The NBA is warming audiences up for the upcoming season, launching “I’m Why” as the next chapter of its “This is Why We Play” global campaign. Three new “I’m Why” videos are on deck to run before the season, “Tipping Off 2017” (running Sept. 24 on ABC during Game 1 of the WNBA Finals), “Golden State’s Homecourt Advantage” (running Sept. 30 locally) and “I’m Why Mexico,” and “I’m Why Mexico 2017.”
NBC is leveraging new findings with ad buyers ahead of this season’s Super Bowl, offering advice that includes: for automakers, featuring children works best, while animals perform especially well for food and beverage brands. Ad Age breaks downs the approach, which saw NBC analyze the ads in the last four Super Bowls based on 575 variables like creative messaging and structural elements and then comparing the effectiveness of each ad based on five performance metrics: creative appeal, ad cut through, creative engagement, brand social and brand search.
UFC pinned down a new national charitable partnership with Miracle Flights, the nation’s leading nonprofit health and welfare flight organization, offering free commercial air transportation to critically ill children in need of medical care far from home. The partnership is supported through UFC’s ‘We Are All Fighters’ initiative and includes a joint PSA featuring UFC Hall of Famer Forrest Griffin and 11-year old Levi Krystosek.
The PGA TOUR and Intel inked an exclusive relationship to produce and globally distribute live VR) and live 360 video at six PGA TOUR events in 2017 and 2018, beginning with the TOUR Championship in Atlanta from Sept. 21-24. The live VR experience can be viewed on Samsung Gear VR headsets on a global basis through the PGA TOUR VR Live app available for free on the Oculus store. The full VR experience will also be available on demand in the app following each event. For fans who don’t have a Gear VR headset, the 360 video stream will be available via Twitter and Periscope. Live VR coverage is also being produced at the 2017 Presidents Cup in partnership with NBC Sports from Sept. 28-Oct. 1 with coverage that includes the driving range and capture the “fan chaos” from the opening holes of this international team match-play competition with Golf Channel hosts Robert Damron, Rex Hoggard and Bailey Mosier.
The PGA TOUR is implement a new Integrity Program starting Jan. 1 in a move to protect its competitions from potential outside influences related to gambling. The new program will cover all facets of competition and operations on the six Tours overseen by the PGA TOUR, including players and their support teams, all tournament staff and volunteers, the entire PGA TOUR staff and the PGA TOUR Policy Board, engaging Genius Sports to use its state-of-the-art bet monitoring system which tracks real-time betting activity and utilizes proprietary algorithms to identify potentially suspicious patterns occurring in global betting markets.
Yahoo detailed its programming plans ahead of Sunday’s Ravens/Jaguars game from London at 9:30a. In addition to the game, which will see play-by-play commentator Andrew Catalon and analyst James Lofton, the platform will also offer Yahoo Sports Fantasy Football Live with fantasy news from our award-winning experts that include Brad Evans, Liz Loza and Andy Behrens.
The upcoming edition of EA’s FIFA franchise – FIFA 18 – will sport new kinds of team jerseys, with the additions of jerseys from the likes of Fnatic, Vitality and Team Liquid to use in the game and marking the first time players will be able to represent their favorite esports teams on the field in the franchise. The special-edition playable kits will only be accessible in the Ultimate Team mode. Hashtag United, a YouTube-based football club that boasts both esports and traditional sport teams, will also be represented. FIFA 18 is scheduled for release at the end of the month.
Team EnVyUs made its new investor official, announcing a partnership with Hersh Interactive Group worth a reported $35 million that will see the organization relocate to Dallas from Charlotte. “In order to be the best esports team in the world, you have to be playing the best esports games and have the best partners. We’re doing that while cultivating a growing, engaged and loyal fan base for Team Envy,” EnVyUs CEO Mike Rufail said. “Envy teams have played live in front of tens of thousands of fans at some of the largest arenas in the world. There is nothing like being surrounded by 20,000 passionate fans in a live setting, and with the support of Ken Hersh and Hersh Interactive Group, we will build that type of thrilling fan experience in Dallas.”
Prodigy Sports announced the acquisition of Ascension Sports Partners, a boutique search firm led by veteran Dan Rossetti. Rossetti, who has led Ascension for nearly 10 years, will assume the role of President of Prodigy Sports and remain headquartered in Cincinnati.
Twins/Yankees on ESPN at 7p.
