GLORY kickboxing confirms livestreaming deal with Pluto TV

GLORY, the world’s premier kickboxing league, has today announced a partnership with Pluto TV – the leading free Internet television service in America – to livestream the preliminary bouts at every GLORY fight night.

Previously untelevised, full preliminary fight cards take place before the GLORY SuperFight Series at each live event. These bouts give fans an opportunity to see emerging kickboxing talent before they are ready to debut on the big stage.

“Pluto TV has been a great partner for GLORY,” said Nadim Tannous, Vice President of Digital, GLORY. “Their curated GLORY channel has already been extremely well received and this additional live content will create new means for fans to access the kickboxing they crave.

“A major element of our online strategy is to distribute via OTT platforms and increase our brand presence with the leaders in that space. We look forward to growing further with Pluto TV.”

Amy Kuessner, VP of Content Partnerships, Pluto TV, added: “Pluto TV fans love sports and GLORY Kickboxing is one of our most popular channels. This expanded partnership brings never before seen live content to our viewers nationwide.”

SAP becomes official sponsoring partner of the DFB Academy

The DFB Academy and SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) have announced that SAP has become an official sponsoring partner of the DFB Academy.

The initial three-year agreement between the market leader for enterprise software and the academy of the German Soccer Association (DFB) will focus on joint innovation projects in the framework of the evolution of soccer in Germany.

The collaboration is set to concentrate on topics involving young talent support, match and practice analysis and expert training. As a DFB sponsoring partner, SAP brings years of experience in the areas of data analytics, evaluation of payer performance and technological innovations in football to the table.

Oliver Bierhoff, Project Manager, DFB Academy, said: “A core tenet of the academy is our desire to continue the evolution of German soccer, and we want to use the latest technologies to do so.

“Big Data analytics is becoming more and more important for soccer, and we want to apply it for our work. We are very pleased to have a strong partner like SAP, which stands for competency, innovation and modern infrastructure and technology. These are the characteristics we want to utilize to our benefit.”

Bernd Leukert, Member of the Executive Board of SAP SE and responsible for Products & Innovation, SAP, added: “Data analytics and performance improvements based on reliable information are decisive in all respects of professional sports.

“Together with the DFB Academy we will continue to work on innovations for soccer in Germany. With our expertise in the processing of mass data for match and practice analysis, we can deliver real added value to the DFB Academy in the areas of young talent support, talent development and player scouting.”

SAP has been an official premium partner of the DFB and its national team since 2013. Previous co-innovation projects have helped the team to victory at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the FIFA Confederations Cup and the UEFA European U21 Championship in 2017.

Affiliate Insider to boost growth and development in the affiliate sector

SBC Global and Best Odds Marketing have joined forces to launch Affiliate Insider, a joint venture designed to spearhead growth and development in the gambling affiliate sector.

SBC Global, a leading news and events company for the sports betting industry, will work with Best Odds Marketing and AffiliateFEST Founder Lee-Ann Johnstone, to operate a brand new affiliate news, training and events focused business.

Increased regulatory responsibilities and levels of compliance have been placed on affiliates and operators in the iGaming industry, which has seen a number of major operators implementing a ‘one strike and out’ policy for their marketing partners. This demonstrates a need for the affiliate sector to improve skills and business development in order to support acquisition growth.

Combined with a growing wave of consolidation, there has been a lot of change in a small period of time, meaning affiliate businesses have had to adapt very quickly.

Affiliate Insider provides detailed insight about this changing regulatory landscape, and further developments to the marketplace, particularly with affiliates now facing tighter regulation, stricter advertising controls and greater digital disruption.

The business will also cover in-depth training, business support, affiliate mentoring, news and marketing promotions for new and existing iGaming affiliates and those who making the move into the operator channel. It will also provide support for operators seeking access to the best affiliate marketing strategies and skills development for driving incremental revenue.

Johnstone said: “The affiliate market has matured significantly over the past decade and continues to grow at a rapid rate. There is a dire need for ongoing training and development services that help operators and affiliates growth hack their businesses and keep ahead of digital change.

“I’m delighted to be partnering with SBC Global to launch Affiliate Insider, which will focus on supporting affiliate marketing best practice, news and insights and skills development for operators, suppliers and affiliates, enabling closer collaboration within this ever-growing channel.”

SBC Global Founder Rasmus Sojmark added: “Lee-Ann is an award winning affiliate marketing expert and has a wealth of expertise building global affiliate programmes. Affiliate Insider is therefore a perfect complement to SBC’s existing business.

“By focusing on creating specialist industry forums, our mission is to focus on knowledge sharing, skills development and better collaboration in the affiliate space to enable businesses to implement innovation, increase revenue and stay ahead of digital transformation.”

The first of these specialist forums has been confirmed as a part of next year’s Betting on Football conference agenda. The Affiliate Insider Bootcamp, held on Wednesday 21 March, will offer affiliate focused panel sessions, presentations and workshops, with content ranging from digital marketing hacks to latest innovative technologies to scale affiliate business growth.

The Varsity Match announces online streaming partnership with UNILAD

The Varsity Match has announced a new online streaming partnership with UNILAD which will see the 2017 men’s and women’s Varsity Matches streamed live on Facebook.

Fans will be able to watch events on Thursday 7 December live on UNILAD’s Facebook page, which has a following of over 34 million people.

The agreement forms part of a triple viewing offering for fans which sits alongside the ongoing television broadcast on BBC and live stream via the Varsity Match website.

The Varsity Match Company CEO, David Searle, said: “We are delighted to be working with UNILAD in what we hope will be a significant step in reaching and introducing The Varsity Match to new digital audiences.

“The Varsity Matches are an historic showcase of student athletes and one of the biggest amateur global sporting events.

“We are continually looking at new, innovative ways to grow and develop the event, and we look forward to moving the matches further into the modern area, opening-up the occasion to a younger, more social media-focused audience.”

UNILAD CEO, Liam Harrington, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with the Varsity Matches this year. As one of the world’s largest running sporting fixtures, it’s a fantastic opportunity to show our young and global audience a great contest between two of the most prestigious universities in the world.”

Broadcasting is dead – and more alive and dynamic than ever before in the digital world. Television and video content is everywhere, with multiple platforms and devices available at billions of fingertips around the globe.

But staying ahead of the curve has never been more difficult, with business models often running to catch up to ever-changing technology and new opportunities coming online every single day.

Sign up to iSportconnect’s 2018 Broadcast Masterclass now

iSportconnect brings sports industry together at Dubai Summit

iSportconnect, the largest global private network of sport business executives, brought the sports industry together at the inaugural Dubai Summit on November 29, 2017.

The event, which was hosted in association with PwC, Dubai Sports Council and Nielsen Sports, took place in the picturesque surroundings of the Address Boulevard Hotel in the Downtown area of Dubai.

An intimate capacity of high-ranking delegates gathered to discuss a variety of issues, opportunities and future trends impacting the region and wider industry.

LaLiga‘s Adolfo Bara kicked off proceedings with a keynote speech focusing on how to build a global strategy before joining the opening panel to discuss the Spanish football league’s strategies to deliver more value than ever before for its partners, including Inspiratus Group and Du.

Panel Two saw Nuala Walsh, Chief Marketing Officer at Standard Life Aberdeen, Jon Hall, Chief Growth Officer at Kodak, and Felicien Dillard, Deals Strategy – Director at PwC, dissect what brands want from sports partnerships in the digital age, plus how best to protect the credibility and image of sports properties.

Discussions continued during ample networking opportunities, with guests benefitting from a relaxed environment in which to build new relationships and exchange viewpoints.

Broadcasting and the digital audience dominated conversations on Panel Three with Jerry Newman, Sport Partnership Lead – EMEA at Facebook, Aarti Dabas – Head of Media Rights, Broadcast & Digital at the ICC, and Cristian Livadiotti, co-founder of Wildmoka, all sharing valuable insights on digital tools, social media and commercial opportunities.

The event concluded with a debate on the importance of rights owners being active on the ground with live events and other programmes in the globalised digital market. Ben Morel, Managing Director and Senior VP – EMEA at NBA, Brett Gosper, CEO of World Rugby, and Alistair Kirkwood, Managing Director at NFL UK, all brought significant value to the topic and – fittingly – finished on the future prospects for the Middle East as a sports destination.

The next stop on iSportconnect’s global Summit tour is Beijing, with full event details set to be confirmed in due course.

Future Summits will also be staged in Singapore, Madrid, New York, Mexico City, Moscow, Munich, Paris and London throughout 2018.

Please contact Chris Edbrook (chris@isportconnect.com) to register your interest in future iSportconnect events.

Mahindra and Renesas announce Formula E technical partnership

Mahindra & Mahindra, Ltd. a pioneer in the development of electric vehicles, and Renesas Electronics Corporation, a supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced the formation of a strategic partnership with Renesas as the official technology partner of the Mahindra Racing Formula E team.

Both parties will work together across a number of programmes inclusive of ‘proof-of-concept’ systems for both racing and road cars.

The organizations will leverage their mutual strengths to expand the development and manufacturing of electric vehicles, powertrain, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, and other systems in India and other emerging markets.

Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited and Chairman of Mahindra Racing UK said, “We are delighted to welcome Renesas as a key technical partner of the Mahindra Racing Formula E team as we start the fourth season of racing.

“Formula E is helping to grow Mahindra’s EV technology and expertise, and this new strategic partnership with Renesas will only help to accelerate our learning curve.

“We look forward to working with Renesas and leveraging their automotive semiconductor expertise as we increase our thrust in Formula-E and continue to play a pioneering role in the fast-growing Indian EV market.”

Ryuji Omura, Executive Vice President of Renesas Electronics Corporation said, ” India is one of our focus markets and is expected to bring about significant business growth for Renesas, particularly for the EV segment.

The India government is working on a scheme to limit the cars sold in India to only electric vehicles by 2030, opening tremendous opportunities for the EV market.

Through our new partnership with Mahindra, we look forward to bringing our design expertise based on our open and comprehensive Renesas autonomy Platform, to the Indian market.”

FC Inter launch new football academy in China

FC Inter opened the Academy WIFA Sichuan in the city of Chengdu, China, following a strategic agreement between FC Internazionale Milano, Suning Sports Group and Wawa International Football Academy.

The Academy WIFA Sichuan is the fourth Inter academy in the country.

The new opening represents the first step in a wider development plan shared by Inter and Suning for the growth of the Inter Academy project in China.

“We are delighted to be able to unveil this project, which sees us become active players alongside Suning in the Sichuan area, especially given that we are collaborating with such a well-organised, solid partner like WIFA,” said Inter Vice President Javier Zanetti.

“We are passionate about strengthening football culture by sharing our technical expertise and training coaches and young players in their countries of origin according to international footballing and ethical standards.”

Mark Zheng, Suning’s deputy general manager of competition management, added: “The development of this partnership is an important first step in the process of raising awareness and improving football training in China.

“It’s something that Suning is fully committed to promoting, by drawing on the professionalism and expertise of Inter.”

WIFA founder and president Pu Wen said:“WIFA and Inter Academy will work together to develop youth football in Sichuan province with the objective of creating the next chapter in the history of Chinese football. For us, this is about our responsibility to society and responding to the huge demand from fans here in China,” said WIFA founder and president Pu Wen.

Eleven Sports and YouNow sign sports content agreement

Global sports provider Eleven Sports and live streaming pioneer YouNow have today announced a partnership that will see YouNow’s new, blockchain-powered Rize app showcase live content from Eleven Sports in the US.

YouNow, the 40-million-user live streaming network for millennials and Gen Z, will launch Rize, the world’s first cryptocurrency-powered mobile video app in January.

The video technology will enable viewers to actively engage with one another and the competition itself in real time, while consuming Eleven Sports’ diverse array of sports content.

Rize’s community will join their friends from around the world on live video while watching live streams of a diverse range of sports from Soccer to the Kontinental Hockey League. For the first time, they’ll be able to feel like one of the thousands of fans in the stadium, watching the game and celebrating with fellow fans.

“The YouNow fan is mobile, young and connected and we’re excited to team up with them and target this passionate audience,” said Danny Menken, Group Managing Director, Eleven Sports.

“We have recently proven our strategy to reach new audiences in innovative ways by live-streaming top sports action on social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter.

“Interactive communities such as YouNow create a wide-open field for immersive ways to serve up live sports – we’re bringing sport to the fan, and this partnership underscores that goal.”

Adi Sideman, CEO of YouNow, added: “We are delighted to bring Eleven Sports’s premium content to our products. We welcome a programming partnership that leverages our live streaming expertise, their worldwide sports business, and a passionate audience that seeks to participate in the experience.”

Lidl nets European handball sponsorship

German global supermarket chain Lidl has signed up as an official sponsor of European handball’s flagship event, the Men’s EHF EURO 2018.

The deal was brokered by Infront Sports & Media and marks the retailer’s second international engagement in handball on a global level, after being sponsor of the World Handball Championship 2017.

The agreement is set to give Lidl extensive brand exposure during the competition. Infront is the exclusive media and marketing partner of the European Handball Federation (EHF) for the EHF EURO events and has now filled six of the maximum eight sponsorship slots for the competition, which takes place 12-28 January 2018, in four venues across Croatia.

As official sponsor and official fresh food partner, Lidl’s rights package comprises the positioning of floor stickers on the courts at each game and advertising on all the perimeter LED boards.

For the first time, LED boards will also be placed behind the goals, giving sponsors even greater brand visibility.

A LIDL spokesperson said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Lidl and our customers. We are proud to be connected to such an event and are looking forward to building a successful partnership in accordance with our mission statement ‘Simply more joy for life.”

Stephan Herth, Executive Director Summer Sports for Infront, added: “We are thrilled to have secured Lidl in their first sponsorship of these championships. Their commitment clearly underlines the growing popularity of handball, not only as a spectator sport, but also as an ever appealing marketing platform.”

Brentford Football Club partners with Novotel Hotels

Brentford Football Club has announced an official club supplier partnership with Novotel London Brentford, solidifying an existing relationship.

After more than three years working with the club, Novotel London Brentford has now signed up as a Brentford FC official club supplier for the 2017/18 season and beyond.

Brentford FC has been using the nearby Novotel, which is on the corner of Ealing Road and Great West Road – a few minutes from Griffin Park, as part of match preparations in recent years.

Before every home match the Brentford players use the modern and contemporary hotel for their pre-match meal and analysis. It is also used to house new signings before they find permanent accommodation in the area and by the Club for meetings and events.

James Parkinson, Brentford Commercial Director, said: “Novotel London Brentford has always been very supportive of The Bees. Our First Team certainly enjoy the set up and association with such a prestigious hotel property.

“Brentford FC are moving into exciting times with the launch of digital partnerships and a new stadium move. To build on our relationship during this period and take key partners on this journey shows the Club taking positive commercial steps.”

Terence Beach, General Manager Novotel London Brentford said; “We are delighted to be supporting our local club, Brentford FC, welcoming the new signings and hosting meetings and events for the Club.

“Our hotel is perfect for business and pleasure with built-in meeting rooms for people to work as well as areas to relax and unwind after a busy day so is ideal for team members to enjoy.”