Shorts: Extreme H, Manchester City, England Netball

The FIA Extreme H World Cup has extended its broadcast partnership with SPOTV for its inaugural 2025 season.

The renewal sees SPOTV continue its relationship with the championship, having been a broadcast partner since the first season of the all-electric Extreme E series. The new deal includes live and highlights coverage on the SPOTV and SPOTV 2 linear channels, with additional access through the SPOTV NOW digital platform.

Fans in Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Hong Kong, Laos, Macau, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia will be able to watch the coverage.

Ali Russell, Managing Director of Extreme H, said, “We are delighted to extend our partnership with SPOTV, who have been with us since the very beginning. Their reach across Asia and their ability to connect with passionate fans make them an ideal partner as we launch Extreme H. Together we’ll showcase not only the drama of racing but also the possibilities of hydrogen technology in shaping a cleaner future.”

Lee Choong Khay (CK), CEO of SPOTV, said, “Extreme H is pioneering a new chapter in motorsport, and we are proud to continue this journey with them. Our audience across Asia will enjoy access to world-class racing, delivered with purpose and innovation, through our channels and SPOTV NOW platform.”

Manchester City have announced an official local partnership with sports travel specialist Destination Sport Group.

The new agreement builds on an existing relationship which has seen the Manchester-based group provide the Premier League club with team travel support, youth development tours, and fan travel packages for a number of years.

The official local partnership will see Destination Sport Group continue to provide these services, while also receiving additional branding assets. Through its subsidiary brands – Inspiresport, SportsBreaks and Sportsworld – the partnership will create trips for schools and youth clubs involving coaching at the City Football Academy, ticket and hotel breaks for men’s home fixtures, and curated travel experiences for corporate clients.

Jonathan Lingham, Director of Commercial and Fan Support, Manchester City, said, “We’re delighted to build on and further cement our current relationship with Destination Sport Group – a leading sports organisation who provide a valuable service to the club across multiple touchpoints.”

Paul Hemingway, Destination Sport Group Chief Executive Officer, said, “We’re delighted to continue our strong relationship with Manchester City with this official local partnership. This is a truly comprehensive travel partnership with touchpoints across team travel, youth development tours, fan travel and VIP experiences, demonstrating the unique ability of Destination Sport Group to ensure an integrated, complementary travel provision.

“We look forward to working closely and collaboratively with Manchester City to provide a best-in-class service for the club’s travel requirements, whilst creating memorable opportunities for supporters, youth teams and corporate clients alike.”

England Netball has launched a new campaign, I Wish I Knew, to address the knowledge gap in female health that impacts participation in sport.

The campaign is part of the national governing body’s wider NETBALLHer initiative and aims to break stigmas and empower women and girls to discuss their health openly. The launch follows research from England Netball which found that 69% of women take a break from the sport, with significant drop-offs during puberty, menopause, and after pregnancy.

The campaign was launched in collaboration with leak-proof underwear brand NIXI Body. England Netball has also announced a new long-term strategic partnership with women’s health charity Wellbeing of Women, who will help guide the creation of new NETBALLHer resources.

Kelly Gordon, Executive Lead for NETBALLHer at England Netball, said, “I am delighted to launch the I Wish I Knew campaign, which is about taking real action to close the knowledge gaps in female health and wellbeing that impact women and girls in sport. Since launching NETBALLHer in March 2023, we’ve listened to and supported thousands of women and girls across the Netball Family and beyond but too many still face taboos and unanswered questions, and this campaign is a powerful step towards breaking those barriers.

“By sparking open conversations and sharing authentic stories, we can empower women and girls to speak confidently about their health and feel supported at every stage of life. Working with partners, health experts, and fellow sports National Governing Bodies, we will spark curiosity and awareness, provide education through the NETBALLHer website, learning offers, events and collaborations, and empower women and girls to self-advocate with confidence, knowledge, and support.”

Women’s Super League club London City Lionesses have received unanimous approval on planning permission to build a new training campus.

The development will include a new performance building for the first team and academy, an improved academy building with access to a new 3G pitch for community use, and a refurbished pavilion. The project is expected to create over 50 new jobs and generate around £1m per year for the local economy.

Michele Kang, Chair and Owner, said, “I extend my sincere thanks to Councillors for endorsing our vision to provide women and girls with the leading performance campus in the world. This facility will remove the barriers that have long held women back in sport and ensure the next generation of girls have the environment they need to thrive.”

Martin Semmens, CEO of London City Lionesses, added, “This is more than just a planning decision – it’s a game-changing moment for women’s football. The facilities we will create here will set the gold standard. They will be comparable to a men’s Premier League team, specifically designed to meet the needs of our female athletes. I’m delighted and proud that Tonbridge and Malling Council support our vision and look forward to creating a new home for professional women’s football here in Kent in the months ahead.”

Table Tennis England has appointed Cloudathlete as its partner for its membership platform and wider digital services.

Following a tender process, the new platform will be rolled out from the start of the 2026/27 membership season, with a full go-live planned for July 2026.

Cloudathlete is developed by Rocca, an existing supplier that already provides Table Tennis England with its TT Leagues and TT Clubs management platforms.

The partnership aims to improve the experience for members, making it easier to join and renew, while also introducing a modern competition management system. The national governing body also states the new system will enable more personalised communications and provide data-driven insights to support future growth.

Table Tennis England CEO Sally Lockyer said, “This marks the start of a journey that will reshape how we connect with our players, volunteers, clubs and fans. It’s not just about new systems – it’s about building the foundations to support every level of the game and set us up for the future.”

Trading card brand Topps has launched a nationwide 3D ad van campaign to promote its new 25/26 Match Attax UCC Collection.

The campaign, created by OOH production agency Mobile Media, saw a van with a 3D digital display visit schools. The display featured cards of footballers including Ousmane Dembélé, Ronaldinho and Cole Palmer.

The activation is part of Topps’ strategy to engage with young collectors by taking the campaign to school environments.

Joe Heatley-Baillie, Marketing Director for UK & ROI at Topps, said, “The new Match Attax UCC Collection is all about raising the game – and this activation certainly brought the uniqueness of collecting to life. We wanted to create a truly memorable experience for kids and collectors, and there’s no better place to celebrate football fandom than in the schools where so many young fans first fall in love with the game.”