Chris Bird

Brace yourselves for a seismic shift in UK football fan engagement. Yesterday, the UK government revived plans for a new football regulator in England, by promising to reintroduce the Football Governance Bill. (Something introduced during the Sunak premiership yet unclear if it would be carried through with the new Labour government despite being in their manifesto) This bill will attempt to redefine the entire football experience for every fan and their relationship with their club. The question is are most clubs and leagues ready for the revolution? Quite simply, no. This landmark legislation aims to enhance the transparency, accountability, and sustainability of football clubs across the UK, ensuring that the beautiful game remains deeply rooted in its fan communities. One of the most significant aspects of this bill for me is its potential to unlock and transform in-venue fan engagement and monetisation, by giving lower league teams the ability to spend more on building their fan engagement strategies with a more even distribution of revenues received by the Premier League for instance. (The Premier League's revenue stood at £6.1billion in 2022/23). The bill will also mandate greater financial transparency by encouraging fan representation in decision-making processes and empowering supporters to have a stronger voice in the governance of their beloved clubs. In practical terms, clubs can leverage this increased fan involvement to develop more targeted and effective in-venue engagement strategies and activations and most importantly unlock further revenues. From improved stadium facilities, exclusive in-stadium and broadcast experiences to advanced digital services and real time engagement experiences - the opportunities are vast. Choosing the right solutions and strategies to do this are more essential than ever. Something i'm pleased to say Hypothesis Media are specialists in! 😎 As we look to the future, the Football Governance Bill represents a critical step towards building a more engaging and profitable football ecosystem (something that I hope follows suit for other sports leagues in time). As a long term champion of fan engagement for all clubs and teams at all levels. This signifies a huge step in getting all fans closer to the club whether they are a season ticket holder or a fan from the other side of the globe! It's now in the hands of the UK football clubs to start proactively working with specialist fan engagement consultancies who understand the right engagement tools and strategies to empower them for revolution that this bill will foster. https://lnkd.in/eJ44Nq29 #FanEngagement #UKFootball #SportsManagement #StadiumExperience #RevenueGrowth EFL (English Football League) The Famous Group

3

In the world of sports and entertainment, the passion of fans are the lifeblood of every team, club, federation and broadcaster that watch that live event content. From grassroots clubs to elite professional organisations and venues. It's time we acknowledge that fan engagement tools should be accessible to all fans, no matter the level their team is at. Fan engagement shouldn't be just for the top-tier leagues and teams; it’s for every fan who cheers from the stands, follows the games online, and supports their team with consistency - and be rewarded for that. These tools should enhance the fan experience, foster community, and create lasting memories - whatever the clubs budget. But how? 📱 Interactive Apps: Live scores, exclusive content, and direct interaction should be available for every team, from local leagues to global tournaments. 🎉 Fan Events: Virtual meet-and-greets, immersive global experiences, Q&A sessions, and community forums can bridge the gap between fans and their teams. 📣 Social Media Integration: Empower every team to connect with their fanbase through creative and engaging social media strategies, both live and pre/post game/match. This is why Hypothesis Media offers the best fan engagement tools and creative strategy to clubs, teams and broadcasters - servicing fans everywhere across every medium. If you want to work with some of the most premium and cutting edge audience engagement and immersive fan experiences (either in venue or on broadcast) then drop me a DM!

10

FTA sport's economic benefit "An independent report commissioned by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) from Oxford Economics estimates that the economic impact of public service media (PSM) sports broadcasting contributed €4.9 billion to Europe’s GDP and supported over 60,000 jobs in 2022. The findings include direct contributions from content production and broadcasting and significant indirect and induced impacts due to supply chain spending and employees’ consumer expenditure. The study also explores wider impacts, such as the way in which PSM coverage attracts sponsorship income for sport." It's a really interesting finding. Conventional wisdom is that sports is so popular that people will pay for it, and take adverts, and so there is big incentive to keep behind a paywall. It's what still is the lynchpin for #paytv and keeps it going. That's why in the UK the Premier League is on Sky on pay-TV. In Spain La Liga is on Movistar, DAZN and Orange, Germany, DAZN Sky Deutschland etc etc. And yet, when you have big events like the World Cup both mens and womens football, the European Cup, Rugby, Cricket etc. these are on FTA, and drive much greater viewing than paytv, and even with the appeal of sports, the reach on FTA is so much greater, and it will people who wouldn't normally get involved in national events, suddenly tune in. "The report also reveals the many benefits of FTA sports broadcasting on culture and society, reinforcing the pivotal and unifying role of PSM organisations in this space. “Our analysis unveils a symbiotic relationship between free-to-air sports broadcasting and economic vitality, illustrating the far-reaching ripple effects of this dynamic industry right across the continent,” commented Doug Godden, Lead Economist at Oxford Economics and author of the report. “What’s more, providing sporting action to audiences for free has great value to the public of the countries in which EBU Members operate.”....As well as providing broader economic advantages such as leveraging additional income streams for sports through sponsorship, advertising revenue and event hosting fees (and often stimulating local tourism from visiting sports fans), FTA media exposure can also help grow and expand the fan base of ‘emerging’ sports, leading to increased gate receipts and merchandising." With the move towards #FTA #streaming i.e. #FASTchannels will we see more of a move to FTA television in the #traditionaltv sphere. Will pay-TV eventually converge with SVOD? Maintaining a paywall like this? #television #sports #livesports #football #livefootball #livetv #tvindustry #mediaindustry https://lnkd.in/eQqkibjK

6

For anyone working in - or interested in - the industry of sports media, I recommend this from Ryan Cassella. We hear so much about ‘fragmentation’ in sports media - fragmentation of rights, platforms and audiences. But part of the answer to fragmentation lies, perhaps ironically, in collaboration - one of Ryan’s key pillars, along with storytelling and technology. Sport must leverage all three pillars to deliver stories that have meaning to the widest possible global audience. #sportsmedia #production #storytelling #broadcast

22

3 Comments

How Virtual Engagements in Sports are Transforming Fan Participation - Money Smart Athlete Blog #fanengagement #sportsfanengagement #virtualfanengagement #athletes #sports #sfla #moneysmartathlete

36

Glasgow has put forward a proposal for hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games at a significantly low cost, as confirmed by Commonwealth Games Scotland, in a recent announcement. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🔹 The proposed Games could be organised in two years with a budget of £130-150 million and minimal reliance on public funds. The financing would primarily come from a £100 million contribution from the Commonwealth Games Federation, and the remainder (£30-50 million) would be sourced from ticket sales 🎟 , broadcasting rights 📺 and sponsorships 💼. The projections suggest that the Games could generate a revenue of £100-200 million. 💷 🔹 The proposed timeline is an 11-day sporting event to be held in July/August 2026, featuring approximately 10 core sports. 🏅 🔹 Glasgow hosted the 2014 Games, which included 17 sports. The budget was £543m, with £425m from the Scottish government and Glasgow City Council. 🔹 The Commonwealth Games Federation is expected to provide updates on the 2026 Games next month 🗓 with Ghana also expressing interest in hosting. 🇬🇭 🔹 Glasgow's proposal hopefully could rejuvenate the format of CWG, deliver them within budget, and provide substantial economic benefits to the host nation. #CommonwealthGames #Sustainability #Economy

8

1 Comment

Where do the sticking points lie with fan engagement progression in UK Sport compared to the US Sports industry? 🤔 It's evident that we have some catching up to do. Fans are craving more immersive experiences, from exclusive behind-the-scenes content to personalised interactions with players. The demand for a deeper connection to their clubs is growing, especially through innovative technologies that are not fully utilised in the UK sports scene. Fans posting on social media no longer cuts it. Fans want more recognition for their engagement A 'top-down' strategy approach from the leagues and federations to help implement this at grass roots level is key. This will ensure that all teams, regardless of their financial standing, can offer engaging experiences to their supporters, fostering a sense of inclusivity and fairness across the board as access is granted to these technologies that is both subsidised and endorsed for standardisation and scale. Additionally, aligning interactive opportunities among broadcasters, rights holders, and teams can attract substantial sponsorship deals. By harmonising the fan experience both in the stands and at home, we can create a more cohesive and engaging ecosystem for all stakeholders involved. If you want to have access to first hand insight as well as the relevant fan innovation tools to help make the changes in the industry then team Hypothesis Media can help! ⚽ 🏀 🏐 🏈 🎾 🥊 🏸 🥅 🏓 (..... Insert additional sports emojis here 😎 ) #FanEngagement #SportsIndustry #Broadcasting #UKSports Hypothesis Media

5

3 Comments

Some really interesting research here from PARITY | A Group 1001 Company. Not so much for telling us things we didn’t know or suspect but for putting the weight of careful research behind it. A lot to digest in this, and very useful if you’re looking for regional data. Those of you toiling at the coal face of women’s sport will not be surprised by most of the data here - but then I don’t think Parity want to preach to the choir. So hopefully some of you out there, especially brands and agencies will look at this data carefully and make some smart decisions! It certainly helps support the case for more and better commercial funding in women’s sport. More than Equal #sportbusiness #roi #womeninsport

16

⚽️ “Follow that lemming!” A detailed and worrying report on the parlous financial state of men’s football in England. If these numbers were reported for the banking industry, construction, retail etc, I suspect we’d be seeing urgent Govt intervention to prevent systemic failure. It is SO important that the women’s football game learns some quick lessons from all this and finds its own sustainable path, rather than copy & pasting the warped economics of the existing football madhouse. Perhaps the most pressing area to look at and regulate in the women’s game is the market distortion caused by the top WSL teams receiving big handouts from their men’s PL clubs. The levels of subsidy cannot be matched by the vast majority of women’s teams, creating a breakaway group of outliers, undermining competition. But crucially, the handouts themselves create a reliance on the men’s club who can (and historically have) suddenly turn off the tap.

5

1 Comment

We’ve always believed in the power of sport to change lives and to create moments and memories that can last a lifetime 👇   But now, we also have data, from Public First and Sky, that shows the impact of the sporting ecosystem and fandom on UK society.     The report shows that our nation of passionate sports fans generate £10 billion a year for the UK economy.    Plus, with UK adults spending approximately 9.1 billion hours last year watching and playing sports, the research finds that sport makes us happier, healthier and better connected.    At Sky, we’re extremely proud of our role, including our £18 billion investment in sports over the last decade.   Take a read of the full report, “Game Changing: How sport makes us happier, healthier and better connected” here: https://lnkd.in/eRgbuajR

190

9 Comments

We all know that physical activity is good for us. In fact it’s been cited as a ‘miracle cure’. Sport England's new research shows the huge value that physical activity has on society and the economy, including improving our health, preventing illness and saving the NHS billions. However, in London we’re facing a physical inactivity crisis with those in the poorest communities facing the greatest challenges of inequalities and barriers to leading an active life, which has a detrimental impact on their health and well-being. We need more investment and commitment from local and national Government - as well as corporates, elite sport and others - to create more equitable access to sport and physical activity, and unlock the huge benefits for our economy, health and society.

18

Measuring the Impact of EFL Clubs in the Community.   🗣️ “… with Clubs’ impact transcending far beyond the football pitch. They are key pillars in community life.”   👨‍👩‍👧‍👧 1.1million participants in Club community projects 🕣890,878 hours of activity 🫡 £1.24billion social value (measures include education, physical health, mental health, crime prevention) 🏆For every £1 spent on community projects, £11 of social value is created More here ➡️ https://shorturl.at/d9hlO EFL (English Football League) | EFL in the Community

92

1 Comment

Are sports broadcasters neutral, unbiased voices to the sporting action? The European Championships are not far away. It's 100 days to the Olympics, sport's most iconic event. And it had me thinking about commentary and cheerleading. Should commentators stay neutral? Or would you expect a little bit of jingoism thrown into the mix? When I commentate on the Ryder Cup or Solheim Cup in golf, for example, I wouldn't get more excited for a European win than an American one. I am there to add to the moment. Not add bias. Or cheerlead. Even though, I am broadcasting for UK and Ireland audience on Sky Sports. The same, naturally, if I was broadcasting internationally on the world feed. I think it's different if Paul McGinley or Laura Davies are alongside me in the commentary box. They are clearly invested in the European cause, given their history in playing the event. I rank Barry Davies amongst the doyen of commentators. Yet, when GB won Olympic gold in hockey in the late 1908s, he famously commentated on one of GB's goals with; "Where, oh where, were the Germans? Quite frankly, who cares!" People still remind him about that today. It's iconic. Gary Neville celebrates a United goal in commentary (see photo). It's all part of the persona. To be fair, his obvious joy in a Manchester United goal against Liverpool didn't cross over into his broadcast. He broke it down in a controlled manner. But it's all part of his appeal and his banter with Jamie Carragher. But no one would expect to see Peter Drury acting in a similar vein in the gantry! These incidents are decades apart. So it would be wrong to call it a modern phenom. But as more and more fan you tubers gain notoriety across social media, I would hate to see that cross over into "professional" broadcasting. If you want to cheer, be part of the crowd. If you want to be a broadcaster or a journalist, tell us the story, add to the pictures. What do you think? I genuinley would love to know. #olympics #broadcastcoaching #sportsmedia #europeanchampionships #commentary #sportscommentary #bias #paris2024 #100days

35

33 Comments

A shift in monetisation strategy at World Curling has led its subscription owned-and-operated streaming platform to become its third-biggest ‘rights-holder’ in revenue terms, according to secretary general Colin Grahamslaw. Speaking at the Host City conference in Glasgow this week, Grahamslaw said that the federation opted to end free streaming on YouTube in 2021 as a test of whether the revenues raised could outstrip fees offered by linear broadcasters. Full story 🔽 🥌 https://lnkd.in/exYFgpfE

12

Feature Interview. In Insider Sport. Talking about what sporting moments and figures that have inspired me, which also have an influence on Football Media https://lnkd.in/dHGMjxzs #footballmedia #interview #agency #sponsorship #advertising #football #Leadership #Inspiration #SportsExcellence #MambaMentality #InsiderSport

9

48 pages, 4 teams and 106 player profiles over 2 months. BBC Sport’s Euro 2024 Guidebook ✅ #sportsjournalism #tvsport #bbcsport #euro2024

67

4 Comments

I’m excited to announce a new project launching today. The Cutback is a brand new women’s football media platform dedicated to delivering in-depth women's football analysis. Read more below. I'd love discuss some exciting sponsorship and partnership opportunities. This has been a long time coming but in this new era of women's football coverage the timing is right for a platform that prioritises stories on the pitch. Whether its match analysis, player profiles, or transfers and recruitment, women’s football is always fighting for air time. The amount fans get to see or read is always dictated by editorial teams that prioritise the men’s game. Women’s football gets the column inches that are left and that’s often 150 word match reports. The Cutback will be the go-to platform for women’s football analysis and we will be focusing on the game. Subscribers to The Cutback will be able to sign up for free now and enjoy all of the content on the site until paid memberships arrive in January 2025. We will be delivering content that you won’t be able to find anywhere else and its not just the writing that you’ll be able to access, paid members will join an exclusive new community of women’s football fans. Members will have access to a private Discord channel, Q&As with writers, discussions and also regular events and screenings. I’ll be delivering a free weekly newsletter throughout the season which will be covering all the big talking points and trends. I’ve signed up an expert team of writers for this first season who will be delivering content with an additional focus on four WSL clubs in the platform’s first season: Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham. I’m committed to helping diversify women’s football media and will be working with BCOMS (Black Collective of Media in Sport) to ensure that the future of sports journalism better represents our diverse society. Alumni from the BCOMS Media Academy will be joining The Cutback writing team. The Cutback is going to be a challenger product, a start up, and that means we’ll be growing and learning at the same time as delivering the best content we can. Reach out and tell us what you think and what you want to see. Most importantly, I hope you come along this journey with us. Its going to be a hell of a ride. The new era of women’s football media coverage begins now. #WomensFootball #Founder #NewBusiness #WomensFootballMedia #StartUp #FootballBusiness

187

22 Comments

Excellent exclusive in The Times showing MI6 were informed of talks about Saudi Arabia purchasing Newcastle United. Raises further concerns about the clause in the Conservative version of the Football Governance Bill that insisted the new regulator must take "foreign policy and trade" issues into account. Here's the quote I gave: “The clause always raised red flags. This latest FoI serves to confirm those fears. The new government needs to take a red pen to the clause and remove it or if it chooses to keep it in then it must at the very least ensure that the regulator has to take into account the UK’s legal obligations in respect of human rights and the environment; and outright exclude the possibility that an owner of a club could be a state or a state-owned person or entity. "You can't have a club operating on a different set of rules to another purely on the whim of the Government of the day." https://lnkd.in/exqkiXjk

14

A few thoughts on why EDI should be within the remit of an Independent Football Regulator from my evidence session at yesterday’s Public Bill Committee examining the Football Governance Bill 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾

182

11 Comments