Slate Wins The 2021 FanXP Innovation Challenge

The winner has been announced for the 2021 FanXP Innovation Challenge, with content creation platform Slate taking the prize in the biggest basketball startup competition in the world.

Nine of the 38 entries were selected for the finals and faced a review by an expert jury, whose members concluded that the best entry came from Slate, a new platform that US pro sports social media teams have quickly adopted to create more engaging content.

Winning team Slate is already working with organizations like the NFL, Fox Sports and the Houston Rockets to level up their social media content. Slate is made up of a team of experienced professionals who have run accounts for major brands.

“We were thrilled to participate in FanXP,” Slate Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer Will Brooke said. “The mentorship gave us a veteran sounding board to share and get feedback on our solution, which was combined with keynote sessions where we could learn more about the needs and opportunities relevant to EuroLeague. It’s been great to see they’ve developed a platform for discussing new and innovative ideas in sport!”

The other finalists were Imagine AR, LivXP AG, Fanprime: MyEb+, Seyu Solutions, Sceenic, LiveDuel, FanDome and Clupik.

The members of the jury were Mathieu Lacome (Head of Research and Innovation at Paris Saint-Germain); Didac Lee (Galdana Ventures Co-Founder and former Board Member and Head of Digital at FC Barcelona); Jasmine Robinson (General Partner at Causeway Media Operations); Susanne Timosci (Global Lead Key Account at Bundesliga); Sree Varma (iSportconnect Founder & CEO); Luis Vicente (Group CEO at Eleven Sports) and Gregory Davies (Founder AD!SRUPT!VE!NFLUENCE!).

With the aim of offering fans the best experience possible, the FanXP Innovation Challenge – staged in collaboration with N3XT Sports – challenged the latest generation of tech startups to join the sports fan revolution. All finalists are congratulated for their hard work and outstanding creative ideas.

NHL And Sportradar Strike 10-Year Global Deal

Sportradar, a leading global provider of sports betting and sports entertainment products and services, and the National Hockey League have announced a landmark 10-year global partnership, naming Sportradar the Official Betting Data Rights, Official Betting Streaming Rights and Official Media Data Rights Partner of the NHL, as well as an Official Integrity Partner of the NHL.

With a strong emphasis on fan engagement, Sportradar and the NHL will work together to expand the reach of the League by leveraging Sportradar’s diverse and versatile technology solutions, providing fans with deeper access and enhanced insights into the game. As part of the robust partnership, Sportradar – the NHL’s Official Global Data Distributor since 2015 – will distribute the NHL’s official data and statistics to media, technology and sports betting companies worldwide, including real-time data from the NHL’s new Puck and Player Tracking technology. The deal also awards Sportradar rights to provide sports betting operators with live streams of NHL games via the operators’ digital betting platforms available in legalized markets.

“As the global leading provider of sports data for the media and betting industry, Sportradar has the unique expertise to help us deliver stats, insights and video content to our fans, who are extremely tech-savvy and constantly crave new and compelling ways to engage with our sport,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. 

“The capabilities, versatility and global scale of Sportradar’s platforms and products will assist us in providing fans, media and sports betting companies around the world with a greater depth of data and more immersive experience with the game. We’re thrilled to continue and deepen our important partnership with Sportradar and look forward to delivering a best-in-class fan experience through our collaborations over the next decade.”

“The NHL has been a terrific partner for Sportradar for nearly seven years and we look forward to collaborating with them in an expanded manner to continue increasing the global reach of the league, while delivering ground-breaking products and services to our customers,” said Carsten Koerl, Global CEO, Sportradar.

“This agreement truly highlights the global, multi-vertical, wide-ranging capabilities of Sportradar’s technology solutions and reflects how we use data to create engaging, personalized experiences for our partners and customers.”

As part of the strategic alliance, the NHL and Sportradar are teaming up to develop sports betting partnerships outside of North America utilizing ad:s, Sportradar’s data-driven marketing solution, as seen in the NHL’s recent international sports betting partnerships with Olybet and Tipsport. Sportradar will also continue as an Official Integrity Services Provider of the NHL, utilizing the company’s Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS) to proactively help safeguard and ensure the integrity of its competition by monitoring global gaming activity and trends worldwide.

The Classic Appoints Aurora Media Worldwide As Cross-Platform Broadcast Provider

The Classic, the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival has appointment of Aurora Media Worldwide as the event’s cross-platform broadcast provider in a multi-year contract.

AMW is one of the world’s leading broadcast media agencies specialising in the holistic development and production of live, premium global sports events. It has an unrivalled reputation in motorsports coverage, working with leading rights owners and brands including Formula E, Extreme E, Goodwood, McLaren and Jaguar.

In its new role at The Classic, AMW will capture the power and the glory excitement and heritage of the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival, relaying the fantastic blend of event content from the famous Silverstone circuit across multiple platforms,s to a wealth of television, digital and on-event audiences.

Maximising its proven state-of-the-art, cutting-edge and hyper-modern proficiencies, AMW will produce and deliver two post-produced programmes for ITV4, an international highlights programme as well as international distribution of content. AMW will also support digital output, creating dynamic and effectual engaging content for The Classic’s busy ssocial media platforms. Those at Silverstone will also be able to follow all the track action and infield entertainment on big screens located conveniently throughout the venue.

The double-header on ITV4 – twice the airtime screened before – will be hosted by Tiff Needell and Nicki Shields. As a former presenter on BBC Top Gear and podium finisher in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Needell needs little introduction; Shields is best known as the Formula E pit-lane reporter and has previously been part of the presenting team at The Classic.

Adding extra insight into the terrestrial coverage – to be aired provisionally back-to-back on the evenings of Sunday 15 and Monday 16 August – Needell will also be competing in no fewer than six races over the weekend.

“We are thrilled to have appointed Aurora as our new broadcast and content partner for The Classic,” confirmed Nick Wigley, CEO of The Classic’s promoter Goose Live Events. “It really is the best of both worlds: The Classic has all the great retro race and road cars from yesteryear; Aurora has the leading-edge technology and skills to capture all that magic.”

“AMW will bring a modern look and feel to coverage of The Classic, generating storytelling output that is informative, entertaining and which captures the unique festival atmosphere which makes this wonderful event so very special,” confirmed added Barry Flanigan, Chief Strategy Officer, Aurora Media Worldwide.

Tickets for The Classic must be purchased in advance and the price of adult general admission currently starts at £47 and three-day weekend ticket is on offer at just £125. Free admission is offered to accompanied children aged 10 and under, while day tickets for those aged between 11 and 15 are priced from just £6.

Providing great value, subject to guidelines, all tickets for The Classic include admission to both racing paddocks, open trackside grandstand seating, live music concerts on Friday and Saturday evenings, the Shift and Drift Zone as well as much of the fabulous family entertainment on offer including funfair rides and driving experiences.

Ticket-buyers can also book with confidence with tickets carrying a COVID booking guarantee which means that if a change in Government guidelines prevents spectators attending, all ticket-buyers will have the option to either transfer their ticket to the following year or receive a full refund.

Spark Sport Secures UEFA Champions League Rights For New Zealand

Spark Sport has secured the full and exclusive New Zealand rights to the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League for the next three seasons.

The UEFA Champions League is touted as the world’s most prestigious annual football competition, with the best teams and players competing to be crowned the elite champions. The 67th season of the UEFA Champions League is scheduled to start on Spark Sport from August 2021. Coverage of the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League kicks off a month later in September.

Head of Spark Sport Jeff Latch said: “We are incredibly happy to be bringing New Zealand football fans the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League on top of our current football line-up of Premier League, women’s Super League, Copa América, MUTV and Liverpool TV.

“With these five top tier competitions on Spark Sport, we will be the leading football destination for all Kiwi football fans as they tune in to watch the best football the world has to offer.

“Our content library has become more extensive as international rights holders look for providers who deliver to the growing demand in streaming. Our platform delivers to this changing broadcasting landscape.”

Spark Sport will also stream a range of highlight and review shows, alongside clips of the best action the competitions have to offer.

Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA Marketing Director said: “UEFA is pleased to welcome Spark Sport as a new partner. Spark Sport has ambitious plans in football, and we are excited to see it provide compelling coverage of the competitions for European club football fans in New Zealand.”

McLaren Expands Partnership With Splunk

McLaren Racing and Splunk Inc., provider of the Data-to-Everything™ Platform have announced an expansion of their partnership, with Splunk becoming an Official Global Partner of the McLaren Shadow esports team and the Logitech McLaren G Challenge.

The relationship, which began in 2020, will now see Splunk provide data analysis and live dashboards for the McLaren Shadow esports team. The Splunk® platform will be used to analyse timing data, tyre temperatures and wear, optimal throttle and brake application and other metrics, increasing the esports team’s competitiveness in the V-10 R League, eNascar Coca-Cola iRacing competition and the F1 Esports Series.

Additionally, Splunk will collaborate with McLaren’s pioneering young esports driver development programme, the McLaren Shadow Academy.

Splunk data will also provide insight to support the Logitech McLaren G Challenge global eracing series when it returns in summer 2021, while also helping to develop coaching capabilities for the wider gaming community.

The Splunk brand will be represented on the McLaren Shadow and Logitech McLaren G Challenge team kits, car liveries and racing streams.

Lindsey Eckhouse, Director, Licensing, ecommerce and esports, McLaren Racing, said: “Data-driven insight is crucial to our work at McLaren, and together with Splunk we’ve already made valuable progress on the Formula 1 side. We’re pleased to grow our long-term relationship with Splunk, by extending the partnership to the McLaren Shadow programme and Logitech McLaren G Challenge to cultivate the same progress in a key growth area for our team. We look forward to continuing to work with Splunk in an exciting additional chapter of our partnership.”

James Hodge, Group Vice President & Chief Strategy Advisor, International, Splunk, said: “Esports development over the past few years has been incredibly exciting to watch. It’s a natural step for Splunk to extend our partnership from Formula 1 to the McLaren Shadow programme and Logitech McLaren G Challenge. The popularity of esports derives from its accessibility and being a data driven sport it will be great to see how Splunk’s Data-to-Everything platform can support the development of the McLaren Shadow programme.”

ICC Launches ICC.tv With Endeavor Streaming

Endeavor Streaming has been selected by the International Cricket Council, the international governing body of cricket, as the provider of its streaming platform, ICC.tv.

ICC.tv delivers cricket content including the recently completed World Test Championship Final, and features archive content and other programming. The free service is available to users on web, iOS, Android, Chromecast and Airplay.

Earlier this month, the ICC branded service made its official debut hosting the ICC World Test Championship Final between India and New Zealand in markets where the ICC does not have a broadcast partner.

“Endeavor Streaming is proud to work with the ICC in delivering this product. We’re focused on providing the ICC with a robust experience with the capabilities needed to drive significant growth in their international fan base,” said Peter Bellamy, Senior Vice President at Endeavor Streaming.

“The ICC is pleased to be able to serve our global fan base with this new platform, bringing fans in certain countries the pinnacle of Test cricket live and free on ICC.tv,” said Finn Bradshaw, Head of Digital at the ICC.

ELEVEN Poland Renews Serie A TIM Rights For Three Years

ELEVEN SPORTS will continue to bring Serie A TIM LIVE and EXCLUSIVELY to fans in Poland until 2023/24, following the agreement of a new three-year deal.

The agreement was brokered by Infront, Serie A’s exclusive international media rights partner.

In addition to serving up the best LIVE matchdays, ELEVEN Poland will bring fans the latest Serie A news and goals in their studio shows Eleven Gol Live and Eleven Gol.

ELEVEN Poland has held Serie A rights since it first launched in 2015 and the league has consistently drawn a dedicated audience – with Poland internationals Piotr Zieliński, Wojciech Szczęsny and Bartosz Bereszyński in action alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimović.

Krzysztof Świergiel, Managing Director, ELEVEN Poland, said: “Italian football has been at the heart of our programming at ELEVEN since we launched in 2015, and we’re excited to continue to be able to offer Serie A to our fans for the next three seasons. With some of Poland’s top players in action in Serie A and the league’s many iconic clubs and rivalries, we’re looking forward to bringing more top class football to fans in the years ahead.”

Guillaume Collard, ELEVEN Group Chief Rights Acquisition Officer, added: “We were delighted to get this deal done and secure Serie A for ELEVEN’s Polish audience for another three years. The ELEVEN Group has a long history of collaboration with Serie A and this deal further strengthens our partnership.”

Formula 1 Signs Crypto.com As NFT Partner

Formula 1 has announced Crypto.com, the fastest-growing crypto platform with over 10 million users worldwide, as a Global Partner and Inaugural partner of the new Sprint series for 2021, with the first event at Silverstone on Saturday 17 July, ahead of the FORMULA 1 PIRELLI BRITISH GRAND PRIX 2021.

Crypto.com, will also have a trackside presence at every race for the remainder of the season as part of a leading Global partnership deal with Formula 1.

In addition to building the world’s fastest growing crypto platform and the leading app in both the App Store and Google Play the Crypto.com Visa Card is the world’s most popular crypto card available in 30+ countries world-wide. Partnering with Formula 1® will ensure Crypto.com continue to grow their brand awareness on an international stage.

As F1 continues to explore new ways for fans to engage and become more immersed in the sport, Crypto.com will also become the Official Cryptocurrency Sponsor and NFT Partner of F1.

Mirroring the fan-first approach F1 has adopted to engage with new audiences, Crypto.com aim to democratize the world of cryptocurrency for fans, through education and experiences in the new partnership. Crypto.com will also present a brand new award, which will be annouced ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.

Aligning with the sustainability plans for F1®to be Net Zero Carbon as a sport by 2030 Crypto.com announced an ambitious pledge in May 2021 to become carbon negative within 18 months, offering the industry a path and a model for “clean crypto”. This plan will initially focus on an assessment of the carbon generated through cryptocurrency trading, deposit and withdrawal activities across all of its own platforms, before reevaluating the ways it operates throughout the business outside of trading.”

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO, Formula 1®, said: “We are pleased to welcome Crypto.com to the Formula 1 family, as we continue to attract progressive global brands anchored in performance and innovation.”

Ben Pincus, Director of Commercial Partnerships at Formula 1®, said: “We are thrilled to announce Crypto.com as a Global Partner and lead partner of the Sprint event as we bring this exciting new format to fans for the first time this year. We will rely heavily on their expertise as we explore the world of cryptocurrency, an area we are very interested in, and this will be the first time as a sport we are able to offer fans the opportunity to explore this exciting world as we further increase our digital presence. Crypto.com are revered in the industry and their experience was key in the decision to partner with them, as well as the company’s commitment to becoming carbon negative, as we continue to move towards sustainability goals of our own.”

Kris Marszalek, co-Founder and CEO of Crypto.com, said: “We are extremely proud to be the first cryptocurrency sponsor of Formula 1, joining a prestigious collection of brands supporting a sport with technology and innovation at its core. We look forward to many years of innovating together, and will begin at the Belgian Grand Prix where we will present a brand new award. We’re also excited to partner with F1 in the development of exclusive NFTs, connecting fans to the sport in new and innovative ways.”

Foundation 29 And LaLiga, In Collaboration With Microsoft, Publish Open Datasets To Support Medical Research

To improve and advance scientific research that helps address challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that companies and public agencies work together to generate data and develop the capacity to share it with the scientific community.

That is, to create open datasets that can be shared safely (guaranteeing privacy) to promote research on diseases and improve the response and care for future health risks, respecting the legal frameworks applicable in the different regions.

LaLiga was the first sports organisation in Europe to implement the necessary protocols to allow players and fans to return to the sport safely. As one of the most followed competitions worldwide, it also made the decision, from the start of the 2020-2021 season, to support the scientific community by creating a dataset that includes anonymized information related to PCR tests of the players and staff of LaLiga clubs. This one-of-a-kind dataset can be consulted for research purposes through a platform that Foundation 29 has made available to organisations and institutions that wish to share their data with the scientific community for research purposes, in a secure and private way.

“From LaLiga we worked intensively, since the beginning of the pandemic, to create sanitary protocols that would allow the competition to develop with the maximum guarantees,” said Jaime Blanco, part of the LaLiga presidential team and acting head of protocols and tests. “Thanks to this and the rigorous test plan carried out, we have gathered a volume of data that can serve the scientific community to better understand and combat COVID-19. We are very proud of what has been achieved and we are delighted with the collaboration with Foundation 29 and Microsoft.” 

HealthData 29, Foundation 29’s data sharing platform, has been designed to respond to the growing need for knowledge generation in the health sector. The data sharing model has recently been recognised by the Spanish Data Protection Agency, which highlights the confidence in its design.

“As a result of our experience, at Foundation 29 we know that one of the main problems in biomedical research is that health data is often in the possession of health institutions and is not accessible to researchers or to patients themselves,” said Carlos Mascías Cadavid, medical director of Foundation 29.

“For this reason, we have created a tool that helps to bring together the anonymised data generated by any disease, so that we can access a much faster, agile and inclusive management. We have done this with LaLiga data related to the management of the coronavirus, and thanks to the invaluable help of Microsoft.” 

Microsoft believes that everyone can benefit from opening up, sharing and collaborating around data to make better decisions and help address some of the world’s most pressing societal challenges, such as improving the diagnosis and prevention mechanisms of diseases like COVID- 19. In this way, the company has made its technology available to different organisations around the world to support the sharing of data that respects the fundamental rights of people.

“Microsoft’s contribution has been to support scientists, institutions and researchers in the creation of open datasets necessary for scientific advancement,” added Gabriel López, director of Regulatory Affairs at Microsoft in Spain.

“The work of Foundation 29 and LaLiga is a clear example of how much we can advance, if we work collaboratively for the benefit of society. From Microsoft, we encourage organisations that have useful data for research to share them openly and, of course, privately and securely.” 

World Triathlon Teams Up With Event Planning Brand OnePlan

As part of its mission to reduce event costs and open up triathlon-hosting to more cities and National Federations, World Triathlon has teamed up with the award-winning event planning platform OnePlan, designing a tool to help ease the workflow of LOCs and simplify the staging of the world’s biggest triathlon races.

The site planning tool will allow for highly accurate and collaborative planning between the World Triathlon Operations team and Sports department and the LOCs, where everything from interactive 3D mock-ups right down to barrier placement and quantities can be set up. By combining mapping and visual planning tools, the result is a considerably more hands-on and manageable approach, also allowing less-experienced LOCs to be guided through every step of hosting World Triathlon events safely and efficiently and reducing need for time-consuming site visits.

The ‘OnePlan for Triathlons’ system can be used – for free – by any triathlon organiser around the world.

“The benefits of using OnePlan will be felt immediately by all our stakeholders by enabling us to have every element of every event visible in one place, right down to the smallest details,” said World Triathlon Sport Director Gergely Markus.

“Hosting triathlons requires a lot of collaboration from many areas. By using OnePlan, we can reduce time and costs for our LOCs while offering the vital reassurance that all the necessary elements are in place, making hosting World Triathlon events in major cities and new regions more attractive, more straightforward and far easier to manage.”

Commenting on the partnership, OnePlan CEO Paul Foster said, “Our partnership with World Triathlon will deliver a consistent approach for LOCs to plan triathlons, meaning significant time and cost savings, plus sustainability benefits, by reducing the need for site visits. Designed by World Triathlon and powered by OnePlan, any triathlon organiser worldwide can now use the platform to plan and manage their events.”