Shorts: Fifa+, Joymo, Livingston

FIFA+ announces landmark expansion across connected TV.

FIFA has announced an expansion of the FIFA+ streaming as it becomes available on five new connected TV apps: Samsung TV, LG, VIDAA, Amazon Fire, and Android TV, and five new FAST channel platforms: Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, VIDAA Channels, The Roku Channel and Rakuten TV.

Charlotte Burr, FIFA’s Director of Strategy, Digital and FIFA +, said, “We are excited to bring FIFA+ to fans through these connected TV apps and FAST channel platforms, extending our reach and making football more accessible to a wider audience.

“Our goal is to connect fans from every corner of the world and provide them with unrivalled access to the sport they love. This expansion is a significant step towards achieving that vision and bringing the beautiful game to everyone. Every innovation we make is rooted in growing the game, and we want to thank all the CTV and FAST platforms for their support in making this happen.

“FIFA is committed to using digital platforms to create an inclusive and immersive football experience for all.”

Rachel Knight joins Joymo management board from BT Sport.

Video streaming services provider Joymo has appointed Rachel Knight to its management board.

Knight will play a key advisory role as the company seeks to grow its portfolio of rights holders who are benefitting from Joymo’s direct-to-consumer products and strategies, which includes Table Tennis England, England Hockey and GB Basketball.

Rachel was recently announced as the new Co-Managing Director at the Women’s Sports Group, following an eight-year spell as Sports Rights Director at BT Sport where she oversaw acquisition strategy and led the team that successfully secured renewals of its UEFA Champions League and Premier League deals for the broadcaster.

Prior to BT Sport, Knight also held roles at IMG and the BBC and in over 15 years in the sector she has worked with top other broadcasters and rights holders including UEFA, Wimbledon, World Rugby, UFC and WWE, developing deep experience in bid strategy, negotiation, building rights portfolios, broadcast partnerships, and linear and digital production.

Mike Emery, Chief Executive Officer at Joymo, said, “Rachel is a tremendous addition to our Board. Her experience and understanding of the international rights market will be of huge benefit to our business as we look to build our rights portfolio and help more rights holders to realise the value of their IP.”

Knight added, “This is a genuinely exciting time for Joymo as the company expands its rights acquisition ambitions and empowers more rights holders to take ownership of their IP and content. Joymo’s direct-to-consumer tech solution is exactly what many across the sports landscape are seeking and I’m looking forward to supporting the existing board, and the management team, in realising the company’s growth potential on a global basis.”

Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) club Livingston has extended its partnership with Italian restaurant chain Tony Macaroni.

The agreement sees the club’s ground remain as the Tony Macaroni Arena for a ninth consecutive season, while the company’s logo will also feature on the club’s shirts for an 11th straight campaign.

Sep Marini, Managing Director of Tony Macaroni, said, “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Livingston FC which is now in its 9th season as stadium sponsor of the Tony Macaroni Arena and the 11th year with the Tony Macaroni logo featuring on the men’s first-team match kit.

“We understand the importance of the team to the local community here in West Lothian and are delighted to partner with the Lions for another season of serving fans, staff and players real Italian food all over Scotland on match days home and away.”

Dave Black, Chief Executive Officer at Livingston FC, added, “Our thanks once again goes to Sep, Stephen and all the team at Tony Macaroni for their continued support for a fantastic 11th season.

“In this day and age, it can be difficult to encourage companies to take up sponsorship packages but to have that support from Tony Macaroni for such a prolonged period of time has been tremendous for the club – not just from an out and out sponsorship level but also for the playing squad to be able to enjoy freshly cooked meals pre-match week on week, it really is a fantastic partnership.”

Championship football club Millwall has agreed a new partnership with Britain’s oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame.

The independent brewer and pub company, based in Faversham, Kent, has been selected as the official provider of beer, cider, wines, spirits and soft drinks at The Den – the home of Millwall.

Jonathon Neame, Chief Executive Officer at Shepherd Neame, said, “We are very pleased to embark on this new partnership with Millwall Football Club. The Lions have an incredibly loyal base of supporters, and we look forward to introducing them to our beers and joining them in celebrating the club’s achievements during the coming season.”

Steve Kavanagh, Chief Executive Officer of Millwall FC, added, “This is a really exciting partnership for the club. Feedback collected from our supporters over the last year showed clearly that fans wanted more drinks variety available to them in The Den.

“Teaming up with Shepherd Neame allows us to offer a diverse range of brands which we are sure will prove popular with supporters, including Spitfire Lager, Bear Island East Coast Pale Ale, Hurlimann Lager and Whitstable Bay Pale Ale. We are really looking forward to a successful partnership with Shepherd Neame during the coming months.”

Dan Bedi has started a new position as Chairman of AFC Dunstable.

Bedi, the former Chief Commercial Officer of Pay iO and a SIG NextGen alumni, has taken over as Chairman of AFC Dunstable who play in the Southern League Division One Central.

In March the club named Soccer Assist as its new custodian. The company helps young footballers get football scholarships in the USA.

Regarding the appointment, Bedi said, “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Chairman at AFC Dunstable! Personally excited about working with the fantastic team that’s been assembled at an amazing club.

“The season ahead looks exciting, and we look forward to executing on our vision for the club.

“The board and I would like to extend a big thanks to the AFC Dunstable committee and stakeholders, who’ve placed their faith in our expertise, leadership and foresight.”

Simon Bullard, former Chairman of AFC Dunstable, added, “Having new owners was the only way forward. We felt this was the most sustainable for the football club.”

Junior Osei-Tutu, Co-Founder and Director of Soccer Assist, said, “We hope to establish a full-time football education programme at the club, building on our success in the Milton Keynes area, to deliver a similar model to the town of Dunstable and the surrounding areas.

“We will also continue to strengthen the success of the U23s and the Women’s team to uphold pathways for all players.

“We thank Simon and the committee for giving us this chance and we respect that we are going to be custodians of a club that is integral to the local community and very dear to its fans’ hearts.”

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