Shorts: Wimbledon, Surfing England, ECB

Danish public service broadcaster DR has acquired Wimbledon rights for the next three years.

The deal builds on DR’s one-year agreement to show last year’s edition of the iconic grass-court tennis championships, during which Danish star Holger Rune progressed to the quarter finals of the men’s singles competition.

Tennis has seen a recent surge in popularity across Denmark, following the successes of the 20-year-old who is currently rated as the world’s 7th best player in the ATP men’s rankings.

Fellow Danish tennis stars Clara Tauson and Caroline Wozniacki are also set to feature in this year’s Wimbledon championships, which will run from 1st-14th July.

Anders Kern Boje, Deputy Director of DR, said, “[The deal] gives us the opportunity to build on the Wimbledon fever, which, among other things, Holger Rune’s thrilling matches in the tournament last year got well and truly ignited.”

Footballco, has signed a three-year content partnership with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). 

The UK-based football and media entertainment specialist will provide NWSL highlights, storytelling and analysis content, which will all be available on the online football news publication GOAL, as well as on the dedicated women’s football platform, INDIVISA.

Jason Wagenheim, CEO of Footballco North America, said, “This collaboration underscores our unwavering commitment to women’s soccer and signifies a pivotal moment in our journey to become the leading platform for showcasing the exceptional talent and passion within the NWSL.  

“Through compelling storytelling and the introduction of innovative video formats, we aim to celebrate the players and clubs that define the essence of this remarkable league.”

Nimesh Kataria has been appointed as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Kataria joins from Warner Bros. Discovery’s (WBD) International Sports Division – where he oversaw Eurosport, Global Cycling Network, Discovery Sports Events and the Olympics – and will replace Scott Smith as CFO.

Reflecting on his appointment, Kataria said, “I am proud to be joining the ECB and hope to be able to play a part in growing cricket and helping even more people to fall in love with the sport.

“I’ve been a cricket fan my whole life, and while there are real challenges for the whole game in England and Wales to navigate, I’m excited by the opportunity we have to become the most inclusive sport and secure the future of cricket for future generations to play, watch and enjoy.”

Surfing England and Dryrobe have extended their partnership for a further three years. 

The UK-based clothing brand has served as the headline partner for England’s junior team since 2020, and will continue to supply Dryrobe kits through the renewal. The company will also help the national surfing body to deliver training sessions and will subsidise the cost of competing at international events.

Ben Powis, CEO of Surfing England, said, “Dryrobe is actively putting back into the surfing community and we genuinely couldn’t run our junior programme without them. This deal puts us in a great place to continue giving our groms the very best chance of success and realising their Olympic and CT dreams.” 

Dryrobe founder Gideon Bright added, “We’re incredibly proud to be continuing our support of the Team England Juniors at such a key time in their surfing journey.

“The pool of talent in junior surfing right now is amazing and we hope our support makes a real difference in helping them achieve their potential. The future of English surfing is looking very bright and we’re so proud to be a part of it.“

LIV Golf team Smash Golf Club (GC) has partnered with athletic apparel company, Redvanly.

As the team’s official on- course apparel partner, New Jersey-based Redvanly will produce a line of dedicated ‘performance-driven apparel’ for the club.

Adam Redvanly, Founder of Redvanly, said, “We’re excited to partner with proven winners like Smash GC. This partnership is not just about providing high-quality apparel; it’s about joining forces with a team that embodies our core values of excellence, innovation, and performance,” 

“We wish them the very best in their continued success this year and are very excited about this relationship.”