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Tag: Fifa World Cup

  • Dream Theatre set to roll out 2014 Fifa World Cup licensing programme for India

    MUMBAI: Dream Theatre the Mumbai based brand management and licensing enterprise in association with Pacific Licensing Studio (PLS), Fifa‘s appointed licensing agent for South East Asia will launch Fifa‘s licensed merchandise collection in the country.

    Acting as PLS‘s sub-agent, Dream Theatre will roll out the licensed merchandise collection. The merchandise range includes apparel, accessories, footwear, sporting goods; back to school supplies, stationery, home furnishing, eyewear and computer accessories and will be available in retail outlets across the country.

    Dream Theatre founder CEO Jiggy George said, “I am evidently enthusiastic about this landmark. Football is gaining popularity in India and the FIFA World Cup is an epic event! We are proud to be associated with FIFA and on a personal note, our core team being big fans of football makes it even more fun! We are looking forward to unveiling a fantastic merchandise programme which will dovetail with the event.”

  • IMG Worldwide acquires US-based Catalyst Public Relations

    MUMBAI: Global sports, fashion and media company IMG Worldwide has announced the acquisition of Catalyst Public Relations, the US based communications firm that specialises in developing consumer-facing integrated marketing programmes focussed on three core platforms — sports, entertainment and active lifestyle.

    The company will operate as Catalyst at this moment and will become a part of IMG‘s consulting business, headed by IMG Consulting senior VP, global MD David Abrutynr . Financial details of this strategic transaction are not disclosed.

    IMG chairman, CEO Mike Dolan said, “The acquisition of Catalyst is a perfect fit for IMG‘s client-oriented businesses. They have a long history of success in working across all the major US Sports Properties as well as global properties such as the Olympic Games and Fifa World Cup and boast a strong base of corporate clients. Their expertise in Public Relations, Content Development & Digital and Social media services will significantly enhance our ability to fully service the sports and entertainment agency needs of our clients here in the U.S. and in all of our key international markets”.

    IMG‘s Sports and Entertainment Group president George Pyne said, “This acquisition is part of an ongoing plan to further expand our portfolio of key marketing services we can provide our Consulting clients around the world. We plan to integrate their capabilities into our global Consulting practice that includes our fast growing PR services in the UK and expand these Communications services into key markets in Europe, Middle East, South America and Asia. They will also be able to work with other IMG Divisions where these types of corporate partner communication services are needed.”

    With the acquisition, Catalyst‘s current management team of Bret Werner, Bill Holtz and Ted Fragulis will all join IMG, as will their staff of full-time employees in their New York, Charlotte and Los Angeles offices. Werner will continue in his role as Managing Partner for the business and will report to David Abrutyn. Holtz and Fragulis will continue to work with Werner in managing the business.

    Catalyst managing partner Bret Werner said, “We‘ve enjoyed a strong and productive working relationship with IMG for many years. The ability to join IMG Consulting and continue with our current client service model as well as expand our traditional PR and digital expertise globally provides us with the opportunity to evolve and grow well into the future.”

  • MEC launches Partnership Intelligence study

    Mumbai: MEC, media and planning agency and a founding partner of GroupM, has announced the launch of its global research study Partnership Intelligence.

    Partnership Intelligence is an online tool that enables in-depth analysis into consumer interest, media consumption and attitudes towards partnership platforms including Sport, TV programming, Art, Entertainment and other global properties.

    This Partnership Intelligence global research has been conducted via an online survey across 17 markets including India, with a sample size of 1500 in each market.

    Besides delivering an analysis of property attributes, the tool also provides “comprehensive assessment” of the potential fit of a property with a brand‘s own values.

    MEC national director- Analytics and Insight Geetha Shiv said, “Partnership Intelligence provides insights that help in deciding the most effective partnerships for brands based on how engaged their Target Audience is with different properties. It also helps select properties based on image profiles that fit with brand values.”

    Some of the key findings from the research include among cricketing properties, ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup were considered the most preferred with ‘love‘ and ‘like‘ score of 80-81 per cent. IPL only came third with a 71 per cent ‘love‘ and ‘like‘ score. FIFA World Cup had the highest interest among non-cricket properties with 66 per cent ‘love‘ and ‘like‘ score whereas Formula1 is far below in the seventh position with a score of only 51 per cent.

    The research also revealed that loyalty towards teams was translated with the national cricket team scoring the highest at 75 per cent ‘love‘ and ‘like‘ score, followed by the National Hockey and Olympics teams at 59 per cent and 54 per cent respectively.

    Within the entertainment segment KBC dominated television reality shows cutting across age groups. Other than KBC, Dance India Dance (62 per cent), Indian Idol and Sa Re Ga Ma (59 per cent) and India‘s Got Talent (56 per cent) are among the Top five properties.

    The interest in KBC is greater than IPL as per the study. KBC is the only non-cricket property with a ‘love‘ and ‘like‘ score of 74 per cent, which made it to top five properties in MEC‘s Partnership Intelligence study.

    MEC India managing director T Gangadhar says, “This is a unique, never-done-before study that helps advertisers make choices between seemingly disparate opportunities. It offers an intelligent view on how one can go about choosing the right partnership or association for a specific brand. The study offers terrific insights based on people‘s motivations and choices.”

  • Makita expends sponsorship deal for Asian football by 4 years

    MUMBAI: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced that Makita has extended its commercial engagement with Asian football for a further four years.

    The Japanese power tool company, which has worked with the AFC since 2005, has extended its commercial relationship with Asian football’s governing body through the AFC National Programme until 2016.

    Makita’s sponsorship includes all AFC national competitions including the AFC Asian Cup – Asia’s top sporting event – as well as the qualifying tournaments for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.

    AFC acting president Zhang Jilong said, “Asian football has provided great value in recent years to its sponsors. We hope that our relationship with Makita will allow football in our continent to continue to flourish.”

    The agreement was sealed by World Sport Group, the AFC’s exclusive marketing and media partner in conjunction with Dentsu.

    Makita president Masahiko Goto said, “We are proud to continue our partnership with AFC as we have been a part of Asian football family since 2005, We have been working hard to succeed together with Asian football for many years and we intend to continue working together with the Asian Football Confederation.”

  • Rugby WC to drive $1.67 bn into global sports economy: MasterCard

    Rugby WC to drive $1.67 bn into global sports economy: MasterCard

    MUMBAI: The on-going Rugby World Cup 2011 could generate $1.67 billion for the global sports economy with overseas visitors to New Zealand generating $654 million, according to new research commissioned by MasterCard Worldwide.

    MasterCard‘s research – the Economic Impact on Global Rugby Part IV: Rugby World Cup 2011- finds that sport associated economic activity may be worth up to $11.7 billion to the New Zealand economy by the end of the decade.

    The research is the fourth installment in a series commissioned by MasterCard Worldwide and undertaken by the Centre for the International Business of Sport (CIBS) at Coventry University, following economic impact reports on the 2010 Six Nations and Tri Nations Rugby Tournaments and a report on Rugby‘s Emerging Markets in April.

    The latest installment examines the value of RWC 2011 by looking at the short-term commerce flow through international fans spending in bars, clubs, shops, hotels, bookmakers and inside host stadia, along with spending by sponsors and organisations on marketing in the cities around matches. It also examines the longer-term economic impacts on New Zealand‘s economy and the legacy of the Tournament as a whole.

    CIBS researcher Dave Arthur said that the tournament would stand out from its predecessors. “This Tournament will be like no other: it will attract stronger than ever interest across the world, which will in turn boost commercial interest in and activity around the event,” he said.

    The report finds that by the end of the decade, consumer expenditure in the New Zealand sports economy may be worth up to $1 billion. Increased tourism, civic sponsorship and business development resulting from the Tournament is estimated to be $1.21 billion, while the number of people working in sport-related occupations could rise to between 52,000 and 58,000 by the end of the decade, according to the report.

    Other factors likely to enhance short-term and long-term economic activity include the later time scheduling for RWC 2011 matches and the ongoing development of Rugby in emerging market countries such as Romania, which has seen a 222 per cent increase of Rugby participation since Rugby World Cup 2003, and Russia, who will be competing in their first Rugby World Cup.

    Rugby World Cup‘s enhanced brand value: The tournament will attract stronger than ever interest across the world due to the increased strength of the Rugby World Cup brand and the significance of it returning to its spiritual home-Rugby World Cup 2011 will be the first time the Tournament has returned to the same host nation and the same Final venue since 1987.

    Based on advanced ticket sales more than 95,000 international fans will be visiting New Zealand for RWC 2011, which kicked off on Friday night (September 9th). Total ticket sales, which (including domestic sales) are expected to reach 1.35 million, will generate revenue of $224.5 million for tournament organisers.

    CIBS director at Coventry University Professor Simon Chadwick said, “For the Tournament to be contested in the sport‘s spiritual home with the host nation ranked as number one in the world and among the strongest sport brands in the world, further enhances brand equity and the appeal of Rugby World Cup.

    “Rugby World Cup is one of the top global sports events in the world behind the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. Not only will New Zealand be benefiting from its impact and legacy for years to come, but the broader global sports economy will welcome the boost that this Tournament delivers.”

    The report says the late scheduling will also offer a boost to broadcasters with a global audience of around 4 billion people expected to tune in to watch the tournament.

  • BBC plans special programming around Fifa World Cup

    BBC plans special programming around Fifa World Cup

    MUMBAI: As Africa plays host to the Fifa World Cup for the first time this June, the BBC’s international news services will offer a global perspective on events in the build-up to, and during, the tournament.

    From within this continent and beyond, special interactive programming will connect fans around the world, while the BBC’s multi-lingual services will offer comprehensive sporting analysis, a mix of news and current affairs and local, regional and international insights.

    Pre-tournament programming highlights include Africa Kicks, a journey through the region of West Africa that has produced a wealth of international football talent. The Power and the Passion is a new four part series on BBC World Service English in which writer and broadcaster David Goldblatt examines the relationship between football and fans, as he travels to four fiercely contested local derby games in Ghana, Italy, Egypt and the UK.

    George Weah and Didier Drogba’s exploits off the pitch are the focus of Life on the Edge on BBC World News. BBC Swahili will be producing a special series on the ‘health’ of football in East Africa, while BBC Hausa will examine the significance of the World Cup for Africa.

    Over the course of the tournament, BBC World Service will have a special daily multimedia show, World Cup Have Your Say, which moves the football pundits aside to let fans air their views. The World Today, presented by Komla Dumor and Ros Atkins, will be live from Soweto, and special editions of Sportsworld with Russell Fuller will feature interviews, analysis and insight covering the full spectrum of international teams. World Football will have a special focus on football in South Africa and the impact of apartheid on the game.

    On BBC World News, Football Focus will bring audiences contributions and analysis from four times Champions League winner Clarence Seedorf, World Cup winner Juergen Klinsmann, England legend Alan Shearer and Togolese international and Manchester City star Emmanuel Adebayor. Sport Today with Sean Fletcher will provide daily news and updates on all the stories from the tournament.

    Fast Track, the flagship sports show presented by Farayi Mungazi on BBC World Service, will feature news, interviews and special reports around the tournament.

    A range of the BBC’s international non English-language services will be bringing the atmosphere, stories and news to audiences around the world. For BBC Arabic, Sherif El-Sherif is hosting a multimedia show, while BBC Persian will be examining the cultural, social and economic impact of the tournament on South Africa. BBC Brasil will be following the fortunes of the Brazilian team and finding out what the Brazilian organisation for the 2014 tournament can learn from South Africa. Other services offering daily news, stories and updates include BBC Hausa, BBC Swahili, BBC Hindi, BBC Para Africa and BBC Mundo.

    BBC.com/worldcup is offering an extensive range of video and interactive content to ensure football fans are kept fully up to date with the competition online. Video collections will include Road to South Africa, featuring the qualifying goals that won teams their place in the tournament, as well as 32 team profile vignettes of the teams themselves.

    BBC.com/worldcup will include blogs and insight, as well as live text commentary of all the games from morning to midnight. It will also include interviews, a World Cup daily gossip column and interactive areas where fans can contribute their voice to events through mobile, SMS and social media.

    In addition, a search for international football memorabilia will be the focus of Fans’ Football Favourites, while My First World Cup will bring together a unique international squad – players all taking part in their first World Cup.

  • StarHub launches HDTV in Singapore

    StarHub launches HDTV in Singapore

    MUMBAI: Singapore, through pay TV platform StarHub, is the first country in Southeast Asia to launch High Definition Television (HDTV).

    This launch follows StarHub’s successful HDTV trial that kicked off with the 2006 Fifa World Cup on 10 June 2006 and ended at the close of the year. During this trial, 1000 StarHub Digital Cable customers enjoyed all 64 World Cup matches as well as quality programmes from Discovery and National Geographic Channel in full high-definition (HD) splendour.

    With HDTV, StarHub says that viewers can expect up to four times greater picture clarity. The 16:9 screen ratio will also provide a panoramic view that can be up to 33 per cent more than what they can enjoy on the standard 4:3 TV screen. As many HD programmes contain Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, viewers with a Dolby Digital Home Theatre system can also be treated to superior audio quality, not unlike the quality available at the cinemas.

    In addition to an enhanced audio and visual experience, customers using the HD set-top box will also enjoy all innovative features that users of StarHub’s digital set-top box currently have access to. These include the Onscreen TV Guide, Programme Alert, Auto-Tune, Video Mosaic, Info Bar, Quick Surf, Chat, access to Demand TV and complimentary FunZone games.

    StarHub president and CEO Terry Clontz says, “We are very excited about our HDTV launch, and are proud that we are the first operator in Southeast Asia to introduce the service.

    “StarHub is constantly enhancing its customers’ TV viewing experience. Our introductions of Digital Cable in 2004, Demand TV in 2005 and Smart TV in 2006 are examples of how we give customers more control over what they watch, and when they watch their favourite programmes. And who knows, maybe someday we can even give customers choice on where they can view their favourite programmes too. ”

    With StarHub’s launch of its HDTV service, a new content group named “HD Plus” will be introduced. HD Plus, with a subscription fee of $15 comprises two new HD channels – Discovery HD and National Geographic Channel (NGC) HD.

    Clontz adds, “Discovery and National Geographic Channel are longtime content partners of StarHub, and both are very well-known for their production of high-quality programmes. We know that our customers will be delighted with the quality of the content, and with the superior viewing experience that HDTV brings.”

    Discovery HD Channel showcases on the channel include science, world culture, natural history, wildlife, engineering, travel and lifestyle.

    Discovery Asia MD, executive VP Tom Keaveny says, “Discovery is once again happy to be pioneering HD. We were the first international HD channel to launch in Japan in 2005, and with this launch in Singapore, Discovery HD is now available in 15 international markets and over nine million households. Discovery is committed to providing our viewers with the highest quality content available and Discovery HD will deliver an audio and visual experience that is richer, deeper and more expansive than ever before”.

    NGC HD takes viewers into the heart of the action from science, the modern world and investigations to lost cultures and natural history, National Geographic Channel in high definition will bring viewers unique insights, groundbreaking new findings and unforgettable television experience.

    NGC International executive VP, group MD– Asia PacificWard Platt said, “Today is a heartwarming moment as we witness the launch of the brand new National Geographic Channel HD in Singapore. We congratulate Singapore and StarHub for being the most innovative country and the first operator in Southeast Asia to launch a commercial high-definition television service. Singapore viewers can now truly enjoy National Geographic Channel’s unsurpassed quality programming and compelling stories in stunning visuals and cinematic surround sound.”

    Consumers must subscribe to a minimum of three Basic Groups and HD Plus, and own StarHub’s HD set-top box and a HD-ready TV set in order to enjoy StarHub’s new HDTV service.

  • Mobile sports content & services to reach $3.8bn by 2011

    Mobile sports content & services to reach $3.8bn by 2011

    MUMBAI : Mobile sports information and entertainment services are expected to take an increasing share of the global mobile sports, leisure and information content (infotainment) market over the next five years.

    According to Juniper Research the global market for mobile sports content and services will grow from just over $1 billion in 2006 to $3.8 billion in 2011 at an average annual growth rate of 27 per cent. This is out of a total sports, leisure and information content market worth just under $4.2 billion in 2006 and growing to $9.5 billion in 2011. Over the whole period 2006 to 2011 mobile sport, leisure and information content and services is expected to generate a cumulative revenue stream of over $42 billion. 40 per cent of this is expected to come from the European market, 33 per cent from Asia Pacific and 18 per cent from a rapidly growing North American marke.

    The key market drivers will be:
    *the increasing availability of 3G services and support for high quality video;
    *the globalisation of sport personalities and club support;
    *improved flow of digital sports rights for mobile distribution.

    Bruce Gibson, research director at Juniper Research said, “These drivers apply to many types of leisure and information content, but none more so than sports content. There is a great opportunity for content owners, application service providers and operators to exploit sport content over the mobile channel in innovative ways, now that the technology barriers are diminishing”. However he goes on to issue a warning – “This will only happen if everyone in the value chain pays attention to detail. End user experience in some markets of mobile sports content services built around the 2006 Fifa World Cup, has not been consistently good. Many new users of sports services have been disappointed with the quality of the deliverable and may never buy again. First impressions count for a lot and particularly with time sensitive content like goal alerts and replays, the first experience has to be good to generate repeat business.”

    Sports, leisure and information is a vast area and comprises many different types of content and mobile service, from celebrity wallpapers, mobile comics and video “mobisodes” to financial information services, child tracking and personal navigation services. Those applications and services that will show fastest growth over the next few years will be those that develop the most added value from advanced network technologies and those that can move from “presenting facts” to “providing entertainment”. Community applications with a high amount of graphic user generated content will be particularly successful as they have the added advantage of low cost content acquisition, the report says.

    Mobile TV might not be quite there as yet but now looks poised to take off – after many false starts – in the same way broadband internet was roughly five years ago.

  • Italians partial to World Cup mobile content

    MUMBAI: During the Fifa World Cup which took place from 9 June – 9 July 2006, Italians used their mobile to access content from the event more than any other European country.

    Research firm Telephia’s Q3 2006 European Subscriber and Device Report (ESDR) shows that six per cent of Italian mobile subscribers accessed World Cup content on their mobile devices, as compared to three per cent for French mobile subscribers. Not surprisingly, European 3G mobile subscribers posted higher rates for accessing World Cup soccer content on their phones at 14 per cent, while only three per cent of non-3G mobile users accessed soccer content.

    Penetration Rate of Mobile Subscribers who accessed Fifa World Cup Content
    Country Penetration Rate (per cent)
    Country     Penetration Level
    Italy     Six per cent
    Germany     Four per cent
    France     Three per cent
    Sweden     Three per cent
    UK     Three per cent
    Spain     Two per cent

    Telephia VP new products Kanishka Agarwal says, “Soccer enthusiasts across the world are passionate about their sport, and European fans are notorious for their hardcore dedication in supporting their country’s team. Italy secured their first World Cup title in 24 years with a penalty shoot-out victory over France, to the delight of Italian fans.

    “The World Cup showcased how important mobile phones have become as a source of immediate information and relevant content for consumers, beyond just a tool to communicate. Soccer fans were able to tap into the frenzy of the games and show their connection and support for their favorite teams through their cell phones”.
     

    Content Type Share
    Type of Content     Share per cent
    Received World Cup text alerts     38 per cent
    Accessed World Cup news and information on the wireless
    Internet     29 per cent
    Downloaded a World Cup ring tone     19 per cent
    Downloaded a World Cup wallpaper     15 per cent
    Downloaded World Cup video clips     14 per cent
    Downloaded a World Cup game     nine per cent
    Watched World Cup content on mobile TV     Eight per cent
    Uploaded World Cup pictures/images to the Web     Eight per cent
    Uploaded World Cup video to the Web     Seven per cent
    Placed a video call/Sent a video message     Five per cent
    Others     Eleven per cent

    Sky Sports was the most watched Mobile TV Channel in Europe for the Fifa World Cup. Eight per cent of European mobile subscribers who accessed soccer content on their phone watched via mobile TV. Sky Sports was the top channel, securing a 14 percent share of World Cup mobile TV users. Overall, World Cup content received through text alerts was most popular (38 per cent), followed by content through wireless Internet at 29 per cent. 19 per cent downloaded a World Cup ringtone, while 15 and 14 per cent downloaded wallpapers and video clips, respectively.

  • Coca Cola triumphs in brand recall study at Fifa World Cup

    Coke came out on top according to data gathered by Sponsorship Intelligence (SI) MD Jamie Graham. SI is football’s governing body Fifa’s official research organisation. A global consumer research study showed that the soft drink manufacturer is the most recalled of all Fifa sponsors. Research at venues on the Fifa World Cup Trophy Tour, which Coca-Cola sponsored, also shows how well fans had been engaged by the brand.

    This result pleased Coca-Cola UK’s head of sponsorship and brand experience Steve Cumming. However, he was quick to voice an opinion that, based on a more qualitative assessment, Germany, the country itself, was the ultimate World Cup winner.

    This viewpoint was supported by other panel members including Tony Blair’s former director of strategy and communications, Alistair Campbell, director of football at Umbro International, an England sponsor, Simon Marsh, T-Mobile head of sponsorship and Events Toby Hester, ITV’s brand partnerships director Gary Knight and Carlsberg (UK) sponsorship and media relations controller Gareth Roberts.

    The Fanfests, a German innovation that allowed fans without tickets to congregate and watch matches with other entertainment and refreshments, were a huge success. What little trouble there was appeared to have been largely kept out of the media spotlight. Even losing in the final seemed to receive sympathetic treatment compared to the English experience. After more than a decade of internal focus on re-unification and integration, the largest economy in Europe was very effective in using its staging of the World Cup to assist in re-establishing itself as a major player on the world’s stage.

    The debate then turned towards the ‘losers’, with the football fan and the occasional viewer both being identified as having suffered. The lack of atmosphere at the final, apparently driven by too many corporate seats and not enough real fans, appeared to reflect a wider concern that, as football becomes more successful as a business, it is losing its passion whether this is at club or global competition level. Hester, a big football fan himself, said that filling stadia with passionate fans rather than corporate stooges was a priority for T-mobile, resulting in a policy that 86 per cent of its ticket allocation must go to real fans.

    New viewer figures were significant, but Campbell in particular felt that broadcasters were not doing enough to provide relevant content to make football more accessible to those not steeped in the game. Knight agreed that these new audiences needed nurturing, but pointed out that broadcasters needed support from advertisers before investment in new audience content provision could be made.

    Overall, though, the mood was optimistic for the future. With Euro 2008 less than two years away, plans are already well advanced amongst broadcasters and sponsors alike. Only time will tell how well lessons from World Cup 2006 have been turned into positive action that brings football to a wider audience across different platforms without further diminishing the atmosphere of the Fifa World Cup.