BCCI Awards Title Sponsorship Rights To Paytm Until 2023

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that Indian digital payments platform Paytm has acquired the sponsorship rights for the BCCI International and Domestic matches.

The winning bid was at a price of INR 326.80 Crores to be paid for 2019-23 home season. The winning bid was INR 3.80 Crores which is at 58% incremental value in comparison to the previous per match value of INR 2.4 Crores.

Rahul Johri, BCCI CEO said, “I’m pleased to announce Paytm as the BCCI home series title sponsor. Paytm is one of the new generation companies of India and we at the BCCI are proud of Paytm continuing its long-standing commitment with Indian Cricket.”

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder & CEO, Paytm said, “We are excited to continue our long-term association with BCCI and the Indian Cricket Team. Our commitment to Indian Cricket gets stronger with every season. India loves cricket and we at Paytm are the biggest fans of it.”

ECB And Sky Partner For The Participation Test During The Third Specsavers Ashes Test

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has joined forces with broadcast partner Sky, to theme the upcoming Specsavers Ashes Test at the Emerald Headingley, The Participation Test.

Throughout the third Specsavers Ashes Test, Sky will highlight ECB initiatives helping to make the game more accessible, and shine a light on diversity and inclusion within the sport.

Day one of the Test will focus on the impact of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Over one million young people aged between five and twelve connected with the tournament through programmes designed to engage schools, clubs and cities. Managing Director of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, Steve Elworthy, and ECB Director of Participation & Growth, Nick Pryde, will reflect on the World Cup and discuss how ECB is capitalising on its success to inspire the next generation.

Day two of the Test will focus on ECB’s award-winning South Asian Action Plan, one year on from its launch. This 11-point strategy is designed to better engage South Asian communities at every level of the sport. ECB’s Senior Independent Non-Executive Board Member Lord Patel and Shruti Saujani, City Programme Manager will reveal how better access to cricket facilities in urban areas and how recruiting South Asian female activators is making a difference.

Day three of the Test will concentrate on disability cricket as Sky go behind the scenes with the England Physical Disability team who finished runners-up in the inaugural, five team World Series last week. England’s disability squads are also in action later this year, with the Learning Disability team travelling to Australia in October and the Visually Impaired team playing against Pakistan in the UAE. Ian Martin, ECB’s Head of Disability Cricket hopes to inspire more people, both disabled and able-bodied, to pick up a bat and ball and discover that cricket is a game for them.

Talking about the Participation Test, ECB’s Nick Pryde said: “The Participation Test was a fantastic part of the Headingley Test fixture last year and we are delighted it’s back. Sky’s coverage is a brilliant opportunity to highlight how cricket embraces diversity and inclusivity, and how we are proactively expanding the reach of the game. Our new strategy for 2020-2024, Inspiring Generations, will continue to build on the momentum of this landmark year for cricket.”

Sky’s Head of Cricket Bryan Henderson added: “Everyone at Sky Sports is looking forward to an even closer partnership with the ECB, it will give us the chance to tell the stories of inspiring even more people to engage with the game.

“The profile and interest of an Ashes series also gives us a great opportunity to shine a light on the great work on inclusion and diversity at all levels.”

Superliga Argentina Names Genius As Global Integrity Partner

Superliga Argentina, the premier football competition in Argentina has partnered with Genius Sports to launch a comprehensive integrity and official data strategy.

Through a review of its integrity strategy and existing rules, 24/7 bet monitoring technology and a series of educational workshops, Genius Sports’ Integrity Services will provide Superliga Argentina with protection against match-fixing and betting-related corruption.

Superliga players, coaches, officials and administrators will be trained to identify, prevent and report any threats to the league’s integrity while Genius Sports’ leading Bet Monitoring System will provide 24/7 oversight on global wagering patterns by monitoring global odds movements through its unique predictive algorithms.

To protect the value and integrity of its official data, Superliga will launch a new rights enforcement initiative, identifying both unauthorised scouts operating in-stadia and unofficial data feeds that have been scraped and reutilised. Through Genius Sports, Superliga will be able to control the supply and use of its official data, expanding the league’s global audience and providing new platforms for fans to engage with the live action.

Mariano Elizondo, President of Superliga Argentina, said: “Ensuring the transparency of our games is a fundamental priority for Superliga. We aim to guarantee all our teams with the same rules for every game, which is the main requirement for providing our fans and sponsors with the spectacle that they expect.

“This agreement with a world leader like Genius Sports allows us to work together to combat any threat to the transparency of our games through the same tools used by the most prestigious leagues in world football.”

Fernando Martinez, Head of Commercial Partnerships, LATAM for Genius Sports, said: “Argentinian football is at a critical stage of its growth with increased data quality and access to content driving major developments. This partnership with Superliga sets a precedent for leagues across LATAM to proactively safeguard the integrity and future of their competitions while controlling the collection, management and distribution of their real-time data.”

World Rugby Appoints Fifty Digital To Manage Social Media For RWC 2019

World Rugby has appointed Fifty Digital to manage creative, social media and content for Rugby World Cup 2019 after a competitive pitch process.

The Rugby World Cup 2019 edition will be the first to be held in Asia. This brief is part of World Rugby’s wider objectives of growing the game globally and attracting a new generation of young fans to the sport, as well as reaching non-traditional audiences.

One of the core elements of the deliverables is to ensure rugby’s unique values, tone of voice and the spirit of rugby are translated across all social channels, content and campaigns, with tailored relevance to each country or region.

This will be achieved through a smart, flexible, localised and engaging social content strategy supported by powerful visuals across multiple digital platforms, which resonate with the target audience.

The Rugby World Cup kicks-off on 20 September with 20 nations competing for the William Webb Ellis Cup in Japan.

James Campbell, Co-Founder of Fifty Digital said: “It’s a great privilege to be working on such a massive event with World Rugby. The brief is right up our street and we know our big event experience in digital and social will shine through.

The last Rugby World Cup put on a great show, but we hope to go bigger and better this time around with digital and social forming a huge part of it. Four years is a very long time in the social media world, so expect lots of innovative ideas and content that certainly won’t have been seen at a Rugby World Cup before!”

Nick Jackman, Co-Founder of Fifty Digital said: “The Rugby World Cup is an iconic sporting event which brings people together across the world through the spirit of rugby. We’re all massive rugby fans so are excited, delighted and honoured to be working with World Rugby to help deliver another outstanding tournament. We see huge opportunities to use the action in Japan to reach and engage new fans through best-in-class content, to help rugby expand its footprint in the world’s sporting landscape. We want to open rugby up to a new audience and show them what they’ve been missing. The Rugby World Cup is only into its ninth edition but is already the third biggest sporting event after the Olympics and FIFA World Cup, so the future is bright, and we can’t wait to get started!”

Marissa Pace, Chief Marketing Officer, World Rugby, said: “We chose Fifty Digital after an extensive pitch process primarily because of their knowledge, passion and expertise in sport, but also their acute understanding of how we’re looking to grow the rugby audience. They completely understand rugby as a sport, but also the importance of engaging our global audience. From the seasoned fan to the curious spectator, our content is planned to engage new and loyal audiences and part of a wider plan to grow all our digital platforms in the coming year.

Combined with our own content team, we believe Fifty will help us amplify rugby globally and to lay the foundations for a surge in interest and growth among our key target audience during Rugby World Cup. This is going to be a very special event and one we’re looking forward to sharing with them.”

For Spanish Clubs, The 2019 Women’s World Cup Brings More Visibility And Impact

Women’s football in Spain reached new heights in 2019. This growth shows no signs of slowing down. After a season where attendance records were broken in many Spanish stadiums, for example the match held in the Wanda Metropolitano between Atlético Madrid and FC Barcelona that brought together 60,739 spectators, the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France has now thrown the stars of the global game into an even bigger spotlight.

This year ago more than 40 players from the Spanish women’s league were selected for Women’s World Cup squads, many of them playing a key role in their national sides. This is not the result of chance, but of long-term strategic development and analysis by clubs, with the support of LaLiga. Two of these sides, Rayo Vallecano and Levante UD, explained how consistent investment and development of women’s football as a product has led to these results.

Read more here. 

LaLiga And GCOX Join Forces For Asia And The Middle East

LaLiga and Global Crypto Offering Exchange (GCOX) have signed a partnership that will enable the league to continue its global expansion.

The partnership, which covers Asia and the Middle East, sees LaLiga join forces with one of the leading crypto exchanges in the Asian market. It will provide exclusive products, services, social interactions, football tourism and ‘Money Can’t Buy Experiences’ for fans and the global crypto community.

Founded in 2017, GCOX is fast becoming the go-to platform for fans looking to engage and interact with their favourite celebrities and brands through its promotion of a full-utility token economy. Its celebrity and brand tokens, which will now include LaLiga, offer an exclusive and personal experience for its users.

The partnership allows LaLiga to make further strides with the internationalisation strategy it launched back in 2017 and has served to bring fans closer to the Spanish competition and its member clubs.

LaLiga’s Managing Director for Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea and Australia, Ivan Codina, commented: “This partnership represents a significant step in terms of our strategy in Asia. We’re looking to roll out a long-term plan that not only allows the LaLiga brand to grow in this market but one that also promotes the development of the national game and provides spaces where fans are able to get a sense of the passion that surrounds the competition at close quarters.”

Meanwhile, the partnership sees GCOX team up with one of the leading Spanish brands in a partnership that will enable the firm to bring Asian followers closer to football and Spanish teams, whilst also creating new business opportunities through football clinics, pre-season fixtures against local clubs, digital activations, events with ambassadors and chances to gain first-hand exclusive experience of the competition.

“We’re really pleased to be announcing this partnership with a world-class competition like LaLiga,” commented Sir Dr. Jeffrey Lin, CEO of GCOX. “This partnership will allow us to provide specific customer groups with opportunities, as well as attracting new customers and football fans, who will get to experience what LaLiga is all about.”

As a part of the partnership, GCOX, which has displayed a firm commitment to technology in the fields of blockchain and innovation, LaLiga token holders will have access to attend training sessions held in Spain, as well as events hosted by LaLiga in the Asian country, VIP access to LaLiga matches, meet and greet session with LaLiga ambassadors and exclusive ‘Money Can’t Buy Experiences’.

“There is no better partner than GCOX in terms of achieving our growth plans in Asia and the Middle East,” added Codina. “The firm’s relationships and its experience, along with the launch of its tokens featuring top-level athletes such as Manny Pacquiao, Michael Owen and Caroline Wozniacki, provide assurance of strong partnership and future collaboration projects.”

Marston’s Beer Company To Continue As Official Beer Of Lord’s

Marston’s Beer Company has renewed their five-year sponsorship and supply partnership with Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the owners of Lord’s Cricket Ground.

As the Official Beer of Lord’s, Marston’s beer brands, Pedigree and 61 Deep will feature on draught in every bar and will be seen around the ground across 28 hoardings.

Simon Barnes, Marston’s Free Trade Sales Director said: “The renewal of our supply and sponsorship agreement for a further five years is testament to the incredible team effort that goes into providing a complete end-to-end service for this special venue. Alongside our extensive portfolio of beers and ciders, we provide bespoke telesales, dray and cellar services.”

Andy Muggleton, Assistant Secretary (Commercial) MCC added: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Marston’s as the sole supplier of premium cask and craft beers at Lord’s. Our relationship extends beyond supply, into a wider partnership that MCC & Marston’s leverage through their association with each other, meaning we can continue to deliver exceptional service and experiences for the fans coming to Lord’s.”

BMW To Continue As Title Sponsors Of BMW Championship

BMW has extended its title sponsorship of the BMW Championship.

Bernhard Kuhnt, President and CEO of BMW of North America said: “We are happy to remain the title sponsor of the BMW Championship. For 13 years, we have been proud partners alongside the Evans Scholars Foundation, helping to provide opportunities for students to follow their dreams. We are looking forward to continuing those efforts in support of these deserving young caddies.”

“BMW has been a tremendous partner of the PGA TOUR and Western Golf Association and a loyal supporter of the Evans Scholar Foundation since signing on as title sponsor of the BMW Championship in 2007,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan.

“The Western Golf Association’s PGA TOUR event, dating back 120 years, continues to flourish through BMW’s support, positively impacting the communities where it has been played and the caddies who have received Evans Scholarships. Our thanks to Bernhard and the leadership at BMW for their continued support of the BMW Championship, the PGA TOUR and the FedExCup Playoffs.”

All net proceeds from the BMW Championship, conducted by the WGA, benefit the Evans Scholars Foundation, benefit the Evans Scholars Foundation. Since 2007, the tournament has raised more than $30 million for college scholarships for deserving caddies. It was named the PGA TOUR’s Tournament of the Year in 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

“Over the past 13 years, BMW has been a valued partner of the Western Golf Association, providing strong support for both our championships and scholarships,” said John Kaczkowski, President and CEO of the WGA. “BMW has gone beyond the traditional role of title sponsors and fully embraced our charity, helping us send more caddies to college through the Evans Scholars Foundation. We’re excited and honored that BMW has extended its partnership with us.”

Real Betis Secures EasyMarkets As Sponsor For Three-Year

La Liga football club Real Betis Balompié has secured EasyMarkets ,a forex broker as the new sponsor in a three-year deal.

As part of the agreement, the logo of the broker will be displayed on the front of the player’s shirts. The new jersey was launched during the club’s first game of the current season.

EasyMarkets on LinkedIn wrote: “We are delighted to announce our 3 year Front of Shirt exclusive sponsorship with Real Betis Balompié!

All of us here at easyMarkets believe that this partnership will support our long term goal for growth, progress and brand recognition and we are particularly honoured to have our brand aligned with that of Real Betis!

We would like to wish our team Real Betis a successful season in #LaLiga and good luck for our first game tomorrow Vs #Valladolid.”

Cristiano Ronaldo Appointed As Brand Ambassador By Shopee

Cristiano Ronaldo has been appointed as the regional brand ambassador by Shopee.

As part of the agreement, Ronaldo will work with Shopee on a wide range of initiatives in order to engage and inspire people in Southeast Asia and Taiwan.

Ronald will star in Shopee’s 9.9 TV commercial which is going to be premiered on 16 August and air in all Shopee markets.

Shopee’s chief commercial officer and head of Shopee Singapore, Zhou Junjie, said: “Ronaldo’s values are a natural fit for Shopee. ​He is known for his tremendous focus, dedication, and determination, a reflection of Shopee’s deep commitment to our users.”

Zhou further said, “His dedication to his sport matches the deep commitment that Shopee has to all our users. We want to inspire and engage people together with Ronaldo. ​We are confident that this partnership can create a lasting positive impact for everyone in the region.”

Ronaldo in a statement said: “I am always improving my game for my fans and my team, just as Shopee innovates to benefit their users in this region. I am excited by this partnership, and I look forward to creating more special moments for my fans together with Shopee.”