Sponsorship & Marketing
AFC faces revenue hole, tricky host decision, after China’s Asian Cup withdrawal
China’s withdrawal as host of the 2023 Asian Cup has undermined some of the most valuable commercial rights deals for the Asian Football Confederation in its 2021-24 cycle, potentially leaving the body f…
Deutsche Telekom hitches DFB sponsorship renewal to media deals
Deutsche Telekom has extended its sponsorship of the German Football Federation (DFB) until 2024, allowing it to leverage the IP rights with existing media rights deals for major international tournament…
Kooyong Classic to return in 2023 with new title sponsor
Melbourne tennis tournament the Kooyong Classic will return next January after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic
FIS and Infront on course for legal collision over controversial rights centralisation plan
Controversial plans to centralise international broadcast rights to World Cup events under a so-called ‘Concorde Agreement’ have placed the International Ski Federation (FIS) in legal conflict with the…
Infront retains World Curling Federation rights mandate to 2030
The Infront agency has penned a long-term media and sponsorship rights extension with the World Curling Federation in a deal spanning two four-year Olympic cycles
Rugby Australia cuts losses as media rights income hits A$40m
Rugby Australia cut its losses to A$4.5m ($3.3m/€3.1m) last year after broadcast revenue increased by more than 50 per cent during another rugby union season disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
OneFootball raises $300m from investors, forms blockchain JV
OneFootball, the football-focused streaming and media platform, has closed a $300m (€285m) Series D funding round led by the New York-based Liberty City Ventures and has also created a blockchain technology j…
Liverpool to play friendly in Singapore as StarHub secures rights to exhibition matches
Liverpool is to play a friendly against fellow Premier League outfit Crystal Palace at the National Stadium in Singapore as part of its forthcoming pre-season tour of Southeast Asia
Global Esports Federation appoints IMG to strategic and commercial role
The Global Esports Federation has appointed the IMG sports and entertainment agency as a commercial consultant ahead of the Commonwealth Esports Championships in Birmingham later this year
SuperSport signs on as Wada’s first official sponsor
The World Anti-Doping Agency has signed a first-of-its-kind sponsorship deal with sub-Saharan African pay-television broadcaster SuperSport to aid ongoing efforts to diversify its funding mix
PCB invites expressions of interest for junior franchise league’s sponsorship and media rights
The Pakistan Cricket Board has invited expressions of interest for various sponsorship and broadcast rights packages after outlining the details of its new franchise competition for 15-to-19-year-olds
Gai named Fifa’s chief business officer as Madati exits in latest commercial reshuffle
Romy Gai, a former commercial executive at Juventus, has been appointed as Fifa’s chief business officer with Kay Madati, the incumbent chief commercial officer, to leave in the latest personnel rejig a…
Infront adds E3 Saxo Bank Classic to cycling portfolio
The Infront agency has entered into an exclusive media and marketing rights agreement with the E3 Saxo Bank Classic cycling event in Flanders, Belgium
Famous Grouse builds on Premiership Rugby deal with ITV broadcast sponsorship
Whisky brand The Famous Grouse has furthered its presence within domestic rugby union in the UK by becoming the broadcast sponsor of Premiership Rugby on broadcaster ITV Sport
IMG to market Arab Gulf Cup commercial rights to 2031
The IMG agency has signed a long-term commercial agreement with the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF) covering the next six editions of the national team tournament
NZ Warriors allowed to extend Vodafone deal; NRL attracts record audience on Foxtel
The National Rugby League has granted permission for the New Zealand Warriors to extend their principal sponsorship deal with telco Vodafone following a long-running dispute between the franchise and the…
Sportfive lands IHF media and sponsorship rights to 2031 after submitting revised offer
The Sportfive agency will continue to sell global media rights to the International Handball Federation’s leading events until 2031 after directly negotiating a new agreement with the world body that a…
IMG to be appointed as strategic partner of rugby league joint venture
The IMG agency is set to be named as the strategic partner for the new commercial joint venture set up by the Rugby Football League and Super League (Europe)