#80 💸 NBA's new $76B media deal

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

IPL Final is this weekend so we’ve taken a look at the tech that’s been on display at the tournament in this week’s feature. And there has been some fun stuff.

Looks like there will be no more ‘Inside the NBA’ on TNT after NBA’s new mega rights deal. And more startup programs to apply to, from APEX’s Impact program to our own Startup Spotlight India.

Happy Friday everyone 😎

Feature Story

All New IPL Technology- Smart Replay System to Multicam

The tournament turned out to be a blast, and this year it was loaded with new IPL technology that changed the experience.

From sharper calls on the field to crazy fan experiences. In this article we’ve broken down the broadcasting, officiating and fan experience tech displayed during the tournament. Along with a look at Disney Star’s Innovation arm - Star Labs, looking to make strides in broadcasting tech.

From Steven Smith praising Virat Kohli’s cover drive in Hindi (AI generated) to their new Smart Replay System, there was quite a lot of cool tech on display.

Applications are open for another week for our first ever ‘Startup Spotlight India’

We're shining our spotlight on Indian Sports Tech Startups, giving them a chance to showcase their great work. If you're an Indian startup working on an innovative solution for sports, fitness, or gaming then you should check this out.

Here's how this goes:
1. Click on the link below to submit an application.
2. Shortlisted companies will be invited to virtually pitch to a jury in early June.
3. The winner will get media coverage and SportsTechX services worth over €10,000.

Including a feature in the first ever Indian Sports Tech Ecosystem Report 2024, out in June.

Straightforward. Applications close on 31st May 2024 so get them in!

Top News from the World of Sports Tech

📢 The APEX Impact Program (AIP) taking applications again, aiming to empower passionate founders building innovative early-stage technologies. Hexis, Traits Insights and VRTL were selected in Season 1. Apply for Season 2 here. 

⛳ Audi and Sky Media have created a new golfing innovation, The Swing Design Sequence (in collaboration with Sportsbox AI), provides insights into golf techniques of the pros, to help viewers improve their own performance when playing the sport.

🏀 The WNBA have signed a multi-year deal with Meta to stream WNBA games in VR on the Meta Quest platforms, starting this season. 

🏑 ‘NHL DataCast’ alternate broadcast powered by AWS, using real-time in-depth insights from NHL EDGE positional data will be featured during the Oilers-Stars Series.

🏈 NFL will test optical tracking system for line-to-gain rulings in preseason with eyes toward implementation in 2024 itself.

🎮 Women In Esports, an initiative by esports body British Esports, has announced six new members for its committee.

🌳 A premium partner of the tennis tournament at Roland-Garros, Renault along with WeRide will trial electric, autonomous shuttles at the French Open 2024.

🌳 The DP World Tour is set to launch a new emission tracker tool that allows spectators to calculate and offset their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when traveling to and from tournaments.

💸 Peloton Interactive to launch a global refinancing, pursuant to which it will offer $275.0 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2029 in a private offering.

Not Sports Tech but you should know:

🏀 NBA set to secure mega $76B media rights deal over 11 years from Disney, Amazon & NBC who are reported to be picking up the rights.

⚽ The Brazilian government has welcomed the announcement that Brazil will host the 10th edition of FIFA Women's World Cup 2027. 

🎦 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the production of three new documentary series in collaboration with streaming giant Netflix, to enhance its non-live content strategy to engage audiences outside of the Olympic events. 

⚖️ NHL’s Coyotes CEO along with other Latino executives to launch platform, ‘LiS: Latinos in Sports,’ to promote Hispanic advancements in sports.

🎦 TikTok is testing the ability for users to upload 60-minute videos, trying to take on YouTube. 

🏆 Super Bowl LVIII on CBS and “Toy Story Funday Football” on Disney+ and ESPN+ led this year’s tally of Sports Emmys winners, with three each. 

Money Talks:

💰 Kosmos raised €60 million for Kings League’s global expansion, as it claims to be the most watched league globally.

💰 UK based Classic Football Shirts, the place to buy authentic football shirts, received an investment of $38.5m from The Chernin Group.

💰 Kabata, an immersive workout platform, raised $5 million in a seed round to further develop its AI-powered dumbbells.

💰 Populous, a venue & events design firm, made an undisclosed strategic investment in Venue Planning Technology Leader, OnePlan. (check them out on our pod)

💰 NFL legend Drew Brees became an investor (undisclosed amount) and strategic adviser in the Sports Illustrated Tickets magazine. 

🤝 Sports Endeavors, owner of Soccer.com, has acquired US based Ewing Sports, a leading regional soccer specialty retailer, for an undisclosed amount. 

🤝 RWS Global has launched a Sports Events Division with the acquisition of Great Big Events (GBE), a sports event production company, for $20 million.

🤝 NBA All-Star Stephen Curry becomes lead investor and strategic brand ambassador for Nirvana Super Waters, Seltzers and their other wellness beverages.

Latest from our channels

🎙 #204 SportVot: India's Live Sports Streaming Hub

This week on the line up for SportsTech ALLSTARS Podcast India is - Sidhhant Agarwal, Founder at SportVot.

Siddhant talks about the origins of SportVot and the problems they’re solving. We discuss how the solutions that SportsVot provides are growing all over India and abroad, about their recent round of funding, and the success stories of sports technology in India. We also talk about opportunities in sports tech in India and the growing interest/ investment for the same.

SportVot is an Indian Sports platform where you can watch local match live streams, highlights and emerging athletes of India. This is made possible with SportVot’s unique media technology which enables these tournament organizers and clubs to make their tournaments fully digital right from producing multilingual interactive streams, automated highlights, scoring to fixture management.

🔙 STX Article: How AI is Democratising High–Tech Solutions for Sports

✅ STX Monthly: Last month’s sports tech dealflow, in case you missed it.

💪🏽 SportsTech AllStars Recap: Innovation in Sports Organisations