LaLiga goes live with Twitch channel focussed on clips and non-live content
October 21 – LaLiga has become the first European sports league to open an official account on the Twitch streaming platform.
Digital platforms
Valencia look to AR app to build insight and closer connection to fans
October 5 – LaLiga’s Valencia have taken a deeper step into the digital world with a two-year partnership agreement with Canadian augmented reality specialists ImagineAR.
Beach Soccer World Wide signs on with IQONIQ fan engagement and loyalty platform
September 24 – IQONIQ has become the official fan engagement platform for all beach soccer competitions in an agreement signed with governing body Beach Soccer World Wide.
Inter Milan push videogaming with EA as Chinese social numbers grow 73%
August 4 – Inter Milan are boosting fan engagement activities via two new initiatives: a partnership with video gamemaker EA Sports for its FIFA game and a new WeChat virtual community for its Chinese fans.
Bayern and Google partner in Germany, but deal detail under wraps
February 27 – For a partnership between two of the biggest companies and football clubs on the planet, details of the new deal between Bayern Munich and Google are pretty thin.
J League deepens SNTV deal with launch of YouTube channel
February 21 – Sports News Television, SNTV, have struck a deal to manage the J League’s new international YouTube channel.
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’.
Fanatiz raises $10m from 777 Partners to roll out streaming service beyond Americas
January 15 – The investor rush to secure positions in technology companies and applications that are changing the football business, and the broadcast business in particular, has seen another investment in a streaming service.
Konami adds RCD Mallorca to PES club partners with graphic boost
December 16 – Japanese eFootball gamemaker Konami has added LaLiga’s RCD Mallorca to partner clubs. Mallorca will feature in the 2020 edition of the game.
Digital primer: Seven League’s 7 trends and impact points for 2020
December 13 – Digital sport consultancy Seven League has released its 2020 Digital Trends for Sport report, and for anyone on the business side of sport grappling with their own digital strategy it is a focussing read.
China’s Dongqiudi adds Watford as it pushes deeper into Premier League
November 11 – China-based football social networking and media app Dongqiudi has added Watford to a partner list that includes Manchester City and Crystal Palace, becoming the club’s official media partner in China.
Bundesliga and Vodafone trial 5G mobile app at Wolfsburg
September 25 – Germany’s Bundesliga has tested the first applications of its 5G mobile stadia plan with Vodafone at Vfl Wolfsburg’s Volkswagen Arena as part of a live demonstration for their home game against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
AC Milan’s digital push sees launch of mobile app with Cesena friendly
August 20 – AC Milan launched their mobile app with the a live stream of their pre-season friendly against Cesena last Saturday with dual language commentary in Italian and English.
DFL and Vodafone to use 5G and new app to enhance data for fans
July 4 – Vodafone and Germany’s DFL are linking up to deliver 5G technology to a Bundesliga stadium for the first time and to launch a real time app that will speed up the delivery of match information to fans without buffering or non-connection issues.
Alipay launches UEFA app opening up Euro 2020 tickets to Chinese fans
June 12 – Alipay, the world’s leading digital payment and lifestyle platform with more than 1 billion users, has activated its European partnership with a new UEFA lifestyle ‘mini-app’.