English soccer’s top-tier Premier League (EPL) has joined a partner consortium for a sports technology accelerator program being run by NBCUniversal, the US media powerhouse owned by Comcast.
The EPL has been appointed to the partner consortium as a strategic advisor “to the startups selected for the annual program.”
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This represents an expansion of NBC’s existing close relationship with the EPL – it holds competition rights in the US through 2028 and is forking out $2.69 billion over six seasons under that deal.
In addition to advising these startups, the EPL will be able to involve itself in selecting startups for the next and fourth editions of the program (it is currently midway through a third).
Representatives from the EPL will join others from sports properties such as motor racing’s Nascar, mixed martial arts’ WWE, and golf’s PGA Tour, as program advisors.
The program’s organizers have said that with the addition of the EPL, “Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech continues to demonstrate the dynamic opportunities that participation in the program can help provide for rising sports technology startups in the fields of media & entertainment.”
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By GlobalDataPaul Molnar, the Premier League’s chief media officer, said: “We look forward to working with the Comcast NBCU team, Boomtown, and the other sports partners to help discover new and emerging technologies which can play a meaningful role in the ever-changing sports industry while supporting the startup founders in their evolution and development.”
Jenna Kurath, vice president of startup partnerships and head of Comcast NBCU SportsTech, added: “The Premier League, with its expansive footprint, global fanbase, and incredible leadership will be a wonderful asset to our startups and their experience in the program.
"We’re excited to work alongside the Premier League team and startup founders to test and experiment with emerging technologies that will bring fans closer to the sports moments that matter.”
The startup technology companies selected for the fourth edition of the accelerator program will be announced in February next year.
In addition to its EPL coverage, NBC and the Peacock streaming service will exclusively provide domestic coverage of the Premier League Summer Series – the league’s first-ever pre-season tournament in the US.
This mini-tournament will feature nine matches across nine days, starting on July 22.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that the chair of the legal advisory board for the EPL will be stepping down from the board of the English Football Association (FA) governing body a year before the end of his scheduled term.
Peter McCormick has represented the EPL on the FA’s board since August 2015, and in that time period has also served as the league's interim chair. The Times has reported now, however, that he will stand down.
It has been reported that the 20 EPL clubs were informed of the 71-year-old McCormick’s departure at a meeting last month (May) and were told the move is part of a planned reorganization.
McCormick was the last interim chair of the EPL during the early months of 2022, between the departure of Gary Hoffman and the confirmation of Alison Brittain’s appointment.
Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
