The European Tour Enters Into A Strategic Alliance With PGA TOUR

The European Tour and PGA TOUR has heralded a significant new era for global golf with an historic announcement of a Strategic Alliance.

The landmark agreement will see golf’s two major Tours explore all facets of collaboration, working together on strategic commercial opportunities including collaborating on global media rights in certain territories.

This will come through part of the agreement which sees the PGA TOUR acquire a minority investment stake in European Tour Productions (ETP), the European Tour’s Media Production company, which produces and distributes content internationally.

The Tours will also work in partnership on a number of other areas including global scheduling, prize funds and playing opportunities for the respective memberships. Further details of these areas will be announced in due course.

One element of the partnership which can be confirmed today is the fact that PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan will take a seat on the Board of the European Tour.

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “This partnership is an historic moment for the game of golf and is a fantastic opportunity for both the European Tour and the PGA TOUR to explore ways to come together at the very pinnacle of our sport and work in unison for the benefit of the men’s professional game.

“Today’s announcement is the formalisation of a closer working relationship between the Tours in recent years. It was one which was crystalised earlier this year when both Jay and I were part of the working group containing representatives of the four Majors and the LPGA, a group which helped shape the remainder of the golfing calendar for 2020 during unprecedented times.

“We shared the challenges of working through a year neither of us could have ever imagined and we found definite synergies in many areas of our respective Tours. That gave us the impetus to move forward together and arrive at this momentous announcement we are making today.”

Jay Monahan, Commissioner of the PGA TOUR, said, “We are thrilled to announce this further strengthening of our partnership with the European Tour, and we look forward to working together for the benefit of the men’s professional game and for golf fans around the world.”

Discovery Signs Broadcast Deals With DR & TV2

Discovery has signed a broadcast partnership which will see it sublicense to DR and TV 2 the free-to-air audio-visual rights and digital rights for Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 and Olympic Games Paris 2024.

As Home of the Olympics in Europe, Discovery will retain digital rights* for all Olympic Games through to Paris 2024 in Denmark, making Dplay the only destination to watch every minute, every athlete and every medal, live and on demand. This builds on the existing partnership with DR announced in 2017 that included Discovery sublicensing free-to-air rights to Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 and Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, which will now take place next year.

By creating an Olympic Games offering from DR, TV 2 and Eurosport, Discovery’s leading sports brand, viewers in Denmark will enjoy the broadest possible access to the Games and availability of more coverage than ever before. More widely, the agreement will support Discovery’s ambition to engage more people, on more screens, with the Olympic Games in the country and across the continent.

”We are constantly reviewing our operations and structure to optimize efficiency and unlock new ways to bring consumers the content that they love, and the changes we are making are consistent with that strategy and our goal to have one of the leading stringent offerings for Nordic consumers and a successful business across the Nordics. Sport is an important part of Discovery’s DNA and remains a priority for us. Our Olympic Games partnership with DR and TV 2 is a big win for the Danes as we can guarantee the access to free-to-air coverage that can inspire the nation, alongside Eurosport super-serving fans with every minute of the Games and unrivalled sports expertise across digital screens on Dplay,” said Nicklas Norrby, GM of Discovery Nordic.

Discovery has already established a successful partnership with DR when they in 2017 announced a sublicense deal for the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 and Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. This new sublicense builds on that, where both DR and TV 2 will share the free-to-air audio-visual rights and digital rights for Beijing 2022 and Paris 2024.

“The Olympic Games are the world’s biggest event, enjoyed by billions of people all over the world – and also gathering the Danes as we saw it in Rio in 2016 and London in 2012. The Olympics are a wealth of sports and we are thrilled that we – together with DR – can present the Olympics to the Danes in 2022 and 2024. Particularly high are our expectations to the Olympics in Paris which is so close to – and without time difference from – Denmark,” said Anne Engdal Stig Christensen, CEO of TV 2.

“We are incredibly happy with this agreement, as the Olympics is by far the world’s biggest sporting event. We know that sport is one of the most important things that binds us together as a nation. Therefore, it is an important public service task for DR to ensure access for the entire population, so that together we can follow the Danish medal hopes and other highlights,” says Henriette Marienlund, Executive Director, Broadcast at DR.

The Polish Basketball Association Signs Genius Sports Group As Data & Streaming Partner

The Polish Basketball League (PLK) and Polish Basketball Association (PZK) have selected Genius Sports Group as their Official Data & Streaming Partner in a 10-year exclusive partnership.

As the premier technology partner in world basketball, Genius Sports Group will continue to provide Polish basketball with its leading data collection, management and distribution solutions. FIBA LiveStats will capture advanced play-by-play statistics including shot, four and turnover locations at eight competitions and more than 1,800 games per season. 

FIBA LiveStats GameCentres will help both the PLK and PZK connect with their fans at each stage of hundreds of games per year. Fans will be brought closer to the action, analysing head-to-head records, full box score statistics and team and player shot charts.

From the 2021/22 season onwards, both the PLK and PZK will be able to implement Genius Sports’ cutting-edge live streaming solutions, delivering live broadcasts, data-driven graphics and highlights to fans worldwide. GeniusLive and GeniusLive+ are powering live streaming solutions for leagues and federations at all levels of world sport, delivering
vital visibility and new revenue opportunities.

Radosław Piesiewicz, President of the Polish Basketball Association and Polish Basketball League, said: “Signing a long-term contract with such an important partner as Genius Sports will allow us to take another big step forward for the development of Polish basketball. Apart from cooperation with other basketball federations, Genius Sports cooperates with the NBA and the World Basketball Federation (FIBA).

“For the first time, Genius Sports will have the exclusive rights to distribute live date and video from all Polish basketball games. I am convinced that such 10-year cooperation will allow us to promote our leagues outside Poland, providing a platform for faster and even better development of our leagues.”  

Jonny Katanchian, Head of Commercial Partnerships – EMEA at Genius Sports, said: “Long-term, trusted partnerships like this are pivotal to driving the development and global expansion of basketball leagues and federations. FIBA LiveStats will continue to power a world-class data ecosystem while our streaming solutions and global distribution networks will transform how Polish basketball engages new audiences around the world.”

Eurosport And Ford Ink Digital Content Partnership

Eurosport and Ford have announced a new digital content partnership to explore the future of motorsport and bring to life the automaker’s electrification promise across the continent.

A new and exclusive series will showcase the innovations at the forefront of the changes in motorsport to ignite discussions about this transformation.

Developed by Eurosport, Discovery’s leading multi-sport brand, the series will feature the expert drivers, engineers and scientists who are leading the charge in motorsport’s transformation. It will engage motorsport fans, motoring enthusiasts and those with a broad interest in sports, technology and the protection of the environment through a ‘Bring on Tomorrow’ content destination within Eurosport’s dedicated motorsport site, as well as across Eurosport’s social platforms in countries throughout Europe.

The series will touch on a wide range of industry-leading innovations pointing to the future, including electrification and other new technologies in motorsport. Audiences will follow how the successful Ford-powered M-Sport rally team is advancing new hybrid technology that will enter the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) from 2022, as well as how the Ford Fiesta ERX is driving forward Projekt E, the electric version of the classic Rallycross series. This will be presented alongside further details of Ford’s ground-breaking EEG racing helmet, which scans electrical brain activity to measure and enhance driver performance.

The collaboration, established in conjunction with Mindshare, the global agency network that is part of WPP, will benefit from Discovery’s global scale by tapping into the digital reach of its Group Nine Media brand, Seeker. This will engage a broader curious audience, such as those with a deep interest in the environment and the science shaping our world, with specially curated content featuring the science behind the transformation of motorsport. Around the new content, Eurosport and Seeker will run a dedicated campaign to amplify and drive traffic to the ‘Bring on Tomorrow’ content destination on Eurosport.com.

Mike Rich, Head of Sports Marketing Solutions, Eurosport, said: “It is hugely exciting to partner with Ford to drive conversations about motorsport’s role in pushing the boundaries of change, brought to life through compelling digital content that underlines Ford’s position at the forefront of the transformation of the automotive industry.

“The scale and diversity of our digital platforms and audiences will help Ford deliver its communications objectives, driving traffic and amplifying the messages of ‘Bring on Tomorrow’ throughout Europe. We are particularly pleased to create an offer which marries Eurosport’s motorsport expertise with Discovery’s wider network and leadership in science, engaging Seeker’s digital-first audience with new and exclusive content,” Rich added.

Will May, Marketing Manager, Ford Performance, said: Partnering with Eurosport enables Ford to successfully target a broader audience than just motorsport fans. This is key to how we are trying to leverage our motorsport activity to a wider audience and to do so in an exciting way – with stories that grab people’s attention and show Ford in a subtly different light.

“Combined with what Ford is doing in the realm of Hybrid and Battery powered cars and commercial vehicles, we are aiming to change people’s perceptions of Ford and show how Ford is beginning to play in the automotive industry of the 21st Century with exciting vehicles such as Mustang Mach-E, Puma Hybrid and in the world of commerce, the E-Transit.

James Lynn, Partnerships Director, Mindshare, said: We’re delighted to have brought this partnership between Ford and Eurosport to life. The collaboration provides the perfect platform to drive conversations about the future of motorsport and showcases the steps that Ford is taking to help shape the future of the industry.

Committed to leading the way during a time of huge transformation for the automotive industry, Ford is delivering 14 electrified vehicles to customers by the end of 2020 and promising to electrify all future passenger vehicles coming to market. By offering a comprehensive range of electrified powertrain solutions, Ford can tailor performance and capability to reflect diverse operating scenarios for different vehicles, and deliver the company’s brand values of trust, affordability and fun-to-drive for passenger car and commercial vehicle customers.

Globally, Ford is investing more than $11 billion dollars to electrify its vehicles. It expects electrified powertrains to account for more than half of the company’s passenger vehicle sales by the end of 2022. By this time, the company also expects to have sold 1 million electrified passenger vehicles.

How Digital Can Be Leveraged To Ensure Safe Return Of Fans In The Stadia

While the UK sports industry is looking forward to the conclusion of #Lockdown2 and the opportunity to restart sporting activities. The silver lining is that the Department of Culture, Media and Sport has offered a major boost to the sports industry, with fans to be able to return in lower transmission areas with a maximum of 4,000 fans being allowed into outdoor stadiums in tier one (medium alert) locations and 2,000 fans in tier two (high alert) locations from the 2nd of December.

Clubs are adapting latest technologies to facilitate the safe return of fans. We spoke with Lluís Pascual, CMO & Business Development EMEA at 3D Digital Venue to know about how they assisted Bath Rugby in their reopening.

Pascual says: “After the study of Bath’s layout, we created a 2D Enhanced seating chart, which takes into account all the relevant architectural aspects of the venue, under a visual design, in order to provide the most effective layout for the club. Understanding the local regulations, client revenue expectations and overall venue design are key factors in the development of these social distanced seating charts.”

“Understanding the local regulations, client revenue expectations and overall venue design are key factors in the development of these social distanced seating charts.”

With the 3DDV Social Distance Editor, Bath’s staff was able to group sections or rows and assign them a specific price and categorize them as regular, VIP, disabled, and even lock them. Once the seats are categorized and priced, the club enters the percentages of seat groups it wants to include (how many groups of 2 seats sitting together, 3 seats, etc.), and the social distance editor creates the optimal seating arrangement, calculates the income generated, and compares the different seating capacities to apply the most suitable one in each circumstance.

Meanwhile, Alex Cohen, COO – Bath Rugby further spoke about how they leveraged 3D’s service efficiently for The Recreation Ground and solve the challenges they were facing earlier.


Cohen explains: “The software has been brilliant in automating a complicated process and which would have taken many days to do so manually. The most convenient aspect is the ability to change the parameters and get a revised manifest instantly.

“We were recommended the product long before we started looking at this in detail so we knew immediately that it would save us considerable time and effort. The value of the scientific approach of ensuring that the output is mm perfect was extremely helpful in achieving sign-off from our SAG.”

“The criteria for measures which need to be in place can and will vary significantly over the coming months and we need to be able to react to this with agility and confidence.”

Whether digital methods can ensure a safe environment for return of fans to the stadiums amidst the pandemic, he says: “Undoubtedly this is an important part of the safe return. The criteria for measures which need to be in place can and will vary significantly over the coming months and we need to be able to react to this with agility and confidence. Anything which makes the process quicker, more accurate and easily auditable is critically important.”

Vishal Dayal, Ticketing Manager – Leicester City FC too reckons that the digital methods will ensure a safe environment for return of fans to the stadiums amidst the pandemic.

He says, “The accurate level of detail that the software goes into, in terms of how much space from each person we would need whether it is side to side or the row in front or behind. The software is easily configured which helps us work out the bubbles to keep the correct distance as per local legislation allows and export the data which will then allow us to import it into our ticketing system for sale.

“All digital methods will ease supporter minds especially with us moving to mobile tickets for the first time.”

“All digital methods will ease supporter minds especially with us moving to mobile tickets for the first time. We currently use paper tickets as well as print at home tickets but with the pandemic we will only be offering print at home and now mobile tickets. This completely reduces physical contact in terms of checking match tickets and handing them between staff and supporters to avoid any potential risks.”

Lanka Premier League To Be Broadcast Live On LIVENow

The inaugural Lanka Premier League is now available to watch live, on LIVENow.

Thursday 26 November marks start of play.  Five teams – Colombo Kings, Dambulla Vikings, Galle Gladiators, Jaffna Stallions and Kandy Tuskers – will compete in 8 games during the first round.  Four teams will advance to the Semi-Finals to decide the two finalists on Sunday 13th and Monday 14th of December.  The winner will take all on Wednesday 16 December.

Top Sri Lankan players, including Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal will be joined by other high profile international cricket stars including Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Amir and Dale Steyn.

“It’s such an honour for LIVENow to be part of the worldwide launch of Lanka Premier League,” explains Marc Watson, Director at LIVENow.  “T20 is an exciting format, cricket fans love it and it’s really accessible to sporting enthusiasts looking to discover something new.  Our sports schedule is designed to engage audiences around the world, Lanka Premier League perfectly complements the variety and thrill of our programming.”

“We are really looking forward to working with LIVENow,” added Anil Mohan, CEO of Innovative Production Group, the rights holders of the Lanka Premier League 2020-2024. “The potential to harness LIVENow’s global footprint to reach every fan wanting to watch the inaugural Lanka Premier League 2020 was an attractive proposition for us and we are delighted to secure coverage across five continents in these unprecedented times.”

The International Paralympic Committee And The Commonwealth Games Federation Enters Into A Co-Operation Agreement

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) have signed a new co-operation agreement that will strengthen Para sport at the Commonwealth Games and across the Commonwealth.  

As a major global multi-sport event that first featured Para athletes at the 1994 edition, the Commonwealth Games has continued striving for further inclusion. The latest edition at Gold Coast 2018 set a Games record of 300 Para athletes across 38 medal events in seven sports. Now, the new partnership between the IPC and the CGF allows both organisations to work closely together to better develop the Games’ Para sport programme. 

As part of the agreement, every edition following Birmingham 2022 in England will only feature the sports whose international federations are recognised by the IPC. 

The agreement also enables the two entities to co-operate in strategic areas, including branding, campaigns, classification and development programmes.  Further collaboration in non-sporting events, such as advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and advocating the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, will be explored. 

In 2007, the IPC and CGF signed their first co-operation agreement during the CGF General Assembly in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The new agreement comes ahead of the 2020 CGF General Assembly, which will be held virtually on Thursday (26 November). 

IPC President Andrew Parsons said: “We are excited to enter a new partnership with the CGF and help achieve each other’s goals through our common vehicle — sport. 

“Change starts with sport, and Para sport has a tremendous ability to change attitudes towards disability and drive social inclusion. We have witnessed this at  the Paralympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, and at Para sport development camps around the world.  Our success has increased our desire to do more.

“The Commonwealth Games are a highly regarded event that showcase the transformational power of sport. The IPC looks forward to working closer with the CGF to achieve inclusivity, and support their Movement toward peaceful, sustainable and prosperous communities.” 

CGF President Dame Louise Martin said: “On behalf of the entire Commonwealth Sport Movement, we are delighted to be entering into another exciting partnership with the International Paralympic Committee. We are proud that at the Commonwealth Games, Para sports have been fully integrated as part of our sports programme since Manchester 2002. Birmingham 2022 represents another exciting milestone for us, with the event set to feature the largest Para sports programme in the history of the Games. 

“Working closely with the Paralympic Movement, we look forward to supporting their vision to make a more inclusive world through Para sport, while partnering to enable Para athletes to achieve sporting excellence.”

Juventus Names Capex As Online Trading Partner

CAPEX.com, leading global trading broker has entered into a sponsorship agreement with Juventus, the most successful club in the history of Italian football, becoming the Club’s Official Online Trading Partner.    

The sponsorship agreement with Juventus builds on CAPEX.com’s success story in the international markets. Since its establishment, CAPEX.com has continuously expanded its global presence with its award-winning trading platforms grounded in encouraging educated trading through the provision of online interactive tools.

Throughout the partnership, CAPEX.com will use their extensive list of rights, including VIP hospitality and official club merchandise to engage Juventus supporters and bring them closer to their club.


Octavian Patrascu, CEO of the group that owns CAPEX.com, said: “We are proud to announce the partnership with the world-renowned Juventus, one of the most revered football clubs in the history of the game. As we continue to expand globally, CAPEX.com is also committed to strengthening its presence in the markets in which it already operates. The trading profession draws many parallels to the realm of sports, and we will ensure these common values are entrenched within our newfound partnership with Juventus.” 

Envision Virgin Racing Signs OMP As The Official Supplier

Envision Virgin Racing has signed a multi-year partnership with OMP to become the Official Supplier of the team ahead of the 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. 

Headquartered in Ronco Scrivia, near Genoa, OMP is an Italian company established in 1973 that is a world leader in the field of design and manufacturing of safety equipment for race cars including suits, gloves, shoes, seats, safety belts, helmets. 

The high-quality equipment is dedicated to the drivers’ safety and comfort – with almost all products in their portfolio being entirely homologated by the FIA. Furthermore, the partnership with Envision Virgin Racing means that OMP now supply their world leading products to teams in every current FIA World Championship. 

Mr Paolo Delprato, Managing Director of OMP Racing said: “With this new season, OMP is happy to introduce its top-shelf racewear to Formula E, a World Championship whose importance in the motorsport world has now grown primary; moreover, we are extremely proud to be partner of a prestigious team such as Envision Virgin Racing. We were immediately conquered by their determination and desire to win.” 

Leon Price, Envision Virgin Racing’s Team and Sporting Director, added: “Safety is at the heart of motorsport and we continue to see improvements in this year-on-year which is great to see. Our new partnership with OMP guarantees that we are offering our drivers the highest level of safety whilst accommodating their comfort as they sit in our race cars. As Formula E transitions into a World Championship it’s great to be partnering with a world leader in the design and manufacturing of safety equipment.” 

ICC Elects Greg Barclay As Independent Chair

Greg Barclay has been elected as the new Independent Chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and he succeeds Shashank Manohar who stepped down earlier this year.

Barclay, an Auckland-based commercial lawyer, has been a director of New Zealand Cricket (NZC) since 2012 and is currently NZC’s representative on the board of the International Cricket Council. He will step down from his position at NZC to lead the ICC in an independent capacity.

He was a director of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2015 and is a former board member and chairman of the Northern Districts Cricket Association. Greg is also an experienced company director holding board positions with various New Zealand and Australian companies.

Commenting on his appointment Greg Barclay said: “It is an honour to be elected as the Chair of the International Cricket Council and I would like to thank my fellow ICC Directors for their support. I hope we can come together to lead the sport and emerge from the global pandemic in a strong position and poised for growth.

“I look forward to working in partnership with our Members to strengthen the game in our core markets as well as grow it beyond that ensuring more of the world can enjoy cricket. I take my position as a custodian of the game very seriously and am committed to working on behalf of all 104 ICC Members to create a sustainable future for our sport.

“I’d like to thank Imran Khwaja for his leadership as acting ICC Chair during a difficult period for the game and I look forward to continuing a close working relationship with him in the future.”