SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION
NBA fans will get access to independent music artists courtesy of a new partnership between the NBA and UnitedMasters that will see the league provide UnitedMasters artists the opportunity to have their music featured across the NBA’s suite of digital properties and social community of 1.5 billion, including NBA.com and the NBA App, as well as league and team social media accounts. "We're excited to partner with UnitedMasters to give up-and-coming artists a massive digital stage to share their music," said Jeff Marsilio, NBA Senior Vice President, New Media Distribution. "With this partnership, fans will now have a new way to discover music while they enjoy NBA highlights across our social and digital media.”
Online bookmaker PointsBet signed on Darrelle Revis to serve as a partner and the face of its digital Sportsbook as the company launched its first foray into the recently legalized US sports betting market. Beginning in late November, PointsBet will leverage Revis’s talents in a variety of ways as a sports insider via The Revis Betting Academy, a series of videos that will include an overview of basic bets, an intro to PointsBetting as well as a step-by-step user journey into the PointsBet app. The Revis Betting Academy will be accompanied by an in-depth “Betting 101” blog series with Revis’s insights front and center. Bettors will also be able to take advantage of “Darrelle’s Corner,” a weekly segment featuring Revis breaking down key games on the NFL slate before offering his expert betting picks.
Meanwhile, DraftKings is partnering with Netflix on a fantasy football program in support of the brand’s release of its original movie, Outlaw King. As the sponsor of DK Watch, DraftKings’ newest content and video hub within its DK Live app and show exclusive clips promoting the Underdo” player of the week alongside Netflix’s “Outlaw King” trailers from the movie.
Monumental Sports & Entertainment and Etihad Airways announced a multi-year extension to their legacy partnership agreement. As part of this extension, Etihad Airways will continue to receive a variety of branding opportunities at Capital One Arena and will work with MSE to develop new content initiatives around the sports of basketball and hockey.
DIGITAL & STREAMING
Cage Fury Fighting Championships announced that CM Punk signed on as a commentator for its first-ever event on UFC Fight Pass on Dec. 14. The former pro wrestling international superstar and combat sports veteran will provide color commentary for next month’s CFFC card, which is headlined by three title fights. He will be joined by veteran play-by-play broadcaster Mike Gill.
Sportradar unlocked an agreement with MGM GVC Interactive LLC, the joint venture between MGM Resorts International and GVC Holdings PLC, to serve as its exclusive provider within the US of sports betting data from certain US sports leagues which Sportradar has the right to distribute. The agreement covers a wide range of pre-match and live betting services along with bet stimulation content such as live match trackers.
Bruin Sports Capital’s Deltatre signed an agreement to acquire Massive Interactive, a multi award-winning OTT software company. Combined, according to the announcement, these entities are the largest independent OTT solution provider in the world. Massive’s UX management console, ‘AXIS’, underpins sports and entertainment OTT streaming services for the BBC Worldwide, Bell Media, Channel 5, Telecine, Sony Pictures Television, DR and numerous other clients
ESPORTS
DM-Esports unveiled the moniker and branding elements for its new Paris-based franchise of the Overwatch League, where they will now be known as the Paris Eternal. The team colors are blue, burgundy, black, white and gold. The team logo incorporates “an infinity symbol within the body of a digitized Gallic rooster, long the national symbol of France.” Overwatch League returns for season two on Feb. 14.
Wendy’s is activating on Twitch in a move to promote its sea-salt French fries and today will launch Make It Rain ‘Fry-Days’ on the platform allowing fans to cheer Bits to make it rain fries on-screen. Activations will take place on SpacelYon’s channel from 8-10p and Wayy’s channel from 10p-midnight.
Independent marketing communications firm B/HI announced the launch of GG, a full-service division dedicated to the esports industry. The new group will offer a range of services to both endemic and non-endemic esports organizations and brands and will build on B/HI’s existing esports client roster, which over the past two years has grown to include professional franchises Echo Fox and Immortals as well as Super League Gaming. GG will operate as an stand-alone unit under B/HI’s Interactive Gaming practice, representing both game publishers and their esports interests where possible.
Dignitas named Raynor Gaming as its Official Gaming Chair Provider. Raynor Gaming will equip Dignitas players and streamers with Dignitas-branded gaming chairs, bearing the organizations new, recently unveiled brand identity, the ‘Owl of Minerva’ crest and traditional black and yellow color scheme. The chairs will be prominently showcased to Dignitas fans for the first time at the Rocket League Championship Series World Championships today at the Dignitas Refresh Launch Party at Buffalo Wild Wings in Las Vegas.
Cheddar locked in Logitech G for a partnership that makes the company the official gaming hardware partner for Cheddar Sports which runs across the Cheddar OTT portfolio as well as the Twitch home page. Airing 3 times each week, the series spotlight the esports industry, covering the games, events, players and innovators impacting esports around the world, running live each Monday, Thursday and Friday on the Twitch homepage and Cheddar linear network on Sling, Hulu, YouTube TV, and all Cheddar platforms.
ROSTER MOVES
ONE Championship announced that it has appointed former women’s mixed martial arts world champion Miesha Tate as Vice President of of the company. Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “It is both an honor and a privilege to announce that women’s mixed martial arts world champion Miesha Tate will be joining ONE Championship as Vice President. Miesha has been an incredible pioneer for the sport, and has been an inspiration for many young men and women. What impresses me most about Miesha is her humility, compassion, honor, and respect. Throughout her career, Miesha has always exemplified the deep-rooted martial arts values of integrity, humility, honor, respect, courage, discipline, and compassion. Not only is she a good friend, but I am proud to have her represent ONE Championship on a global scale. I look forward to welcoming Miesha to her new home in Singapore!”
The XFL named Doug Whaley, former General Manager of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, as the league’s Senior Vice President, Football Operations, reporting directly to Commissioner & CEO Oliver Luck.
The USA Swimming Foundation, the philanthropic arm of USA Swimming, named Olympic gold medalists Simone Manuel (Sugar Land, Texas/Stanford Swimming) and Ryan Murphy (Jacksonville, Fla./California Aquatics) as its newest Ambassadors. The pair will join a roster of USA Swimming Foundation Ambassadors whose focus is to champion the Foundation’s mission of ‘Saving Lives & Building Champions – in the pool and in life.’
THE MAIN EVENT
Ohio State/Michigan State on Saturday at noon on FOX.
