Juve re-sign Allianz in €130m deal
February 14 – Italy’s Juventus and global insurance giant Allianz have extended their partnership until 2030 in a deal worth €103.1 million.
Football Marketing
Barca embrace blockchain with €80m issue of 40m digital fan tokens at €2 each
February 13 – FC Barcelona have become the latest club to embrace blockchain technology with an agreement with Chiliz to launch a ‘Barca Fan Token’.
Belgian Pro League secures new €103m TV deal but clubs battle over the cash
February 13 – The Belgian Pro League has awarded its new TV rights deal to Eleven Sports for a record €103 million in a five-year deal, but not all the clubs are happy with the proposed income distribution from the new agreement with both Antwerp and AA Gent opposing.
Canal+ and beIN Sports tie knot on landmark French distribution deal
February 12 – French media giant CANAL+ Group and Qatari pay broadcaster beIN SPORTS have closed the distribution and sub-licensing deal announced last December.
TV deals show balance shift to OTT as NENT adds Bundesliga to Premier League
By Paul Nicholson
February 11 – The likely shape of Europe’s premium broadcast deals in the future is starting to reveal itself, and it will be a case of evolution rather than revolution.
Man Utd put China pre-season tour talks on hold over coronavirus fears
February 11 – Manchester United are reported to have stalled talks over a possible pre-season visit to China because of the coronavirus outbreak which has now infected over 43,000 people (more than 42,500 in China) with more than 1,000 dead.
Benfica and San Francisco Giants form cross-code trans-Atlantic business partnership
February 7 – Major League Baseball’s San Francisco Giants have partnered with iconic Portuguese club Benfica in a commercial version of moneyball.
Premier League cracks open next broadcast rights cycle with a big Scandinavian deal
February 6 – The Premier League has concluded its first broadcast deal for the rights cycle beginning 2022 and it’s a big one.
Emirates takes main sponsorship of Olympique Lyonnais in 5-season deal
February 6 – Emirates airline has agreed a five-season main sponsorship deal with Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyonnais’ men’s team, starting with the 2020/21 season.
Mediapro wins ‘abuse of power’ court ruling against Spanish FA over rights tender
February 6 – Spanish-owned sports agency Mediapro has won another court battle against the Spanish FA (RFEF) in the Provincial Court of Madrid. The court reconfirmed its initial ruling to dismiss the RFEF’s attempt to have the agency excluded from tendering for rights to the Copa del Rey final.
Beach Soccer World Wide joins with UN to promote ‘One Humanity’ message
February 6 – With the Beach Soccer Mundialito de Clubes set to kick off in Moscow next week, Beach Soccer World Wide (BSWW) has announced a new partnership with the United Nations to promote the UN Alliance Of Civilizations’campaign (UNAOC), ‘One Humanity’.
Barca target digital revamp to grow revenue and new audiences
February 3 – Spanish giant FC Barcelona is revamping its digital platforms which it sees as an under-exploited revenue stream. A new digital plan will see the launch of an OTT service and wider integration of digital technologies from e-commerce to ticket sales and integration with its new global membership programme ‘Culers’.
McDonald’s adds Argentina digital deal to sponsor roster
February 4 – The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has signed up fast food giant McDonald’s in a national team sponsorship that will activate around the AFA’s digital platforms.
PSG land 3-year Qatar Airways sponsorship
February 3 – Qatar Airways has signed up as the latest sponsor of French club Paris Saint-Germain in a three-year deal, becoming a premium partner of the club.
Flamengo now locked in TV rights battle with TV Globo over Brasileirao
January 31 – Brazilian giants Flamengo have taken legal steps against broadcast behemoth TV Globo over the league’s broadcast rights contract. Earlier this season, Flamengo and Globo fell out over a rights deal for Rio de Janeiro’s state championship.