Nick Meacham

FTA sport's economic benefit "An independent report commissioned by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) from Oxford Economics estimates that the economic impact of public service media (PSM) sports broadcasting contributed €4.9 billion to Europe’s GDP and supported over 60,000 jobs in 2022. The findings include direct contributions from content production and broadcasting and significant indirect and induced impacts due to supply chain spending and employees’ consumer expenditure. The study also explores wider impacts, such as the way in which PSM coverage attracts sponsorship income for sport." It's a really interesting finding. Conventional wisdom is that sports is so popular that people will pay for it, and take adverts, and so there is big incentive to keep behind a paywall. It's what still is the lynchpin for #paytv and keeps it going. That's why in the UK the Premier League is on Sky on pay-TV. In Spain La Liga is on Movistar, DAZN and Orange, Germany, DAZN Sky Deutschland etc etc. And yet, when you have big events like the World Cup both mens and womens football, the European Cup, Rugby, Cricket etc. these are on FTA, and drive much greater viewing than paytv, and even with the appeal of sports, the reach on FTA is so much greater, and it will people who wouldn't normally get involved in national events, suddenly tune in. "The report also reveals the many benefits of FTA sports broadcasting on culture and society, reinforcing the pivotal and unifying role of PSM organisations in this space. “Our analysis unveils a symbiotic relationship between free-to-air sports broadcasting and economic vitality, illustrating the far-reaching ripple effects of this dynamic industry right across the continent,” commented Doug Godden, Lead Economist at Oxford Economics and author of the report. “What’s more, providing sporting action to audiences for free has great value to the public of the countries in which EBU Members operate.”....As well as providing broader economic advantages such as leveraging additional income streams for sports through sponsorship, advertising revenue and event hosting fees (and often stimulating local tourism from visiting sports fans), FTA media exposure can also help grow and expand the fan base of ‘emerging’ sports, leading to increased gate receipts and merchandising." With the move towards #FTA #streaming i.e. #FASTchannels will we see more of a move to FTA television in the #traditionaltv sphere. Will pay-TV eventually converge with SVOD? Maintaining a paywall like this? #television #sports #livesports #football #livefootball #livetv #tvindustry #mediaindustry https://lnkd.in/eQqkibjK

6

Feature Interview. In Insider Sport. Talking about what sporting moments and figures that have inspired me, which also have an influence on Football Media https://lnkd.in/dHGMjxzs #footballmedia #interview #agency #sponsorship #advertising #football #Leadership #Inspiration #SportsExcellence #MambaMentality #InsiderSport

9

𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠. 🎥 𝐒𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫? 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲. No matter the tier, budget, or discipline, the quality of sports content always matters. ⚽🏈🏀 •Output •Editorial •Facilities •Customer assurance 100% matters. 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨? •Every athlete •Every viewer •Every stakeholder •Every sponsor •Every fan •The sport itself •The crew who deliver it 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐬… 👊 The industry standard for production is set by fully on-premises setups, using comprehensive truck and compound-based solutions. 🚚 Our mission is to deliver the same “on-premises” quality with highly flexible remote production and nimble OB services, providing editorial teams with top-tier quality, sustainability, and the ultimate creative freedom in storytelling.✌️ Achieving this entirely remotely is both advanced and rewarding. 🔥 Whether a 1, 4, 10, or 20-camera production, we ensure that directors, producers, operators, crew, clients—and ultimately the viewers—experience the same high standard set by top-level productions. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞?🤔 Quality matters in everything we do. It matters to the people we work with. The ultimate judge is the viewer. 👀 They should never notice the difference between a fully on-prem and a completely remote output. That’s the fire that drives us. 🔥 When we consistently deliver with quality, integrity, and value, we sustain our industry, the future, and each other. As Henry Ford said: “𝑸𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈.” P.s 👉.... a little LIMITLESS update should be in tomorrow's industry press... #RemoteProduction #SportsProduction #LiveProduction #ProductionValue #ProductionExcellence

52

4 Comments

The ambitions for FIFA+ were as high as any standalone single sports #OTT platform. However, less just two years into full operation, it appears it's become clear to FIFA just how lofty their commercial goals were. Raising funds to support the platform doesn't make much sense for an organization that is so cash flow rich from its major events. The only reasons for considering funding, in my view, would be to de-risk the project, make up for its losses to date, or to invest in more premium rights to truly drive consumption on the platform - and absorb some losses on media rights deals in the process. Unless there are bigger questions being asked by key stakeholders, it's hard to see why additional funding would be needed. #fifa #streaming #sportsbiz #linkedinsports https://lnkd.in/eg7uhpZq

53

9 Comments

Key points about the UK sports marketing market: Market size: The UK spectator sports market is valued at around USD 3.09 billion in 2023. Growth rate: This market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.24% reaching USD 5.15 billion by 2033. Sponsorship focus: A significant portion of this value comes from sports sponsorship deals.

2

Premier League TV and commercial revenue up 17% to £12.25bn for next cycle. The Premier League’s global and domestic commercial and broadcast revenue has gone up by 17 per cent to £12.25 billion (US$15.3 billion) for the 2025 to 2028 cycle. The increase from £10.5 billion (US$13.1 billion) in the 2022 to 2025 cycle was understood to have been driven by a significant rise in overseas broadcast revenue, which had also outstripped domestic TV earnings in the last cycle. Within those figures are what league sources describe as a significant global deal disclosed to clubs during the meeting, plus the UK£6.7 billion (US$8.4 billion), four-year domestic deal agreed with Sky Sports and TNT Sports which starts next season. Outside of the UK, the Premier League recently announced a broadcast deal in Thailand with Jasmine International which will be worth US$233 million for the upcoming cycle, while new agreements have also been secured in markets such as Mexico, Japan and the Caribbean. Elsewhere, renewals have been agreed with the likes of Sky in Germany and Italy, DAZN in Spain and Portugal and PCCW in Hong Kong. Broadcasters in other key territories, such as NBC in the US and Viaplay in the Nordic region, have lucrative deals covering both the current and upcoming cycle. From a sponsorship perspective, the Premier League has struck a new £52 million (US$65 million) deal with beer brand Guinness and recently extended its longstanding partnership with Barclays for a reported £75 million (US$94 million). Source: SportsPro Daily

46

4 Comments

MIND THE GAP, GIRL POWER & TECH ADOPTION: STAY AHEAD OF THE SPONSORSHIP TRENDS IN 2024 Last week, Kore Software published the 2024 edition of its annual State of the Industry sponsorship report. It comes as no surprise to say the sponsorship industry continues to evolve rapidly, and staying ahead of the curve is crucial, for both brands and rights holders. Here are my 5 key takeaways: - Alignment Gap: There's a disconnect between brands and rights holders. Brands feel their needs aren't understood, while rights holders struggle to identify goals. Better data sharing and insights from rights holders will help brands measure ROI and build stronger partnerships. - Women's Sports on the Rise: A whopping 54% of brands are targeting sponsorships with women's sports properties. This sector presents a lucrative opportunity for brands looking to capitalize on its ongoing growth. This is supported in research by The Collective - Wasserman’s women-focused practice - which shows how investment in women athletes can be one of the best dollars spent. The full research study can be downloaded here https://lnkd.in/ghYmKuqr - Tech Sponsorships: While tech spending is up, it's primarily focused on major US Leagues & Formula 1. Interestingly, over half of rights holders want to target tech firms, but the focus seems to be on the North American market for now. I'll hand over to my colleague Oliver Howard on this one who has both breadth & depth of knowledge in this space. - Digital Assets Gaining Traction: Social and digital activations are becoming increasingly valuable. Leagues like MLS are leading the way, with social/digital assets included in 66% of sponsorship contracts. This allows for better measurement and potentially more favorable deals for both sides. - Nike Reigns Supreme (on Social): Unsurprisingly, Nike receives the most value from social media promotions due to their extensive partnerships with teams and athletes. Interestingly, Google saw a massive 45% increase, likely due to their growing presence in women's soccer. What are your thoughts on these trends? Are you surprised by anything? Share your insights in the comments! View the report now! 👇 #sponsorship #sportsmarketing #digitalmarketing #brandpartnerships

13

Measuring the Impact of EFL Clubs in the Community.   🗣️ “… with Clubs’ impact transcending far beyond the football pitch. They are key pillars in community life.”   👨‍👩‍👧‍👧 1.1million participants in Club community projects 🕣890,878 hours of activity 🫡 £1.24billion social value (measures include education, physical health, mental health, crime prevention) 🏆For every £1 spent on community projects, £11 of social value is created More here ➡️ https://shorturl.at/d9hlO EFL (English Football League) | EFL in the Community

92

1 Comment

The Euros is just 4 days away (how the hell did that happen). Even now, It’s not too late to tap into the super engaged audiences that podcasting offers to get your message into the world. I took some time to speak to NewDigitalAge about how podcasting comes into its own during major sports tournaments such as #Euro24 and beyond and the commercial opportunity they present. P.S. Football’s coming home. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #Podcast #Advertising #SportMarketing #Football

9

The Premier League shifting to an in-house production just takes us to another step closer to the emergence of an OTT platform for the biggest league in the world. This clearly guarantees more revenue for the league (and clubs) compared to their current broadcasting deal payouts. This is not anything new with the likes of 'NBA League Pass' or 'NFL+' in the US markets. The challenge however lies in the foreign markets; which the American sports have not had to deal with until very recently. The main driver that makes the Premier League the juggernaut of a league, is the global audience. Reaching them through an OTT platform may have its own challenges with retail level penetration, foreign payment methods and the extra toll it will put on the pockets of people not earning $£€. Should be fun times! Might be an absolute gamechanger for football broadcasting.

5

💡💡💡 Thanks for sharing this insightful perspective, Malcolm. In Africa, the biggest challenge lies in the absence of substantial media rights deals, a crucial revenue stream for sports leagues. Unlike advanced economies, where cash flow supports league growth, African media companies struggle to buy media rights, with even major players like Supersports facing limitations. Local TV rights are virtually non-existent, with the majority of stations lacking the financial capacity to even sustain themselves, let alone invest in media rights. This poses a significant obstacle to the development of sports on the continent. Contrastingly, in leagues like the NHL as seen in the pie chart where ticket sales drive the bulk of their revenue a model that could be a route for most local leagues in Africa to emulate the challenge is African fans rather often gather in local bars and makeshift movie theaters to watch international leagues, leaving local stadiums empty. To revitalize local sports, innovative strategies are essential to attract audiences and RETAIN them and generate economic viability. While the challenges are significant, there is potential for change with focused efforts and strategic innovation. #SportsIndustry #MediaRights #AfricanSports #InnovationNeeded

8

🌟 Understanding the value of your digital assets and effectively communicating that to potential #sponsors and commercial partners needs to be the most critical focus point for sports looking to grow its commercial portfolio today. 🌟 With content creation and social media at the forefront of all sports properties globally, unlocking legitimate commercial opportunities through these channels is the most effective way to drive direct returns from our efforts to build a digital audience and fanbase. Clear communication of this value is essential, as many brands are still developing their methods for measuring the impact of these initiatives beyond traditional marketing and sponsorship investments. Let's work together to showcase the incredible value of our digital assets and drive the sports industry forward! 💪🚀 #SportsBusiness #ContentCreation #SocialMedia #SportsMarketing

18

10 Comments

FIFA is reportedly seeking to raise $2 billion to expand its FIFA+ #OTT platform, just two years after its launch. In the latest episode of #StreamTimeSports, Chris Stone and I discuss FIFA's reasons for investing in a DTC platform, the challenges FIFA+ has faced, and how the new funding might be used. We also examine the NFL's legal issues with the Sunday Ticket class action suit, considering the likelihood of an appeal and the potential impact on future rights negotiations, fans, and pricing. #SportsBiz #FIFA #NFL #Streaming #OTT https://lnkd.in/dv-qnQAi

20

Ahead of tomorrow's Fair Game UK annual conference at AFC Wimbledon's stadium, we've put together a short pack explaining how LCP can help football clubs, owners, investors, governing bodies and other stakeholders in the areas of football finance and governance. Key elements of our service offering include: ⚽ In depth financial analysis of individual / multiple clubs or leagues, including transaction support  ⚽ Financial scenario analysis to assist in planning and risk management ⚽ Communicating the “financial story” to fans, potential investors or other stakeholders  ⚽ Supporting good governance and  compliance with regulatory requirements I'll be attending the Fair Game UK conference tomorrow along with LCP colleagues John Parnis England and Ashley Mould, and DEI expert Buki Mosaku. If you're at the conference, please come and say hello to us! During the Speed Meetings session at lunchtime, I will be focusing in particular on the Owners' and Directors' Test (OADT) . In this regard, two of my colleagues in our Financial Analysis team, Jonathan Wolff and Tom Gillespie, recently looked at what a more effective revamped OADT might look like under the new Independent Football Regulator - and how this could be a real gamechanger for the sustainability of English men's professional football. Their article is here: https://lnkd.in/educf5kk More details on the Fair Game UK conference can be found here: https://lnkd.in/ePsisebK #fairgameuk #financialsustainability #footballgovernance

30

3 Comments

A panel discussion on how to create synergy between online and retail operations in the sports betting industry.

30

7 Comments

The sports industry is facing tighter media and sponsorship budgets, lower fan spend because of inflation, and lower interest for hosting major events (in many, but not all, geographies), amongst other significant headwinds. It's time to tighten the belt. How can you achieve more than last year with the same or smaller budgets? Dive into our latest report on fan data and commercialization!

18