All That Matters announces largest conference programme ever

Organisers of the award winning All That Matters, Asia’s leading music, sports & entertainment industry conference, have announced the programme and speaker line-up for next month’s five-day B2B2Fan conference and music festival. The conference will be staged at The Ritz-Carlton Millenia, Singapore from September, 11-13.

With three weeks to go, event organizer Branded announces its biggest and most diverse conference programme yet, bringing together over 30 keynotes and 125 speakers who will participate in more than 70 sessions across the programmes’ five content tracks, encompassing Music, Sports, Gaming, Online and Marketing.

Speaking about the programme and speaker line up, Co-Founder and CEO of Branded, Jasper Donat said:

“The power is with the people! The digital media and entertainment industry is being blown wide open and the fan is most certainly in control. The programme for this year’s All That Matters is more diverse and more comprehensive than ever before reflecting the quantum change that this industry is enjoying. We have more keynote speakers talking at more sessions across more content tracks than ever before. We also have some of the very best names in their respective fields joining us to share their thoughts on the trends that will shape the future of our industry.”

“Aside from panel discussions and keynotes, we’ve also designed the programme to ensure that that there are plenty of breakout sessions, opportunities to network, to exchange ideas, and to socialise. I have no doubt that All That Matters 2017 will be insightful, highly informative and a lot of fun. We’re looking forward to it,” he added.

The last decade has seen an explosion of technological innovation in the music industry. Featuring keynote speakers including Lyor Cohen, Global Head of Music at YouTube and Hartwig Masuch, CEO at BMG, plus a dedicated China Music Forum, hosted by Tencent Music Entertainment Group which includes their CEO, Cussion Pang and the Music Matters Academy designed specifically for 200 up and coming artists, Music Matters will seek to explore the catalysts behind such fast-paced growth, while providing some perspective on the trends that look set to shape the future.

Presented by FOX Sports, Sports Matters will debate the continued convergence of sport and entertainment and will cover topics including the commercialisation of esports, rugby, golf, India, China and much more.

Chase Carey, Executive Chairman and CEO of Formula 1 will share his thoughts on the future of Formula 1. With all eyes on Japan, Cool Japan! The Road to 2020 will present a unique perspective on what Rugby World Cup’s debut in north Asia and the 2020 Olympics mean for both Japan and entertainment fans around the world. China is also a major focus for the conference. Speakers from Wanda, CMC, SECA, Alisports, CAA, and Johnson Yeh of Riot Games will elaborate on the upcoming League of Legends World Championships, hosted for the first time in the 90,000-seat Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing. Attendees will also meet and hear from Italo Zanzi, Executive Vice President & Managing Director, Sports, Fox Networks Group Asia.

The online Gaming and eSports industry is possibly the most exciting area of the entertainment industry today and Gaming Matters will provide conference goers with an insight into some explosive industry trends and highlight how the development of e-gaming is creating opportunities for growth within other industries. Featuring Kevin Lin COO of Twitch, the world’s leading social video platform and community for gamers and creators with close to 10 million daily community members making the platform a true industry leader.

Online Matters goes to the very heart of the video revolution featuring some of the leaders of the biggest companies leading the charge including Rob Roy, VP Content Acquisition at Netflix, Hosi Simon, Global General Manager, VICE and Anil Nihalani, Head of Connected Media at Mediacorp.

Marketing Matters, in conjunction with the World Federation of Advertisers and Ogilvy, focuses on the buy side of the media and entertainment business and looks to provide marketers with new ways to reach audiences in 2020 and provide insights on marketing strategy optimization, automation, AI and more. Speakers include Vice President of Media at the world’s largest advertiser Unilever, David Porter, who will talk about getting the conscious, cognisant and connected consumers to talk to you, while a panel discussion featuring speakers from Publicis Media Group, Columbus and Lazada Group will debate Performance Marketing: The Convergence of Media, Content and Commerce plus much more.

At night and throughout the preceding weekend (September 9-10), All That Matters delegates will be given the opportunity to continue their networking as over 40 bands from around the world entertain delegates as part of the Music Matters Live festival at Chijmes.

All That Matters is the region’s premiere ‘Business-2-Business-2-Fan’ event experience. Taking place from September 9-13 at The Ritz-Carlton Millenia, Singapore, All That Matters will once again bring thousands of executives and music fans to Singapore to enjoy the entertainment and debate the trends that continue to shape Asia’s billion-dollar music, sports, entertainment and online industries.

Tickets are available to buy, priced from US$599 at www.allthatmatters.asia/main/. Attendees can also sign up to All That Matters Weekly Trends for the latest programme announcements and updates at: eepurl.com/bcVDiv

ITTF opens bidding process for 2020 World Team Table Tennis Championships

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is calling for expressions of interest to host the 2020 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships.

Held since 1926, the World Table Tennis Championships is the biggest and most important table tennis event of the year, with high historical significance and high interest globally from players, fans, media and partners.

ITTF President Thomas Weikert is hopeful many different countries will show an interest in hosting the unique event: “The ITTF World Table Tennis Championships is a perfect way for countries and cities to showcase themselves to the world. The event is broadcast in over 120 countries and is seen by over 350 million people.

“I look forward to seeing as many countries show their interest as possible, not just from our tradition hosts, but new ones as well.”

The World Table Tennis Championships alternate between team and individual events annually. In 2020, the world’s best teams shall convene to fight for the title of World Team Champion.

Favorites for the title include China, Germany, Japan, Korea Republic, Singapore, France, Brazil, USA, and England.

The promotional reach is projected to be 355 million TV audiences in at least 122 countries across the world and millions more through ITTF’s 2.2 million social media fans.

The 2020 host will follow Halmstad, Sweden, and Budapest, Hungary, who will host the 2018 and 2019 editions respectively.

NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks seal Harley-Davidson shirt sponsorship deal

The Milwaukee Bucks and Harley-Davidson have signed a multi-year global agreement to feature Harley-Davidson’s iconic black, orange and white bar and shield logo on Bucks game shirts from the start of the 2017-18 season.

Shirt sponsorships were approved as part of a three-year pilot program by the NBA Board of Governors in April 2016.

The two globally renowned Milwaukee-based organizations made the announcement at the Harley-Davidson Museum in downtown Milwaukee.

“It’s a perfect fit for Harley-Davidson and the Bucks, two international brands with deep Milwaukee roots, to join together through this partnership,” said Matt Pazaras, Milwaukee Bucks senior vice president, business development and strategy.

“Harley evokes as much passion among its riders as the Bucks do for our fans. And with that passion, along with its iconic logo and what it represents, Harley is the coolest brand for our players to sport during games.”

Sean Cummings, Harley-Davidson senior vice president, global demand, added: “At Harley, our goal is to grow the sport of motorcycling across the country and around the world while building the next generation of riders.

“Our sponsorship with the Milwaukee Bucks not only unites two of the world’s favourite sports, it activates our brand in relevant ways to new, young adult audiences across the U.S. and around the world in over 200 countries and territories.

“We’ve been part of the fabric of this community since 1903 so it’s only natural that our brand is woven into the fabric of the Bucks jerseys.”

WWE and PPTV set to debut online streaming channel in China

WWE is set to launch its new online streaming channel, WWE Network, in China as part of a revenue sharing deal with PPTV.

The subscription video-on-demand service will feature all WWE live pay-per-view events, including WrestleMania and the upcoming SummerSlam.

The channel will go live on August 18 and WWE are hopeful the new venture will lead to increased expansion in a key market.

Godfrey Zeng, Executive Vice President of Suning Sports Media, parent company of PPTV, said: “When we began our exclusive partnership with WWE, we brought WWE’s signature programming, Raw and SmackDown, to PPTV and received a great response from WWE fans in China.

“In April, we offered WrestleMania as a pay-per-view event, and again, our fans responded enthusiastically. We are now launching WWE Network on PPTV and presenting the entire lineup of WWE pay-per-views and other premium content to continue to better serve WWE fans in China.”

Michelle Wilson, Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer, WWE, added: “PPTV is a tremendous partner, and has been key in helping us engage with WWE fans in China and further establishing our brand in this important market.

“With this launch, WWE Network is now available in every market, reaching more than 180 countries around the world, delivering all our premium live events and an archive of action-packed, family-friendly entertainment that has thrilled WWE audiences for years.”

WWE Network on PPTV is set to feature WWE’s major live events, original series, reality shows, documentaries and classic matches.

In addition to offering WWE Network as a subscription service, PPTV will also offer customers access to premium live events such as WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble and Survivor Series, plus other WWE Network Specials on a pay-per-view basis.

WWE short-form content will also be available on PPTV’s digital and social media platforms, including WeChat and Weibo.

IOC Executive Board to propose nine new Members to Session in Lima

The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will propose nine new Members for election at the 131st IOC Session in Lima.

Five of these nine new proposed Members are Individual Members. Amongst these five are three women and two men.

In line with Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC’s strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, the IOC Members Election Commission, chaired by HRH The Princess Royal, proposed them to the EB following a targeted recruitment process that is guided by a specific set of criteria.

Four new proposed Members, in accordance with the Olympic Charter, are representatives of the constituents of the Olympic Movement: the National Olympic Committees (NOC) and the International Federations (IF).

These four have been chosen in close consultation with the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC).

These nine candidates offer various skillsets and come from backgrounds as diverse as sports, management, volunteering, engineering, business administration, commerce and tourism, the media and NGOs.

All of them can bring skills and experience needed by the IOC, and aim to further strengthen the ranks of the Olympic Movement in the years to come. All proposed members have been vetted by the IOC Ethics Commission, which has conducted integrity checks.

The nine candidates are as follows:

Five proposed Individual Members:

Baklai Temengil
(Female, Palau, ONOC Vice-President, Individual Member, 23.10.1966)

Jiri Kejval
(Male, Czech Republic, President of the Czech Olympic Committee, Individual Member, 30.11.1967)

Kristin Kloster Aasen
(Female, Norway, Vice-President of the Norwegian Olympic Committee, Individual Member, 04.01.1961)

Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul
(Female, Thailand, President of the Badminton Association of Thailand, Individual Member, 16.02.1965)

Luis Mejia Oviedo
(Male, Dominican Republic, President of the Dominican Republic Olympic Committee, Individual Member, 04.09.1953)

Two proposed Members representing an NOC or a continental association of NOCs:

Neven Ivan Ilic Alvarez
(Male, Chile, PASO President, Member representing an NOC or a continental association of NOCs, 04.04.1962)

Khalid Muhammad Al Zubair
(Male, Oman, President of the Oman Olympic Committee, Member representing an NOC or a continental association of NOCs, 23.11.1970)

Two proposed Members representing an IF:

Jean-Christophe Rolland
(Male, France, Olympic rowing champion, President of World Rowing, Member representing an IF, 03.07.1968)

Ingmar De Vos
(Male, Belgium, President of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, member representing an IF, 05.08.1963)

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “These nine candidates will add to the huge range of knowledge and experience within the IOC membership. In line with Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC has taken another step towards a more diverse membership, which will continue to drive reform and reflect the world in which we live.”

Morocco confirms bid to host 2026 FIFA World Cup

The Moroccan Football Federation has today announced to football’s world governing body FIFA that it will bid to host the 2026 World Cup.

The impending bid represents Morocco’s fifth candidacy, having come up short already in 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2010.

In April, the United States, Canada and Mexico announced a joint North American bid to host the tournament.

If successful, Morocco will become only the second African nation to host football’s flagship event following South Africa in 2010.

The North African country has received backing from The Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Ahmad Ahmad, who said he was “convinced” the country is ready to host a World Cup.

The 2026 tournament will be the first with an expanded 48-team tournament, moving up from the current format of 32 qualifiers. A decision on who will host event will be made in 2020.

Morocco previously won the right to host the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations but pulled out over concerns related to the Ebola outbreak in western Africa at the time.

CBF appoint Synergy Football agency to help market national team rights

CBF Futebol, Brazil’s soccer governing body, has announced a new partnership with Synergy Football agency.

The agency has been appointed in order to help sell media rights for La Seleção’s national team fixtures for the period from November 2017 to 2022 World Cup.

Marco Polo Del Nero, president of the CBF, said: “CBF’s board of directors consulted with many specialist agencies, conducted an exhaustive interview and negotiation process, and opted for Synergy for its global experience and especially for its sales role in the Brazilian media, where it represented for a long time the main European championships, among them the Uefa Champions League.

“We are confident that this step will be significant for our national team and for Brazilian football.”

Patrick Murphy, Executive Director of Synergy, added: “The Brazilian national team is one of the most iconic and authentic teams in the world and we are honoured to be able to advise CBF to bring the media rights performance of this powerful and historic national team to a new level.”

Synergy Football’s advisory role brings an end to CBF Futebol’s in-house approach to marketing its rights.

Synergy has led the sale of media rights and sponsorship to the UEFA Champions League for more than a decade – raising revenues to more than £3.6 ($4.7) billion.

Discovery agrees Olympics deal with German broadcasters ARD and ZDF

German broadcasters ARD and ZDF have today agreed a deal with Discovery Communications to show the Olympic Games from 2018 to 2024.

The agreement is set to include free-to-air broadcast rights to the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang and Beijing, plus the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The 2024 edition of the Summer Olympics Games, which is expected to take place in Paris, also forms parts of the deal.

Daily coverage will be produced by Eurosport, a Discovery-owned channel, and alternate between ARD and ZDF, with German viewers able to tune in on television and live stream via mobile devices.

Peter Hutton, chief executive of Eurosport, said: “This commitment between Discovery and ARD/ZDF is another example of our game-changing approach to premium live sport, empowering viewers to watch the biggest moments in sport whenever and however they choose.

“For the Olympic Games, our ambition is to share the world’s greatest event with more people, on more screens, than ever before. Establishing free-to-air partnerships with the best national broadcasters across Europe, such as ARD/ZDF, will enable us to fulfil this transformational goal.”

Susanne Aigner-Drews, managing director of Discovery Networks Germany, said: “We have discussed a partnership with ARD-ZDF for some time and our new collaboration for the Olympic Games until 2024 shows our desire to put viewers first.

“They will enjoy unrivalled coverage and have the chance to follow every moment, through more than 100 events, for the first time with Eurosport.”

Liverpool and Western Union announce sleeve sponsorship deal

Liverpool FC and Western Union have announced a multi-year partnership that will see Western Union become an official principal partner of the club, while also becoming Liverpool’s first-ever official shirt-sleeve sponsor.

Western Union’s logo is the first to appear on the Merseyside outfit’s shirt sleeves and sixth to appear on the shirt since the inception of Liverpool FC in 1892.

Billy Hogan, chief commercial officer and managing director at Liverpool FC, said: “Western Union is an instantly recognisable brand with a truly global footprint and we are absolutely delighted to welcome them as our first ever shirt-sleeve Sponsor and official principal partner.

“We are very much looking forward to working with Western Union through this partnership to create new experiences and opportunities for our fans both in the UK and abroad.”

Liverpool, which celebrates its 125th year of existence in 2017, has more than 700 million active followers globally, across television, social and traditional media.

Jean-Claude Farah, president of global payments at Western Union, added: “The businesses of Western Union and Liverpool FC are both driven by our passion for bringing communities together, whether that be through moving money or delivering the excitement of football experiences.

“This partnership goes far beyond a badge on a shirt, as we will be bringing our digital money transfer expertise to better connect Liverpool FC and fans around the world.”

To celebrate the launch of the partnership, Western Union will be offering Liverpool fans in the UK, Ireland, France, Denmark, Norway and Sweden a money transfer promotion, running from now through until the end of August.

Volkswagen agrees new long-term partnership with UEFA

UEFA has announced that Volkswagen has signed an agreement to become a partner with European football’s governing body for all UEFA national team football competitions running from 2018 until 2022.

This will include the newly created UEFA Nations League Finals in 2019 and 2021, the European Qualifiers for UEFA EURO 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the 2019 and 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championships, UEFA Women’s EURO 2021, and UEFA Futsal EURO 2018 and 2022.

The new deal will see Volkswagen, who recently replaced Mercedes as the main sponsor of the German national team, expand its presence across football. Volkswagen also owns Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg.

Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess said: “No other sport is as powerful as football or unites so many people. Furthermore, UEFA EURO 2020, which is being played across the entire continent, is a fantastic project. Our wish is to contribute towards building bridges between all countries and for football fans with our mobility and creativity.”

Guy-Laurent Epstein, Marketing Director of UEFA Events SA, said: “We are proud to have such a great European brand with such a genuine passion for football at our side.

“That holds especially true given the tasks that lie ahead of us: UEFA EURO 2020 will place the most rigorous demands on mobility. There is a grand idea and an innovative concept behind this tournament and we are very happy to have the support of Volkswagen on this exciting journey.”