FUN88 returns to Spurs partner fold in two-year Asian focused deal
August 10 – Online bookmaker FUN88 has returned as a Tottenham Hotspur sponsor in a two-year deal after having taken a two-year break from the club.
Football Marketing
TV rights sales ruling clears Premier League to keep driving the market
By Paul Nicholson
August 9 – The Premier League has been cleared to continue its UK broadcast rights sales after regulator Ofcom closed an investigation into how live rights are sold and whether the auction system restricted or distorted competition.
EA Sports ups its sponsorship game with new Premier League deal
August 9 – The Premier League has announced video game maker EA Sports as a new Lead Partner in a three-year deal that significantly expands its current partnership with league.
TLCBET puts its money on Middlesbrough to deliver new Asian opportunity
August 9 – Middlesbrough, newly promoted to the Premier League, have announced TLCBET as the club’s official betting and gaming partner as the club moves to take the market opportunity of exposure in Asia to the Asian betting community that the Premier League offers. No figure was announced for the deal.
Bundesliga 2 kick off tops big name club friendlies with German TV audiences
August 9 – The opening of the Bundesliga 2 season in Germany has recorded strong viewing figures according to pay-TV broadcaster Sky. While football in general, ahead of the big league kick offs, is rating comparatively well against the Olympics that are taking place in Rio.
La Liga threatens clubs with fines if stadia don’t look full for TV
August 7 – La Liga, keen to boost its international broadcast profile and revenue, has issued guidelines and a warning to clubs that if their stadia are not seen to be 75% full on the television transmission they will fine their clubs.
William Hill add Chelsea to betting partner roster in 3-year deal
August 5 – William Hill have scored a Premier League hat-trick this week announcing a three-year deal with Chelsea to become the club’s new official betting partner. The deal is a global partnership.
Man City link with National Football Museum for ‘ultimate’ fan tour
August 4 – Setting the pace digitally and in the way they use their media assets, Premier League club Manchester City have also boosted their physical touchpoints with the club for fans with the launch of what they are calling their ‘Ultimate Football Day Out’.
EnergyBet gambles on revamped Aston Villa for its sportsbook launch
August 4 – Under the new Chinese ownership of Tony Xia, England’s once great Aston Villa are expecting to be challengers for an immediate return to the Premier League. They will be hoping that success in achieving that will also transmit to their new challenger brand betting partner EnergyBet.
William Hill adds Spurs to Everton as it builds pre-season betting partners
August 3 – Tottenham Hotspur have announced William Hill as their Official Betting Partner for Europe and Australia in an initial two-year deal starting with the 2016/17 season. On Monday the bookmaker announced a similar deal with Everton.
Facebook edges closer to Premier League with Man Utd and Rooney
By Paul Nicholson
August 3 – Any doubts that Facebook wasn’t preparing a major broadcast assault in the world’s biggest sport can be dispelled with the social media giant tonight making Premier League history with the streaming of a Wayne Rooney’s testimonial match.
Univision steps up Scotiabank Champions League coverage to all games, live
August 2 – With the first round of Scotiabank Champions League fixtures kicking off the 2016-17 season tonight with Trinidad’s Central at home to Canada’s Vancouver Whitecaps and Mexico’s Pachuca at home to Honduras’ Olympia, CONCACAF has announced a significantly expanded Spanish-language TV deal in the US with Univision.
William Hill bets on Everton; commits to battle against match-fixers
August 1 – William Hill has agreed a two-year partnership with Premier League Everton to become its new official betting partner, offering exclusive odds to Everton fans.
Leicester fluff Hollywood lines vs PSG, but Chelsea and Real pack fans in Big House
By Paul Nicholson
August 1 – English champions Leicester City made their Hollywood debut in LA with an inconspicuous 4-0 spanking at the hands of French champions Paris St-Germain. One wonders if the follow-up movie to the Leicester story currently being scripted by two big name Osar-winning writers will have a different storyline.
AFC rolls out live streaming platform as media and marketing workshops gather pace
July 29 – Bhutan has become the first of the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) member associations to embrace the new Live Streaming Platform with the AFC’s partner mycujoo.