SportsTechX Weekly
Posts
#120 📺 Comcast confirms $3 billion Olympics deal

#120 📺 Comcast confirms $3 billion Olympics deal

Plus Juventus champion space exploration

SportsTechX
March 14, 2025

News, features & insights from the world of Sports Tech & Biz. Every Week.

A quick recap of all the great guests we’ve had on our podcast over the first two months of 2025, alongside all the news including IOC’s new rights deal.

We prefer releasing our newsletter on Friday so the (mildly successful) Saturday-send experiment has officially ended. Back to regular programming. Have a great weekend.

Sports Tech Allstars Podcast Recap

We spent January and February talking to innovators in the Indian sports ecosystem in lieu of our latest Indian Sports Business and Tech Report 2025. The lineup of guests included:

Nandan Kamath, Co-Founder at Sports and Society Accelerator

We discuss the rapid growth of the Indian SportsTech market, the evolving cultural perceptions of sports careers, and the importance of physical activity in the population. Nandan shares insights from his report on the state of physical activity in India, highlighting significant gaps and opportunities for improvement. The conversation also delves into the role of technology in bridging gaps in sports, the challenges faced by startups in the sports tech space, and the future outlook for Indian sports, especially in light of potential Olympic hosting. Nandan reflects on his personal journey in sports and the importance of fostering a sports culture in India. Listen here.

Shikha Tandon, Chief Resilience and Partnerships Officer at svexa.

We discuss Shikha's journey from being an elite athlete to working in the sports tech industry, the role of technology in enhancing athletic performance, and the current state of the Indian sports tech ecosystem. Shikha shares insights on the challenges faced in adopting technology in sports, the importance of youth development in preparation for the 2036 Olympics, and her personal aspirations to contribute to India's sports landscape. Listen here.

Eric Hollingsworth and Arnab Das from Vijayi Bharat Sports Academy

The discussion revolves around the evolving Indian sports ecosystem, focusing on the Vijay Bharat Sports Academy and its role in developing young athletes. Eric Hollingsworth and Arnab Das share insights on their experiences, the importance of technology in sports, and the cultural challenges faced in India. They emphasize the need for critical thinking, data analysis, and innovative approaches to enhance athlete performance and identify medal-winning opportunities in various sports. The conversation also touches on future plans for the academy and the significance of integrating local practices with global standards. Listen here.

Per Nohlert, CEO of 1080 Motion

Per shares his journey and vision for the company, focusing on the innovative technology behind their products and the potential of the Indian sports market. He shares insights from his recent trip to India, highlighting the growing interest in sports technology and the willingness to invest in high-quality training equipment. Per also addresses challenges in the market, including price sensitivity and the need for education around their products. Looking ahead, he emphasizes the company's growth strategy and commitment to understanding customer needs in various regions. Listen here.

Salone Sehgal, Founding General Partner, Lumikai

Saloni talks about her journey in the Indian sports ecosystem, focusing on the intersection of media, gaming, and technology. She shares insights on the evolution of the Indian gaming market, investment strategies, and the future of esports in India. Saloni emphasizes the importance of building relationships with founders and highlights the significant growth potential in the Indian gaming and entertainment sectors. Listen here.

Unmish Parthasarathi, Founder & Executive Director at Picture Board Partners (Singapore)

Unmish shares his perspective on the evolution of sports media rights, the unique characteristics of the Indian sports market, emerging opportunities beyond cricket, and the impact of technology and innovation on sports participation. The conversation also touches on the future of sports in India leading up to the 2036 Olympics, highlighting the potential for growth and development in various sports sectors. Listen here.

Indian Sports Business and Tech Report 2025

We hit send on this edition from the Indian Sports Summit here in Bengaluru. So is a perfect time to talk about our latest report which delivers an in-depth look into the country’s fast-changing sports business and innovation landscape.

Key findings from the report:

India Ranks 2nd in Global Sports Tech Investment by Country since 2020.
7000+ Total number of active Global SportsTech Startups, with 350+ from India, ranking 3rd in the world for number of startups.
37 global unicorns in Sports Tech out of which 4 are from India.

If you want to learn more about this underrated Sports Innovation ecosystem then be sure to…

International Sports Group Acquires Iterpro to Transform the Future of Sports Data Management

International Sports Group (ISG), a financial holding leader in innovative sports technology, proudly announces its acquisition of Iterpro, the most advanced sports management platform in the market. This strategic move reinforces ISG’s mission to build a comprehensive digital framework that seamlessly connects stakeholders across sports organizations.

Both ISG and Iterpro share a clear vision: to transform traditional sports management by consolidating data and streamlining operations into a single, unified system.

Top News from the World of Sports Tech & Biz

📺 IOC and Comcast NBCUniversal agree on $3 billion extension of the media rights for the 2033-2036 cycle, covering the Olympic Winter Games Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 and the Olympic Games 2036.

🏀 During a recent Milwaukee Bucks vs Cleveland Cavaliers game, The Famous Group (TFG) executed an in-venue, mixed-reality (MR) activation that flipped the Fiserv Forum into a dense forest with roots protruding from the ceiling that took over the videoboard, rims, and the entire lower bowl.

👩‍🚀 Juventus Football Club and Lunar Outpost joined forces in a partnership to support and raise awareness for space exploration, as a significant step in Juventus’ commitment to innovation beyond the pitch.

🎟️ Fanatics teamed up with Ticketmaster to launch the Fanatics Ticket Marketplace.

💸 FanDuel launched the first A.I. Sports Betting Chat Experience. Select bettors at FanDuel can now converse with an A.I. powered chatbot for gambling research, bet construction, and odds on Same Game Parlays.

⛳ In an effort to expand its coverage of the 30,000-plus shots during a given tournament, the PGA TOUR to debut AI shot commentary in its TOURCAST powered by ShotLink.

🎦 Audi is expanding its Audi Application Store offer to include the DAZN app, bringing the sports streaming service into the vehicle, featuring the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, and other leagues like the NFL, NBA, and handball and golf.

⚾ Shohei Ohtani became the first MLB player to appear in the Fortnite Icon Series. Ohtani's character will be available on March 17, one day before the Dodgers and Cubs meet in the Tokyo Series.

🔥 Dubai is set to host its first-ever International Sports & Entertainment Free Zone Cluster within the Dubai World Trade Centre's Free Zone. This industry-focused business hub will further enhance Dubai's status as a premier destination for sports and entertainment.

💪🏽 WSF hosted their Annual Salute to Women in Sports- the culmination of a year-long celebration of our 50th anniversary. They honored sports leaders and superstar athletes who are propelling the movement for gender equity in sports.

🎾 WTA players to receive paid maternity leave for the first time. This new programme financed by Saudi Arabia’s PIF will also see eligible players have access to grants for fertility treatment.

💪🏽 Adidas welcomes Ilona Maher as the latest member of its global roster of elite-level athletes. The multi-year partnership will see adidas provide Ilona with best-in-class apparel and footwear, to support her game.

🎦 After many viewers experienced issues with purchasing and streaming ESPN’s pay-per-view broadcast of UFC 313, ESPN+ will replay the event for free.

🏟️ Manchester United announced plans to build the biggest stadium in the UK - an iconic new £2 billion 100,000-seater ground close to Old Trafford.

Money Talks:

💸 Steph Curry announced as an investor in Unrivaled, adding to a long list of high-profile stars to align with the startup 3-on-3 women's basketball league. His investment was included in Unrivaled's oversubscribed Series A investment round in December, where it secured more than $28 million in Series A funding to go along with the $7 million raised during the league’s seed round.

💰 The Lyon-based company Spash, specializing in improving the experience of racket sports and 5-a-side football through video and statistics, announced a raise of € 2.5 million in its latest funding round.

💰 Out2Win, the AI-powered athlete marketing intelligence platform, announced the successful close of a $1.3 million seed funding round.

💰 nVenue, an industry-leading provider of live and micro markets for sports betting, announced new strategic investments of undisclosed amounts from FDJ Ventures, The Collectiv, and DigitalWin, together with a follow-on investment from lead investor KB Partners.

🤝 Hudl, the world’s leading provider of cloud-based technology connecting video and data for the sports industry, has completed the acquisition of FastModel Sports for an undisclosed amount.

🤝 Plunge, a cold plunge and contrast therapy company, announced it has opened its community funding round to the public, allowing, for the first time ever, individuals to acquire an ownership stake in the brand.

Recap from our content archive:

🔙 STX Article: Innovative Fan Engagement- The Future of Sports in the Metaverse, Web3, and Beyond