CYNOPSISSPORTS
01.09.17
Good morning. It’s Monday January 9, 2017 and this is your first early morning Sports briefing.
Turner Sports’ return to CES with its Sports Business Innovation slate of panels provided not only a lineup of speakers that included the likes of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and NCAA President Mark Emmert, but a spate of announcements as well. New innovations include the launch of Turner Ignite Sports in a move to connect brands to its sports programming and properties via four main areas: intellectual property; live events and experiential marketing; creative services; and data solutions with events that would include the likes of the NCAA, March Madness, Bleacher Report and ELeague. Meanwhile, the company also unveiled Catch Sports, described as a “new innovative product serving as the digital personal assistant for fans that helps them navigate the various channels and platforms available to follow live sports coverage whenever and wherever they choose.”
With CES 2017 in the books, Cynopsis Sports spoke with Turner Sports President Lenny Daniels about the annual event, the company’s new initiatives and its approach to technology.
Daniels on returning to CES: The first time around, we knew that sports would resonate as it drives a lot of technology. We saw incredible engagement and people really liked it and really wanted it. So we simply made the decision to do it again. It gives a platform to show how we are creative and different in a lot of ways that others aren’t so we get to push that envelope forward. It gives everybody a reason to sit, listen and meet other people. As important as the panelists are, it is equally important to sit and mingle with people that you don’t always get to see.
On launching Turner Ignite Sports: We learned a lot from the entertainment group, which has been doing Ignite for a year or two now and it has become a really cool way to bring everything that we capable of doing into one place and allowing a sponsor to do things more efficiently than they have been able to do in the past. We don’t view it as new as it may seem, as we’ve been doing this with March Madness for a little while, but I think it’s an opportunity to have other people who aren’t familiar with those things to see it all housed in something called Ignite Sports to experience the opportunities it represents.
On Catch Sports: The idea came from a problem in the industry that a bunch of us have, and it solves a very serious, specific, niche issue. I was away somewhere and was trying to find a college basketball game and couldn’t find it. At its core, it solves that problem and in our head Catch becomes a digital assistant. If you are in your car and you are listening to a sports broadcast on the radio and you drive to another part of the country, it will be able to follow you and know what other terrestrial radio stations have that on for you. We have a pretty dynamic vision for this thing and where it is going to end up but at its core, it provides a very clear service.
On Turner’s approach to technology: We are not a 24-hour sports network and that allows us to think differently and to try things. Something that works on CNN can be incubated and tried in sports. Something that works in sports can be leveraged for Adult Swim. We have all of these brands that we allow to innovate on their own.
ON THE AIR
The opening act of the NFL postseason saw NBC’s Lions/Seahawks Wild Card matchup reel in an average a Total Audience Delivery of 27.1 million viewers across NBC & NBC Sports Digital. NBC provided 26.9 million viewers for the game, marking the most-watched Saturday night program on any network since Jan. 16 of last year. The battle also ranked as NBC Sports Digital’s best-ever Wild Card Game with 1 million uniques and 34 million live streaming minutes
ESPN’s Wild Card matchup of Raiders/Texans notched a total live audience of 25,632,000 average viewers according to Nielsen fast nationals. That is up from last year’s Wild Card game on ESPN and ABC, with the game delivering 25,341,000 viewers and a 14.6 US household rating on ESPN and ABC, with a 14.6 US household rating.
FIFA is poised to move forward on officially expanding the World Cup tomorrow, with its ruling Council likely to agree to expand the 2026 World Cup to 48 nations, framed from 16 groups of three teams. FIFA has forecast a 20% rise in rights fees with the potential expansion.
Elsewhere in the sport, US Soccer announced that its Board of Directors voted to grant provisional Division II status to the North American Soccer League and United Soccer League for the 2017 season. Although the board noted that neither league meets all the standards set forth by US Soccer, the body will “work with the leagues on a pathway to full compliance." “The USL is honored to receive provisional U.S. Soccer Federation Division 2 status, which provides further validation about our League’s financial sustainability, national footprint, ownership quality, stadium infrastructure and player development,” said Alec Papadakis, the USL Chief Executive Officer. “Our teams have invested more than $100 million into stadium development in the last year to enhance the experience for the 1.5 million passionate fans that attended games in 2016, the 1,000-plus players and nearly 100 coaches that have positioned our League as a highly sophisticated competition model that cultivates strong regional rivalries.”
It would appear that the clock has run out for 60 Minutes Sports on Showtime. Adweek writes that a meeting was held Wednesday to inform the staff of the upcoming changes with the final episode of the monthly show set to air in April.
Former Tennessee All-American and WNBA All-Star Tamika Catchings has signed on as an analyst on SEC Network, and will call a slate of women’s basketball games during the remainder of the season. She called her first game of the season on Sunday.
Winik Media announced today the discovery and acquisition of lost sports films dating back to the 1930’s. The films include Rocky Marciano fights, the inaugural season of the NBA and never seen before footage of the likes of Joe Louis, Vince Lombardi, Jim Brown, Frank Gifford, George Mikan, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Gordie Howe, and Gorgeous George. The library consists of approximately 1000 original 35mm and 16mm film titles totaling over 300 hours of original content.
A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE
CYNOPSIS SPORTS MEDIA AWARDS
HONORING TOP SPORTS PROGRAMS, CAMPAIGNS, AND PEOPLE
Our award show continues to spotlight the groundbreaking work created by the sports media industry, don’t let your efforts go unnoticed!
Enter by January 31, 2017
Awards Event: April 13, 2017 (NYC)
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SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION
Updating the Super Bowl roster of commercials, Procter & Gamble will showcase two spots during the game, according to Ad Age, one for Mr. Clean and the other for Febreeze. A Procter & Gamble spokesman said that the Febreeze commercial will air during the second quarter, running for 30 seconds and including online video and a digital marketing campaign, while the second ad for Mr. Clean, will air during the third quarter.
Audi, meanwhile, is tackling Super Bowl LI with a return to the game with a spot made by Venables Bell & Partners, according to Ad Age. Audi becomes the third automaker to join the event in addition to Kia and Honda.
DIGITAL & STREAMING
The NBA streamed a regular season game on Facebook Live for the first time over the weekend, showcasing the Kings/Warriors matchup to fans in India on the platform across the Facebook Pages of the NBA, the Kings and the Warriors. This game marked the Kings’ fourth annual Bollywood Night, a celebration of traditional Indian culture, cinema and music.
Peter Berg and Complex Networks’ Rated Red announced QB1: Beyond the Lights, described as a 10-part docuseries that follows three of the nation’s top high school quarterbacks: Jake Fromm, Tate Martell, and Tayvon Bowers, “on and off the field, throughout their unforgettable senior year seasons.” The series is available through Complex Networks’ Rated Red on go90 beginning February 15, 2017.
ESPORTS
A pair of non-endemics are deepening ties with the esports wave as Visa unveiled a sponsorship with SK Gaming. The deal sees the Visa logo appear on SK Gaming jerseys, while players will attend Visa events and Visa tech will be integrated into the team’s online store. The deal spans a year with options to extend. “Pro gaming has changed the way we see sport in recent years, opening access to people the world over and creating a surge in its popularity,” said Visa’s Executive Director of Marketing, Gary Twelvetree in the announcement. “We see huge potential for the industry and this deal sees Visa ideally placed to harness and drive that. We’re looking forward to a successful season supporting the next-genathletes at SK Gaming to do what they do best – win.”
Meanwhile, energy beverage brand 5-hour Energy made its first foray into esports, locking in a deal with the Detroit Renegades. Dealpoints include the esports organization’s Overwatch team includeing the 5-hour Energy name in its team name. “This sponsorship by the makers of 5-hour Energy shots epitomizes our shared values of hard work, innovative marketing, and efficient operations,” Renegades owner Jonas Jerebko said. “As our first non-endemic sponsor, being headquartered in Michigan encourages a beneficial relationship to support our organization and players directly.”
ASUS Republic of Gamers inked its first official eSports franchise sponsorship in a multi-year deal with Echo Fox. The ASUS ROG brand will now serve as the organization’s exclusive provider of premium PC hardware including desktops, laptops, monitors, mice, and more. "The ASUS ROG team shares our commitment to building community and empowering gaming enthusiasts with the tools they need to achieve peak performance," said Rick Fox, owner of Echo Fox. "This partnership provides exciting new opportunities for engaging with fans and dominating in competition."
The Professional Esports Association announced that it is calling off plans to run a CS:GO league after all. The decision was made after a majority vote by its teams’ players, stating “there isn’t sufficient financial support in the ecosystem, either from broadcast/streaming partners, sponsors, or others, to profitably operate a third prominent online league, due to the oversaturation of the marketplace and the recent upward spiral in operating costs.” December saw a slew of team protest plans to block players from participating in the ESL Pro League tournaments for the game.
THE MAIN EVENT
Clemson/Alabama battle for the crown at 8p on ESPN with alternative productions on ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, SEC Network, ESPN Classic, ESPN Goal Line, ESPN3 and ESPN Deportes.
A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE
Women in Digital – This one is for you!
The deadline for our third annual Top Women in Digital Awards is tomorrow, Jan 10 at 11:59PM. Don’t miss the chance to recognize your colleagues… or feel free to submit yourself! Complete your nomination here: http://www.cynopsis.com/event/2017-top-women-awards/.
ON THIS DAY in 1963: The Cleveland Browns fire Paul Brown from the franchise he both founded and named.
In The Know: Who was Judge Smalls’ playing partner against Webb/Czervik in Caddyshack? (Email Chris-Sports@cynopsis.com with your answer and be sure to include your name, company and city.)
Answer to Our Last Sports Trivia Question: According to The Dark Knight Rises, what is the name of the Gotham football team? Answer: In the movie, the team is named the Gotham Rogues. Kudos: David Kalan-MLB Advanced Media/NY; Synda Kollman-Charter Marketing Group/Deerfield Beach; Matt Fumagalli-NBC Sports/Chicago; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA.
Later — Chris
Chris Pursell for Cynopsis | Sports @VegasandVine
01.09.17
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The post 01/09/17: Turner Sports talks tech post-CES; Wild Cards get a lift; eSports teams see sponsor storm appeared first on Cynopsis Media.