Industry Shorts: Efl, Obama, YouGov Sport
The EFL has issued a Request for Proposal for interested parties in respect of its international broadcast rights.
The league’s current five-year agreement with Pitch International expires in the summer of 2022 and the EFL says it will be looking to make available a minimum of 182 Sky Bet EFL League matches – including all end of season Play-Off matches and at least 30 Carabao Cup games – to international broadcasters.
The EFL says interested parties must be able to ‘develop revenue from EFL competitions in non-UK territories’ and ‘enhance the distribution of EFL broadcast rights’, as well as consider ‘how the traditional broadcast opportunities can co-exist with the EFL’s direct to consumer streaming product, iFollow’.
The EFL has also recruited independent advisor Oliver and Ohlbaum Associates who have been providing strategic advice to the League as it seeks to maximise value and exposure for all 72 EFL Clubs.
Former US President Barack Obama has joined NBA Africa as a strategic partner.
Obama will help advance the league’s social responsibility efforts across the continent, including programs and partnerships that support greater gender equality and economic inclusion. He will also have a minority equity stake in the new venture, and intends to use it to fund Obama Foundation youth and leadership programs across Africa.
NBA Africa conducts the league’s business on the continent, including the Basketball Africa League. It is also focused on expanding the NBA’s presence in African markets, deepening the league’s engagement with players and fans across the continent, and continuing to grow Africa’s basketball ecosystem through programs like the Jr. NBA, Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa and NBA Academy Africa. It has also launched a number of social responsibility initiatives aimed at raising awareness of gender-based violence, supporting girls’ education, and improving the livelihoods of African youth and families.
YouGov Sport has revealed the attitudes of football fans to some of FIFA’s proposed rule changes, which are being tested at the youth tournament The Future of Football Cup.
The event will see both halves last 30 minutes, with the clock counting down from 30, but paused every time the ball goes out of play. It will also see unlimited substitutes, as well as five-minute sin bins for yellow cards.
According to YouGov Sport – an Official Partner of the Sport Industry Awards 2021 – UK football fans are almost unanimous in their opposition to 30 minute halves with 96% against. However 59% support the introduction of sin bins in the sport, while 60% support stopping the clock when the ball goes out of play.
England Netball has announced Perform Better as its sports performance equipment supplier to the Vitality Roses in a deal lasting until December 2023.
The brand will also partner with England Netball in modifying the sports medicine areas within all England camps and international competitions, as well as key Vitality Netball Superleague fixtures for 2022 including the Season Opener and Grand Final events.
Perform Better, also served as the official supplier of strength and fitness equipment for the Vitality Netball Superleague 2021 season, which saw it provide with pop-up gyms and recovery equipment at the league’s two central venues in Wakefield and London. It also ensured the Vitality Roses could keep training during the pandemic through the provision of home gym equipment for players.
