The Rugby League International Federation have appointed former ECB chief David Collier OBE as CEO from 1st April.
Full story HERE.
EXCLUSIVE: Baku 2015 CEO Simon Clegg “Hopeful” of UK TV Deal
The chief executive of the Baku 2015 European Games tells iSportconnect he is “hopeful” of acquiring a broadcasting partner in the UK for the event this summer.
Speaking on the day the Azeri capital celebrates 100 days to go until the inaugural event, price order Simon Clegg was also mindful that a lot of work needed to be done between now and the opening ceremony in the National Stadium on June 12.
Recently, Baku 2015 announced a deal with cable network Universal Sports Network to broadcast the Games across the USA. Also Setanta have acquired the broadcast rights in Ireland.
But a deal in the UK has yet to emerge, with Clegg admitting negotiations were ongoing.
“I am hopeful that we will have a broadcasting partner in the UK,” Clegg told iSportconnect.
“We are still working on the UK market and I’m not in a position to give any further information in that regard at this stage but what I can tell you is that we continue to be negotiations with a couple of broadcasters.”
BT Sport is thought to be one of the broadcasters involved in the negotiations but at this stage the company could not be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, it’s not just people watching on TV that Clegg has to worry about – later this month the ticketing scheme will be launched meaning it will be a tight window for ticket sales.
However, Clegg explained that the ticketing pricing strategy they have in place means he can be confident of packing out the venues.
“The pricing policy has been devised to achieve that objective”, he said. “Whether it will be successful or not, only time will tell.
“But I am incredibly confident in the research that was undertaken to come up with those ticket prices to achieve that objective. I’m confident we will sell out the venues.”
BECOG announced that tickets will go on sale between March 19-21 and that prices will range from £12 to £32, maintaining that affordability was key.
An issue that has slightly overshadowed the 100 days to go celebrations has been the news that a report by Amnesty International has condemned Azerbaijan for, it alleges, a number of human rights abuses.
Amnesty’s report says that there are at least 22 prisoners of conscience awaiting trial “following trumped-up charges ranging from fraud and embezzlement to abuse of drugs and even treason”.
In answer to the allegations Clegg was purely focused on sport, not politics.
He said: “Sport has no nationality we’re very focused on delivering the inaugural European Games here. This is a major undertaking… we’re very focused on delivering a sporting event for athletes.”
Baku 2015 will include 253 events in 20 sports and 12 of the Olympic sports involved will use the Games as qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympics.
So there is pressure to get the preparations right – a fact Clegg is aware of.
“100 days to go and still a good amount of work to do,” he said. “I think we should never forget that Baku was given just 30 months to deliver this event – not the seven years that’s normally allowed to prepare for an Olympic or Winter Olympic Games.
“So a little respite today to celebrate the occasion, to make some important announcements here, including ticket prices and to release the design of medals.
“But outside of that a lot of work is going on behind the scenes and of course we’re hosting the gymnastics test event at the moment where I was just at the opening ceremony earlier on today. So another busy day in the office.”
As the clock ticks down until the milestone event, Clegg faces many more busy days before the European Games begins.
Related
Watch: Our Baku 2015 SPECIAL REPORT
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NASCAR Team up With SportData
NASCAR has announced a partnership with sports content provider SportsData.
SportsData, the US subsidiary of Sportradar, will distribute NASCAR’s live timing and scoring data to third-party digital outlets.
More info HERE.
Papa John’s Most Identified NFL Sponsor by Fans
Papa John’s pizza has been voted the most identified brand sponsor of the National Football League (NFL) by avid fans, click a survey has shown.
The survey released this week by Turnkey Intelligence for SportsBusiness Journal/Daily, showed that more than 62% of avid fans identified Papa John’s as the official pizza of the NFL.
The numbers represent a 13% increase from 2012, the largest increase of all the 68 brands involved in the survey.
John Schnatter, Papa John’s Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive said: ““We are very humbled by our results with the NFL and are flattered to be mentioned in the same company as great brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi.
“I think this is attributable to the collaborative relationship we have with our franchisees, our corporate operators and our customers. Furthermore, I’d be remiss not to give a shout-out to our fantastic marketing team and our relationship with Peyton Manning and Jim Nantz.”
Papa John’s furthered their sponsorship with the NFL by partnering with Denver Broncos quarterback, Peyton Manning, for an ad campaign featuring Manning, Schnatter and sports caster Nantz.
Manning is also a franchisee, partnering in 22 restaurants in the Denver market since October 2012.
Andrew Varga, Papa John’s Chief Marketing Officer added: ““Our partnership with the powerful NFL brand and our relationship with Peyton Manning and Jim Nantz have been focused on driving quality brand equity while building a rapport with the great fans of the NFL.
“Our strategy has been successful, in part, because we’ve been able to leverage many of the NFL brand assets as well, including being the Official Pizza of about half of the NFL teams, and partnering with Peyton Manning on a season-long ad campaign.”
Director, Digital Content Marketing – LA Clippers
Location: Los Angeles, buy CA, impotent USA
Closing date: 28th November 2016
Overview:
The Director, Digital Content Marketing will be responsible for creating and executing the strategy for and production of original content for the LA Clippers channels including digital, social, in-arena and broadcast. The role requires the ability to quickly develop ideas and produce highly engaging content for LA Clippers fans working in conjunction with the team’s marketing, digital, ticket sales, community and sponsorship teams.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
· Create and develop creative concepts, themes, campaigns and materials with the goal of driving engagement through the Clippers channels.
· Manage creative content and design teams to stay on schedule, manage budgets, process and communication to stakeholders.
· Initiate priorities and processes to efficiently review creative briefs / work requests and schedule with team from concepting through to distribution.
· Analyze trends in digital, marketing, media and sports for use in creating engaging Clippers’ content for digital and broadcast meda.
· Manage productions with in-house team and build relationships with LA production resources and partners.
Characteristics / Qualifications
· Minimum of 8 years experience in creating, editing, producing and other aspects of digital content and creative production
· Proficiency with graphic design and multimedia production technology including the Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, and Premiere.
· Strong interpersonal and decision making skills to keep projects running on budget while maximizing creative.
· Time management and proficiency in creative applications like Photoshop, Illustrator, etc as well as Microsoft Office, etc
· Ability to analyze trends in data, culture and other areas that impact our creative approach.
· Network of LA production and creative contacts to use for production purposes
· Be extremely creative and understand the role of brands for professional sports teams; ability to translate that understanding into world class content.
· Demonstrated dedication with the ability to oversee projects from origin through execution.
· Willingness to learn and should be able to flourish in a high growth, dynamic environment.
· Effective communication skills, both oral and written.
· Self-starter and entrepreneurial spirit with hands-on approach towards business.
Ligue 1 and EA Sports join forces for eSports competition
The French football league, link Ligue 1, and Electronic Arts’ EA Sports have announced they are to launch a joint nationwide eSports tournament featuring all of the top 20 French football clubs.
The competition is to be a FIFA17 tournament, open to professional football players. It will be split into a winter session in November and January and a a spring session in February and March, with playoffs scheduled to take place in May. The winner of the playoffs will enter the European League, followed by the world finals.
“This agreement between a sports institution and a video game publisher is a great first in French and European sport,” said the French league’s executive general manager Didier Quillot. “Esports is growing in value and becoming a real market in terms of media rights, sponsorship, ticketing and merchandising.”
“For Electronic Arts, the creation of e-Ligue 1 is a great opportunity to enhance our competitive gaming approach,” said EA Sports’ general manager for France and Benelux, Dominique Horn.
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West Brom put their money on Coral
West Bromwich Albion have secured Coral as the Club’s Official European Betting Partner.
The three-year agreement sees the British betting brand feature on various advertising sites at The Hawthorns, including interview backdrop and pitchside.
Coral will use the partnership to introduce its online and mobile betting service to Albion fans and plan to offer exclusive promotions and prices throughout the season.
In addition, the partnership will see the launch of the ‘Coral Player of the Month Award’. This will be a fan-voted monthly award for the top Albion performer.
Speaking about the new partnership, Coral PR Director Simon Clare said:”We are delighted and honoured to be associating the Coral brand name with a Premier League Club with such history and heritage.
“We are looking forward to showcasing our innovative and engaging betting services to West Bromwich Albion fans and would like to wish the Club the very best for the season ahead.”
Albion Head of Partnerships George Harborne added: “The reintroduction of our Player of the Month initiative is something we have been keen to do for some time. To secure Coral as this partner is a great fit as they look to create positive experiences for our fans, bringing fans closer to the Club.
“We are very pleased to secure a betting partner that has the strength of brand that Coral has and we look forward to working closely with the brand over the next three seasons.”
iSportconnect CEO Sree Varma joins Football Business Awards panel
iSportconnect CEO Sree Varma has been announced as a judge for the prestigious Football Business Awards.
The 2016 version of the Awards will take place on 2nd November at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
The iSportconnect CEO will join an independent judging panel of other top industry players including Clive Allen, former English Footballer and Coach, Paul Barber, CEO Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Bruce Buck Chairman of Chelsea FC.
Showcasing excellence, innovation, and passion within the thousands of businesses that contribute to football’s success, the awards celebrate a huge variety of work off the pitch including community schemes, corporate services, technology, hospitality, and marketing.
Sree Varma, iSportconnect CEO said: “I’m honored to be on the judging panel for the Football Business Awards, where we celebrate the great achievements of the year within football business. I’m sure there will be some fantastic entrants this year and it will be difficult to choose a winner!”
To see the full range of award categories click here.
talkSport secure Premier League commentary rights
talkSPORT, order part of Wireless Group plc, alongside its sister station talkSPORT 2, has announced that it has been awarded the rights to broadcast three Premier League UK live audio packages for the next three football seasons, starting with 2016/17.
This partnership means that talkSPORT becomes the only British commercial radio station to carry live English Premier League commentary.
talkSPORT has retained exclusive Premier League audio rights to broadcast 28 Sunday afternoon matches each season, which usually kick-off at 1.30pm or 2.15pm.
The station has also retained its right to broadcast 28 Saturday late afternoon matches, which usually kick off at 5.30pm.
In what is also a major coup for talkSPORT’s new sister station, talkSPORT 2, the third package awarded – which offers exclusive audio rights to specific Premier League matches at 3pm on Saturday afternoons – will be played out on the new station, bringing even more live sport to talkSPORT 2.
Scott Taunton, Chief Operating Officer at talkSPORT’s owner Wireless Group, said: “We are very pleased that talkSPORT has been awarded three of the Premier League’s live audio packages, giving us the opportunity to play out more live Premier League football for our listeners than ever before.
“Becoming the only national commercial radio station to offer access to live Premier League commentary demonstrates our ongoing commitment to producing quality football coverage, fronted by a range of talented and credible presenters.
“It is also a huge bonus for us to have a package awarded that can be played out on our new digital station talkSPORT 2. The station has already made a name for itself, broadcasting a range of live sport and including coverage which hasn’t had a home on British radio before. Adding live Premier League coverage to this profile cements its credibility and authority in live football commentary.”
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FIFPro File Lawsuit Against FIFA Over Transfer System
FIFPro, the international federation of professional footballers, has filed legal action against FIFA over the governing body’s transfer system.
The complaint has been lodged by the organisation with the Directorate General Competition of the European Commission in Brussels, citing FIFA global transfer market system as ‘anti-competitive’, ‘unjustified’ and ‘illegal’.
FIFPro has asked the European Commission to look into their argument that the “transfer regulations prevent clubs from fairly competing on the market to acquire sporting talent, harming the interests of players, small and medium sized professional teams and their supporters”.
“The European Commission holds the key to reforming the professional football industry more than any internal governance reform process can, by simply applying the law,” said FIFPro President, Philippe Piat (pictured).
“FIFA fails to administer professional football the same way it has failed to govern itself. Commercial interests of a few prevail, while the majority of players and clubs are disadvantaged.
“It is time the rule of law prevails over the interests of cartels. The ones benefiting from this are few – major clubs, agents and third party owners. The ones undermined are many and we now call for change.”
More info HERE.
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