11/17/17: NBC Olympics' streaming blizzard

Good morning. It’s Friday November 17, 2017 and this is your first early morning Sports briefing.

NBC Olympics is lining up 1800 hours of live streaming coverage of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games from PyeongChang in February, marking a record for a Winter Olympics. In addition, PyeongChang will be the first Winter Games to offer live streaming of the NBC broadcast network, including primetime and primetime-plus programming as part of its strategy to showcase all five NBCUniversal Olympic networks. Additional elements include a temporary pass, streaming coverage on connected TVs, practice streams, and VOD.

“Our most comprehensive digital offering ever is specifically designed to satisfy modern Olympic viewers, who expect to watch their programming wherever and whenever they want,” said Rick Cordella, EVP and General Manager, Digital Media, NBC Sports Group. “Whether it’s at home or on the go, live or VOD, on desktop or app, our unprecedented digital coverage will raise the bar for super-serving fans.”

ON THE AIR

Speaking of the Winter Games, NBC Olympics announced that award-winning chef David Chang will join its Winter Games coverage in PyeongChang where he will serve as an NBC Olympics special correspondent, who will provide viewers with an insider’s look at Korean food, culture and traditions.

In a blow to Russia’s hopes of competing in the Winter Games, the World Anti-Doping Agency ruled that Russia remains “non-compliant” with the organization’s code. The country’s anti-doping agency has been suspended since a 2015 WADA report found evidence of state-sponsored doping. “Having set a road map for compliance, there are two issues that have to be fulfilled and we can’t walk away from the commitments,” Reedie told reporters. The IOC is slated to decide on Russia’s participation at its executive board meeting on Dec. 5-7.

The Big South Conference is adding two new schools, announcing that both Hampton University and USC Upstate would be joining the league starting July 1, 2018. The new additions boost Big South membership to 12. The Pirates sponsor 17 varsity sports at the Division I level, 16 of which are sponsored by the Big South. The Spartans sponsor 17 varsity sports at the Division I level, all of which are sponsored by the conference.

Speaking of additions, the National Women’s Soccer League announced that MLS club Real Salt Lake will launch a new club for the 2018 season, with home matches to be played at Rio Tinto Stadium. “We are very excited to welcome Dell Loy Hansen and Real Salt Lake into the NWSL family as the newest member of our league,” NWSL Managing Director of Operations Amanda Duffy said. “During our discussions in this process, Real Salt Lake has demonstrated their unquestionable desire and commitment to bring the highest level of professional women’s soccer to all fans of the game in Salt Lake City and Utah. Real Salt Lake will immediately be able to hit the ground running on the business side as well as provide the players with a top-notch training ground and one of the best game venues in the country.”

WWE announced that Los Angeles will host Survivor Series Weekend in 2018 with Survivor Series, Monday Night Raw, SmackDown Live and NXTall taking place at STAPLES Center over four consecutive nights, running Nov. 17-20. This year’s Survivor Series takes place Sunday from the Toyota Center in Houston.

Telemundo Deportes is set to offer Spanish-language multimedia coverage of the Final Draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia on Dec. 1 at 9:30a. The event will be simulcast live on Telemundo, Universo and the Telemundo Deportes En vivo App with the two and half hour special produced live from the Kremlin State Palace in Moscow. Andres Cantor hosts.

Wisconsin’s undefeated season has delivered the call to College GameDay, which announced that it will broadcast live from Bascom Hill tomorrow as the Badgers take on Michigan. This visit will mark the seventh time College GameDay has visited UW–Madison.

Next weekend sees the World of X Games feature two episodes focused on snowboarding – Peace Park 6 and Ben Ferguson’s Dropping Next on ABC on Nov. 26. Peace Park 6 runs at 3p and goes inside a group of the world’s most creative snowboarders shredding the most unique features of the season at Grand Targhee resort. Dropping Next showcases the story about halfpipe rider Ben Ferguson and what snowboarding means to him, running at 3:30p.

FOX Sports Detroit is launching a new initiative called Football Week in Michigan, which will kick off this weekend, highlighting high school championship games, as well as college and professional football action over an eight-day span featuring more than 50 hours of original football programming, including at least 12 football games airing across FOX Sports Networks.

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SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION

The Special Olympics inked some heavyweight brands to its sponsor roster. Toyota Motor Corporation entered into an agreement with Special Olympics International to become a Global Partner. In addition to the Global Partnership with Special Olympics, Toyota has agreed to support Special Olympics Unified Sports which joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team.

Meanwhile, the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games Organizing Committee announced that Amazon will be presenting sponsor of the 2018 USA Games Closing Ceremony in the company’s hometown of Seattle. “We are excited to partner with the Special Olympics USA Games and welcome more than 4,000 athletes and coaches to South Lake Union,” said Jeff Wilke, CEO Amazon Worldwide Consumer. “Special Olympics embraces diversity and inclusion – values that Amazon shares. It’s an honor to support the USA Games, athletes, coaches and families who have traveled from all over the country to compete in Seattle.”

StubHub is renewing vows with MLB, locking in a five-year renewal that will see StubHub continue to serve as the Official Fan to Fan Ticket Marketplace of MLB.com and the 30 Major League Clubs. This new agreement will provide StubHub with an exclusive ticketing integration with MLB.com and the 30 clubs, providing baseball fans with a secure and seamless experience to buy and sell MLB tickets.

DraftKings announced plans for a new campaign that brings back “Dr. AftKings” to cure Thanxiety, described as “the dreaded condition people suffer from the awkward and invasive questions, political debates, and life-scarring traveling experiences suffered during Thanksgiving.” Created by Deutsch NY, the campaign runs through Nov. 26 across DraftKings’ Instagram, Twitter and Facebook channels.

DIGITAL & STREAMING

Facebook is getting on the court, announcing a deal with Stadium for a season-long package of 47 college basketball games that will be distributed exclusively on social platform featuring matchups from the Mountain West, West Coast Conference, Conference USA, and the Atlantic 10. Additionally, Stadium will produce an exclusive, weekly live studio show dedicated to college basketball that will air on Watch via the Live: Stadium College Basketball Show Page on Wednesdays at 6:30p. “Stadium is thrilled to continue its partnership with Facebook after the overwhelming success of our football package,” said Adam Anshell, Senior Vice President of Properties for Stadium. “We are able to reach new fans and engage with them in ways that are only possible on a platform like Facebook, and now we’re able to share that experience across an amazing slate of college basketball games.”

FloSports announced plans to stream two major preseason tournaments — the Men’s Division I 2017 Paradise Jam and the Cayman Islands Classic on FloHoops.com. The agreements build on its recent agreements with bd Global to live stream 52 major college basketball games, an extension with Basketball Travelers Inc. (BTI) that aired the 2017 GCI Great Alaska Shootout, and a multi-year agreement with Big Ten Networks to provide coverage of 1000+ non-televised Big Ten Conference events.

The Players’ Tribune will debut a new documentary series, The Book of Isaiah II, in partnership with Slow Grind Media, a media company owned by Isaiah Thomas. The series chronicles the life of Thomas as he faces the challenges of playing for a new team

ESPORTS

Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob and his team have reportedly selected their moniker for its upcoming North American League of Legends Championship Series team, which will be known as the Golden Guardians, according to ESPN.

THE MAIN EVENT

Who will emerge as champion? Ford EcoBoost 400 on NBC at 3p on Sunday.

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ON THIS DAY in 1968: TV movie Heidi interrupts the final minutes of a tight Jets/Raiders game on NBC, causing viewers to miss the Raiders’ comeback.

In the Know: Actress Geena Davis once nearly qualified for the Olympics in what sport? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company and city.)

Answer to Our Last Sports Trivia Question: What is the name of the team coached by Tony D’Amato in the movie Any Given Sunday? Answer: The Miami Sharks. Kudos: Phyllis McQuillan-MSG Networks/NY; Marissa Sunio-Columbia U/NY; Michael Ritz-BucStar Consulting/NY; Robert Zimmerman-Zimmerman Strategic Communications/NY; Brianne Maciejowski-Miles/Sarasota; Ken White-KWTV/Charlotte; John Langermann-WINK-TV/WXCW-TV/Fort Myers; Synda Kollman-Charter Marketing Group/Deerfield Beach; Andy Pittman-TAMU/College Station; Matt Fumagalli-Levy/Chicago; Tom Doherty-Starcom Media/Chicago; Bill Robertson-WCHA/Bloomington; Larry Hutchings/Nipomo; David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Federal Credit Union/Burbank; Jaymz Wooden-Bottelsen American Dart Lines/Santa Maria; Grant Hafer-AT&T Entertainment Group/LA

Later – Chris

Chris Pursell @VegasandVine
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