Fan Engagement
UFC takes AI plunge with global IBM deal
The Ultimate Fighting Championship has sold its first sponsorship package in the artificial intelligence category, a multi-year deal with technology and IT consulting firm IBM
Cosm deals with NFL for ‘shared reality’ game rights
Cosm, the immersive technology and entertainment company, has reached an enhanced agreement with the National Football League to show live matches for the rest of the 2024 season.
Kore is Two Circles’ latest acquisition in US push
Sponsorship and data intelligence platform Kore is Two Circles' latest acquisition under Charterhouse Capital Partners ownership, taking the agency’s client base to over 700 companies and strengthening its US presence.
Rams, Genius offer NFL in-game highlights first
The Los Angeles Rams has become the first NFL team to provide fans with data-driven in-game highlights through an agreement with Genius Sports that will provide additional ad inventory for Verizon.
Expanding Dude Perfect hires CEO from NBA
Dude Perfect has outlined plans to scale its operations to become a major media outlet, hiring a leading NBA digital executive to become its first CEO.
US agency rEvolution swoops for WePlay to grow footprint
US marketing agency rEvolution has today (Thursday) announced the acquisition of the WePlay digital marketing agency, significantly bolstering its presence across the UK and Europe, Middle East and Africa
Making the grade: Super League’s fight to win hearts and minds
Super League will enter a new era in 2025, with a 'grading' system replacing promotion and relegation. The change won't be a panacea, but RL Commercial and IMG hope it will spark life into a competition in danger of losing relevance.
Story-based content key to Pro League, WSC renewal
Belgium's Pro League has expanded its deal with WSC Sports, with a greater focus on producing story-telling content that also fits in with the focus of its recently issued domestic rights tender.
ONE to create manga series in Sui blockchain deal
Asian mixed martial arts promotion One Championship has agreed a sponsorship and technology partnership with Sui, a Layer 1 blockchain, that will see the company’s technology integrated into the ONE Fight Arena, the official mobile game of the championship.
PGA Tour eyes slice of YouTube creator audience
The PGA Tour has taken steps to retain engagement within a key demographic as it launches a 9-hole event to tap into social media followings of YouTube golf content creators
ATP’s mic initiative could fall on deaf ears
The ATP's attempts to tap younger audiences by innovating the broadcast experience could be thwarted by top players, whose opposition has already brought a premature end to the Tour's behind-the-scenes docuseries.
AC Milan eyes US revenues gain in KAGR tie-up
Italian football giant AC Milan has struck a deal with US sports data and analytics firm Kraft Analytics Group (KAGR) as it bids to better understand consumer behaviour and grow its fan base, with a particular…
Reddit eyes ad sales uplift from new sports ‘programme partners’
Five of the United States' leading sports properties have struck agreements with Reddit to push their content to a younger audience while in turn driving up advertising revenue for the message board platform
Digital agency Engage kicks off search for buyer
Owners of Engage Digital Partners, the UK-based digital agency whose clients include the International Cricket Council and Real Madrid, have appointed KPMG to begin a sale process
International fanbase driving NBA’s social media success
Nearly 70 per cent of the NBA's social media engagement across central, team and player accounts comes from outside the United States, with its roster of international stars making the league a truly global…
OneFootball, Stadion unite for in-app e-commerce marketplace
OneFootball, the streaming and media platform, has entered into the e-commerce marketplace in its latest attempt to diversify revenue streams and become a fully holistic football content offering
Serie A hires Allied Sports for US commercial push
Lega Serie A USA has hired American sports marketing firm Allied Sports as an official agency of record to support the league's North American office in New York in its efforts to expand commercially
NFL expands ticketing partners, adding Sports Illustrated
The National Football League's Ticket Network, the league's open ticketing system, has expanded from two to three licensed channels with the addition of Sports Illustrated Tickets