Feb 19, 2021

Sports Tech Live - Issue #116

Issue #116 — View online — Suggest a link

Sports Tech Live

All your Sports Tech news in one place, covering topics like AR/VR, Data Analytics, eSports, Live Streaming, Sports Betting, Wearables, etc.

Streaming Wars

Fan Controlled Football scores 700k+ live views on Twitch during opening games - SportsPro Media

Startup league’s iOs platform was the most-downloaded app on Apple store over debut weekend.

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NASCAR President Prefers Races on Broadcast TV Over Streaming Services

NASCAR pres. Steve Phelps said exclusive streaming coverage of Cup Series races is “not something that’s on our radar.”

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‘European super league less valuable to broadcasters’: BT Sport’s Simon Green - SportsPro Media

The head of pay-TV network BT Sport, the UK’s Uefa Champions League broadcast partner, has said that its combination of top-flight domestic soccer and European competitions is a more valuable proposition than any prospective continental breakaway ‘super league’.

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THE PLAYERS Championship announces the return of Every Shot Live along with fan engagement opportunities in Northeast Florida

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – THE PLAYERS Championship announced today the return of Every Shot Live for the 2021 event, showcasing more than 32,000 live golf shots over 72 holes from a field of 144 players. All of the coverage will be available to PGA TOUR LIVE subscribers on NBC Sports Gold, wit…

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Eleven picks up exclusive Nascar rights in Portugal | SportBusiness

Subscription broadcaster Eleven has secured exclusive rights in Portugal to US stock car racing series Nascar in a deal covering 2021 and 2022. Eleven Portugal’…

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ESPN+ lands Belgium Pro League rights to boost its soccer lineup | Engadget

ESPN+ has bolstered its impressive soccer credentials by adding yet another league to its stable. Its five-year deal with the Belgian Pro League gets underway this weekend with three live games: STVV vs. Zulte Waregem on Saturday, and Sunday’s double-header of Standard Liege vs. Royal Antwerp and Charleroi vs. Club Brugge.

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Formula E and BBC renew rights deal for 2021 - SportsPro Media

The Formula E all-electric motorsport series has extended its UK broadcast partnership with the BBC to air every race from the 2021 season across the public service broadcaster’s digital and linear channels.

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Eurosport to show Giro d'Italia via discovery+ and Global Cycling Network until at least 2025 - Eurosport

Discovery has secured the exclusive global rights to show the Giro d’Italia until at least 2025.

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Gambling

Sportradar to launch Universal Fraud Detection System - Gaming Intelligence

Sportradar has made a landmark commitment to make its bet monitoring system available free of charge to all sports federations and leagues

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Bally’s Becomes Official Sports Betting Partner of the NHL | GamblingNews

Bally’s Corporation entered into its first deal with a professional sports league after signing an agreement with the NHL

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WSC Sports Inks Deal With FanDuel to Produce Sports Highlights for Sports Betting Customers

FanDuel Group and WSC Sports have announced a partnership to push real-time highlights of golf events to FanDuel Sportsbook app users. This marks the …

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Saudi Wealth Fund Made $3.3 Billion Bet on Video-Game Makers - Bloomberg

Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund is pursuing investments in an industry long favored by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: video games.

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esports & Gaming

BBC set to broadcast FIFA 21 Global Series European Regional Qualifiers - Esports Insider

The BBC is set to show the FIFA 21 Global Series Regional Qualifier events in Europe for the upcoming months on its digital platforms and BBC Sport pages.

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"Casters get paid nothing": Valorant caster Uber explains why there are broadcasting issues for esports tournaments

Mitch “Uber” Leslie recently revealed the reasons behind the lackluster casting in Valorant esports tournaments in an episode of the Dustin Bowerman Show.

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Ninjas in Pyjamas and Samsung sign Three-Year Partnership - Fan Engagement and Gaming Experience Platform

NIP and Samsung will work together to develop initiatives that promote both the ends.

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Sportfive, Riot Games and Freaks 4U Gaming team up for new esports series | SportBusiness

The Sportfive agency has teamed up with video game developer Riot Games and esports agency Freaks 4U Gaming on the commercialisation of the Valorant Champions…

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IOC Executive Board proposes Olympic Agenda 2020+5 as the strategic roadmap to 2025 - Olympic News

The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has proposed a new strategic roadmap, Olympic Agenda 2020+5 (link to the

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Marketing & Social

UFC Teams With TikTok for Live Weekly Shows - Variety

UFC signed a multiyear partnership with TIkTok, under which UFC will produce live content on the social-video platform.

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LaLiga Exhibition will bring new interactions & Club experiences to fans around the world! - Arunava about Football

LaLiga have unveiled LaLiga Exhibition, an experiential space in which football fans can enjoy a fully interactive…

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4 million extra bobbleheads? 2020's lost MLB giveaways could be a jackpot for fans

After a year of empty ballparks, teams have tons of leftover promo items heading into the 2021 season.

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Partnerships

Roma agree New Balance kit deal worth up to ‘€4m a year’ - SportsPro Media

Your description for this link…

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Workday steps in as title sponsor for World Golf Championships event - SportsPro Media

Tournament taking place in Florida after Covid-19 forced move from Mexico City.

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Shell and Ferrari renew Innovation Partnership | www.sportindustry.biz

Shell has renewed its long-standing Innovation Partnership with Formula 1 team Ferrari. The renewal of the long-standing partnership will aim to support advancements in technology and sustainability, according to the pair. Ferrari and Shell will work together to develop and implement solutions to reduce the team’s carbon footprint, helping them to achieve their broader

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StockX and NBA G League Ignite announce multiyear partnership - NBA.com: NBA Communications

StockX, the leading global e-commerce marketplace for current culture products, and NBA G League Ignite today announced a multiyear global partnership that makes StockX the Official Resale Marketplace of Team Ignite.

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Deals

PFL eyes international expansion after US$65m funding round - SportsPro Media

MMA league will also use latest financing to acquire talent and fund product innovation.

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Varo Bank raises another $63M, led by NBA star Russell Westbrook – TechCrunch

Varo Bank, which last year became the first U.S. neobank to be granted a national bank charter, announced this morning it’s raised another $63 million in new funding. The round was led by NBA star Russell Westbrook, who will also join the startup as an advisor focused on the direction of Varo Bank’s programs aimed […]

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Kevin Durant, James Harden, Aaron Rodgers Among Investors In Therabody, Maker Of Theragun Massage Device

Therabody, a technology and wellness company, recently raised equity from numerous athletes, including Kevin Durant, James Harden and Aaron Rodgers.

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Adidas plans to sell struggling Reebok brand | Reuters

German sportswear maker Adidas AG plans to sell or spin-off its underperforming Reebok brand, 15 years after it bought the U.S. fitness label to help compete with arch-rival Nike Inc.

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Women In Sport

Patience and Perseverance: How Hilary Knight Is Building a Future for Women’s Hockey

Knight is a part of the 2021 Dream Gap Tour to raise the profile of women’s hockey.

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Hardware & Wearables

PlayerMaker CEO: ‘We Have Turned the Shoe Into Technological Infrastructure’

PlayerMaker is an innovative wearable sensor that players affix to the outside ankle of each cleat with a silicon strap.

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Long Reads

Trust Me, Sports Without Fans Is Not Sports - The New York Times

For five days the Australian Open had cozy stadiums half-filled with fervent fans, and sports once again felt normal. Then a snap lockdown quieted the stands.

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Techstars Startup Digest Sports Tech Live is curated by:

Will Martin
will.martin@startupdigestmail.com

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