Industry Shorts: Fifa, Sportradar, Halfspace

FIFA has announced a new ‘entertainment strategy’ designed to create new connections between football fans, music enthusiasts, players, artists, and the game and songs they all love.

‘FIFA Sound’ will kick off with the launch of an eight-episode FIFA PlayOn podcast series hosted by Universal Music Group’s global chart-topping artist Liam Payne and co-hosted by sports broadcaster Jaydee Dyer, pairing footballers with musicians for ‘unforgettable conversations’. 

According to football’s governing body, PlayOn is the first of many new initiatives that FIFA will be launching in the coming months as part of its strategic collaboration with Universal Music Group for Brands – a division of Universal Music Group.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced Sportradar as its Official Video and Data Distribution Partner in an eight year deal.

The sports intelligence and data provider will provide data and associated media rights for major AFC competitions for two rights cycles, 2021-2024 and 2025-2028.

Under the new agreement, Sportradar becomes the Official Video and Data Distribution Partner for major AFC national team and club competitions including the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 and the AFC Champions League. The contract allows Sportradar to use and distribute audio-visual content and AFC match-related data.

Halfspace Group has announced the appointments of two new executives to its team, in a move it says is due to an influx of new business for 2021.

Former City Football Group Partner Media Manager Robert Gevertz has joined the agency to help clients across monetisation strategies with a focus on social and content, and has already begun planning exciting activations across social content over the next three months.

Halfspace has also announced Vikash Rami as Paid Social Specialist. Rami started his career at Google before working on the Sky account at WPP-owned Mediacom, and has freelanced in the sport industry across working on a variety of different clients such as F1, Tottenham Hotspur and the IOC.

Global creative platform Shutterstock has announced an exclusive three-year partnership with Premier League side West Ham United.

The partnership allows Shutterstock to capture and distribute real-time photography for the club’s fixtures, as well as granting it exclusive access to off-the-field events, including behind-the-scenes coverage of training sessions, signings, press conferences, community appearances and feature work.

Shutterstock’s global distribution platform, Editorial, will provide commercial partners and publishers across the world with real-time access to license the content, while the agreement adds to the platform’s expanding roster which includes the EFL, Fulham, Birmingham City, QPR and Hull City.

Under Armour has appointed Canoe to handle all UK PR. 

The UK-based PR agency will provide strategic and creative PR services for the brand, which include communication strategy, media relations, press office, product placement, lifestyle marketing, event support, athlete activation, ongoing idea generation and seeding strategy.

Sport broadcaster ELEVEN has announced a restructure of its leadership team, fully incorporating the MyCujoo executive team into its management group.

ELEVEN acquired the video streaming platform in November 2020, and Co-Founder Pedro Presa will become Group Chief Direct to Consumer Officer, while fellow Co-Founder Joao Presa will become Group Chief Technology & Product Officer. 

Philip Nash, Finance Director for ELEVEN’s parent company Aser Ventures, will expand his role to become Group Chief Finance Officer, while the company has also announced the hiring of Julian Pate, who will become Group Chief Marketing Officer.

The 2021 Masters Tournament in April will be played out in front of a limited number of fans, according to organisers.

Augusta National Golf Club announced that limited numbers of spectators would be permitted entry ‘if it can be done safely’.

The 2020 edition took place in November after being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.