Digital Media Cafe Blog – Featuring Transfer Window, Manchester United, PGA America and Europe and Apple TV – David Granger

Social Response: Transfer Deadline

If it was a busy time for players, managers, agents and Sky reporters as transfer deadline approached in the Premier League, it was an even busier day for the social media managers and fans – who certainly had their say. We kicked off with Manchester United using Vine to announce the signing of Di Maria from Real Madrid. While cynics might suggest that was method over message, it did mean fans got to create their own Vines to mark the arrival of the new number seven – always a good social sign. United not only paid a UK record for the Argentine midfelder, but they were also top of the charts when it came to mentions, using the #deadlineday on Twitter. One club that didn’t fare so well in its social media was Leeds United. The Yorkshire club had kept fans guessing and kept expectation high as the deadline loomed, but  – for reasons unknown – the call for fans to wait up as there was still work to be done, ended in disappointment. There was no further action, just the sale of two players. It wasn’t a great exercise in managing expectations and the fans vented in no uncertain terms and several ones not safe for work. Perhaps the only people having a worse day were the Sky sports reports outside grounds who were the subject of attacks by fans with sex toys. Not great for the guys with the microphone, but certainly one way of creating a buzz on social media as the clips went viral.

Teed Off: Golfer’s Selfie Ban

We’ll no doubt seem some superb golf when the Ryder Cup comes to Scotland this month – what we won’t see too much of is selfies from the greens of Gleneagles. Yep, the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA) and PGA European Tour have banned the uploading of images from the course. This may be bad news for Rory McIlroy who tweeted a selfie with the Hoylake Open trophy to his two million followers in July. So, what would McIilroy’s penalty be if he snaps and uploads? Well, it’s not going to be too severe, he might get a slap on the wrist and his mobile confiscated, but that’s about it. And while we’re on the subject, this one has been dubbed the best sporting selfie of all time. Tennis legend and social media fan Roger Federer snapped himself with basketball legend Michael Jordan when the two met at the US Open. Certainly there can be fewer pairings who possess bigger trophy cabinets.

NFL Get Airing On Apple TV

And while for years the armchair fan’s viewing options have been cable, terrestrial or satellite, Apple TV is becoming more and more a must-have. Already available in the US are the increasingly expanding Red Bull TV, ESPN, the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer. And now added to that line-up is NFL Now. It means Apple TV users get original NFL shows, press conferences and for a monthly fee instant in-game highlights. Rights-holders are more and more using digital channels to surface additional, second-screen content to those not at the event, hopefully not distracting from the actual game itself.

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Having spent eight seasons in Formula One managing the digital channels for world champions Red Bull Racing, David Granger now runs Fact 51, a social and digital content agency.

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