship contract for the FIA Formula E Championship.

The pair’s partnership began in 2015 when the InstaForex logo was placed on the Dragon Racing car at the first Formula E race in Moscow and will continue throughout Season Four.

Pavel Shkapenko, Development Director at InstaForex, said: “The extension of the official sponsorship contract implies not only image-building, which includes branding cars and the drivers helmets with the broker’s logo.

“InstaForex shares the desire of Formula E and Dragon Racing to develop and promote new technologies while taking care of the environment. We wish Dragon Racing all the best for a fantastic season.”

Jay Penske, the Principal and Owner of Dragon Racing, added: “Dragon Racing is delighted to welcome Instaforex back for a 4th consecutive season. Their continued support and shared values make for a great partnership that I am sure will continue for many years to come.”

UEFA secures court injunction aimed at clamping down on illegal streams

UEFA has secured a High Court injunction aimed at clamping down on illegal streaming of its showpiece matches.

A judge in London passed an order applied for by European football’s governing body against the UK’s major internet service providers (ISPs).

UEFA’s claim was for an injunction “requiring” the service providers “to take measures to block, or at least impede, access by their customers to streaming servers which deliver infringing live streams of UEFA competition matches to UK consumers”.

The order is set to run from mid-February to late May – covering the crucial knock-out stages of both the Champions League and Europa League tournaments.

The Premier League has a similar injunction in place for the current campaign designed to stop fans from accessing content illegally.

Stay ahead of the broadcast curve and sign up to our Masterclass now

WSF launches new partnership with German footwear brand Teuton

The World Squash Federation (WSF)has today announced a new three-year agreement with footwear brand Teuton Sports, which will see the German brand become the WSF’s official shoe partner from 2018 onwards.

The German indoor shoe specialists will feature on the WSF’s media platforms, while a range of official merchandise will become available to purchase via the WSF’s website in the future.

WSF Chief Executive Andrew Shelley, said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Teuton as a new WSF partner.

“Teuton is a specialist squash brand which is known for their strong emphasis on design and high-quality products, and we look forward to working closely with them to build a strong partnership.”

Javier Rodriguez Cepeda, Managing Director of Teuton Sports, added: “Squash is our passion. We work aligned with the WSF goals looking forward to seeing our sport securing a place in the Olympic Games.

“Through our sponsoring programs for players, clubs, academies such as regional and national federations, we want to contribute to growing the squash participation level around the world.”

Wilson becomes global series partner of Tie Break Tens

Wilson Sporting Goods Co has agreed a deal to become an official sponsor of the Tie Break Tens 2018 series.

As part of the agreement, the global brand will provide branded tennis balls, apparel and merchandise throughout 2018, with the inaugural Tie Break Tens Melbourne Event set to start in mid January.

The super tie break format is fast paced and action packed, while a huge ‘Winner Takes All’ prize of $250,000 is at stake.

The new partnership will see Wilson grow its global presence in tennis as the brand is currently the official ball supplier of the US Open, Australian Open, Laver Cup and also sponsors other large tennis events.

Hans-Martin Reh, the General Manager of Wilson Tennis, said of the deal: “At Wilson, we are constantly focused on ways to share our passion for the sport and get more people excited about the game in new ways.

“Tie Break Tens is changing the game and we share their mission for creating a fun and dynamic experience. We loved watching Wilson ambassadors Grigor Dimitrov and Simona Halep take home the title in Madrid in 2017 and are proud to be joining the events in 2018.”

Felicity Barnard, CEO Tie Break Tens added; “The Tie Break Tens format breaks the conventional rules of tennis. It is fast paced and action packed, giving fans and viewers a full evening of entertainment whilst showcasing exceptional tennis.

“The partnership with Wilson ensures our players have the very best equipment, which is crucial in this format where every point counts.”

Race Of Champions confirm Richard Mille as official watch partner

Richard Mille will serve as official watch partner at the next Race Of Champions, which is set to be held in February 2018 at Riyadh’s King Fahad International Stadium, Saudi Arabia.

The two companies were previously in partnership at the 2009 Race Of Champions at Beijing’s ‘Bird’s Nest’ Olympic Stadium. As part of the new agreement, the winner of the individual Race Of Champions in Riyadh will receive one of Richard Mille’s sublime watches.

Richard Mille said: “Through my passion for motorsports, it is a real pleasure to be able to support the Race Of Champions during their Saudi Arabian debut.

“This event is unique in the way it unites a large variety of racing disciplines with high-powered sportsmanship, motivated by the incredible talent of all the drivers who participate. It is a real pleasure to be a partner once again of this fantastic event.”

ROC President, Fredrik Johnsson, added: “We are delighted to have such a prestigious brand as Richard Mille back as the ROC’s official watch partner. The fit is perfect with their motto: A Racing Machine on the Wrist.”

Nathan Homer hails GolfSixes’ impact on younger fans and social media: ‘Innovation is vital for golf to continue to grow’

GolfSixes – the short-format golf concept – attracted younger, new fans to the game while delivering impressive social media engagement, according to new analysis released by the European Tour.

Data from the inaugural GolfSixes competition in 2017 shows that the event saw a 42% increase in new golf fans compared to standard European Tour tournaments.

Those attendees were also 14% younger than those seen during the rest of the golfing calendar. By virtue of attracting a younger following, social media engagement around the event also exceeded the average rate seen at other European Tour tournaments by 24%, delivering over 20 million social impressions.

In response to the positive findings, GolfSixes will return to the European Tour calendar on May 5th and 6th, 2018, as an inclusive ‘festival of golf’ that encourages even more fan engagement, as well as featuring a junior tournament.

The GolfSixes format was trialled in response to growing demand for shorter, more intensive competition. It replicates other successful short-form sport concepts such as the T-20 Big Bash, World Rugby Sevens Series, Nitro Athletics and Tie Break Tens.

Nathan Homer, Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer of the European Tour, said: “GolfSixes combines the camaraderie and intrigue of team golf with the drama and intensity of a shorter format. The players love it, and the fans enjoy the different, more entertaining atmosphere. Last year we tested the concept and this year we will dial up the fan engagement still further.

“Golf needs a route for younger fans, groups of adults and families to get involved. We know that GolfSixes appeals to those audiences while still offering something to our die-hard fans. We have to keep innovating in order to grow our appeal and the statistics suggest GolfSixes can have a powerful presence in the golfing calendar.

“GolfSixes is still in the early stages of its development but the combination of player feedback and tournament data suggests it is here to stay. Innovation is vital for golf to continue to grow its fan base and we look forward to seeing how the next iteration of GolfSixes will support that goal.”

READ MORE: The rising tide of new sporting formats should be embraced – not fought against

Minnesota Vikings become first NFL team to launch VR application for Oculus

The Minnesota Vikings have become the first National Football League (NFL) team to launch a virtual reality application for Oculus courtesy of a partnership with VR/360 company Zeality.

The application is called ‘Vikings VR’ and takes fans directly inside U.S. Bank Stadium to view 360 videos and photos from Vikings games and events.

Content from various phases of the construction of U.S. Bank Stadium, plus key events from the first regular season game played at the Vikings new home – and every home game since – is viewable in Vikings VR.

Vikings Executive Director of Digital Media and Innovation Scott Kegley, said: “Virtual reality and 360 content is very important to our organisation.

“We understand only a small percentage of our large fan base is able to attend a Vikings game or event. We want to bring experiences to them, and immersive technology is allowing us to do that.”

Zeality Co-Founder and CEO Dipak M. Patel, added: “We’re excited to partner with the Vikings to drive a new category of experiences for their fans and partners.

“The Vikings are not only innovating new ways of creating content using immersive media, they are also one of the leaders in delivering these experiences to their fans.”

Happy New Year from The iSportconnect Team!

We’ve had a lot to celebrate as a business over the last 12 months as we continue to expand into new markets and forge new partnerships.

Our repertoire of events has grown even further, leading to the successful launch of the Summit format in both Lausanne and Dubai.

We have big plans in place for 2018 and look forward to seeing you all on the next step of our journey.

Enjoy the holidays and good luck for 2018!

The iSportconnect Team

Take our end-of-year member survey for the chance to win an Amazon Kindle

FIFA announces award of media rights in Russia and Italy for 2018 FIFA World Cup

FIFA has announced deals in Russia and Italy for media rights to 2018 FIFA World Cup.

In Russia, rights have been granted to the 2SPORT2 consortium (representing Channel One, RTR and Match TV), which will provide coverage of the competition in the host country.

In Italy, Mediaset has secured live rights to all 64 matches to be aired on its free-to-air channels. The rights sales process in Italy was conducted by the MP & Silva agency on behalf of FIFA.

Rights in both territories have been awarded on a platform-neutral basis, allowing fans to enjoy TV, internet, mobile and radio coverage of the competition.

FIFA’s Chief Commercial Officer, Philippe Le Floc’h, said: “We are delighted to take two important steps closer to finalising the global broadcast offering for 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

“The Russian consortium of broadcasters did a fantastic job of transmitting the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 this summer in the host territory, and we know that they will help to convey the special atmosphere that we will enjoy in Russia next summer.

“In the Italian market, we are very pleased to have Mediaset as a partner and Italian fans will be able to enjoy all 64 matches of the FIFA World Cup on free-to-air channels.”

READ MORE: How the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be won and lost by sponsors and advertisers