April 1, 2022

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‘Fortnite’ maker Epic Games announced it has raised $100 million in nine days for humanitarian relief to support those affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Indian Premier League Media Rights Auction Could Hit $7B

IPL

One of the most popular sports leagues in the world is anticipating a record haul from its upcoming media rights auction.

The bidding war for the rights to broadcast dozens of Indian Premier League matches from 2023 to 2027 could reach [[link removed]] $7 billion. The June auction for the 14-year-old cricket league is likely to spur a faceoff between major domestic and international media forces.

Both linear and streaming rights are currently held by Disney-owned Star India on a $2.5 billion deal from 2018 to 2022. The company streams games through the Disney Hotstar service.The league will auction off linear and streaming rights separately for its next set of deals.The bidding process will be conducted as a live online auction June 12-13. Clash of the Titans

Star India is expected to bid to retain its rights, but it will have competition.

Amazon is likely to fight for streaming rights. Ambani Industries, owned by Mukesh Ambani, is set to be in the mix as well. Ambani, who owns the IPL’s Mumbai Indians, is worth an estimated $100 billion.

A new entity created by Sony and Zee Entertainment will also compete. Sony lost out on the previous round to Disney. Meta and Google could enter the fray as well.

The IPL’s 15th season, which began in March, brought in two new teams [[link removed]]: the Gujarat Titans, owned by CVC Capital Partners, which paid $737.7 million for the franchise; and the Lucknow Super Giants, of which the Sanjiv Goenka Group took control for $930 million.

FIFA President Backpedals From Biennial Proposal For Men’s World Cup 

FIFA

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has backpedaled from plans to hold the men’s World Cup every two years, rather than every four years.

On Thursday, Infantino said [[link removed]] that a proposal hasn’t been made — instead, the previous FIFA congress had merely agreed to “study the feasibility” of a biennial World Cup.

Now, there will be a “phase to find the grievance and to find the compromises,” he told the FIFA Congress.

Previously, Infantino had claimed a biennial World Cup would generate $4.4 billion.Another report found it would cost UEFA and other big soccer leagues close to $9 billion per year.

Infantino’s comments follow several strong protests. In early March, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said [[link removed]] the proposal was “a no-go for everyone in football.” And in February, a survey of 1,000 players found that only a quarter would support the project.

Alternative Options

Innovation around international soccer competition isn’t completely off the table, however.

Čeferin has suggested an annual competition between the Copa America champions and European champions. FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani also suggested alterations to the Confederations Cup or Nations League.

SPONSORED BY FIDELITY

Empowering Representation and Diversity

Renee Montgomery started her career in Storrs, Connecticut, where she was a key cog in the UConn Huskies’ 2009 Women’s National Championship team.

Drafted 4th in the WNBA, she won 2 WNBA championships while also being named an All-Star and 6th Woman of the Year in her 11-year professional career. Renee retired in 2021 after sitting out the 2020 season to focus on social reform and justice.

Her basketball career was just a precursor to her second act, which includes titles such as podcast host, sports broadcaster, Vice President and Co-Owner of multiple professional sports teams.

Most recently, she expanded into the entertainment world with the launch of Think Tank Productions with her wife Sirena Grace.

In the latest episode of Second Acts, sponsored by Fidelity [[link removed]], Renee shares her journey from WNBA star to sports business and media mogul. Watch now [[link removed]].

House Democrats Introduce Bill on NCAA Gender Equity

Charlie Nye/Indianapolis Star

Federal lawmakers have used the popularity of March Madness to spotlight their own college sports reform efforts. One major issue: gender equity.

On March 14, Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), and Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) sent NCAA president Mark Emmert a letter [[link removed]] criticizing the governing body for its equity efforts.

Thursday, they took their criticism a step further — introducing a bill called the Gender Equity in College Sports Commission Act.

The bill would assemble a committee to scrutinize equity in the NCAA. The bipartisan group, composed of 16 lawmakers, would investigate for 12-18 months.It would make recommendations for how the NCAA could change, and how the federal government could “improve oversight.”

“The NCAA has made pathetic progress towards correcting the deeply misogynistic attitudes and treatment of the women’s teams compared to the men’s teams. And this continues even after the NCAA was put on notice,” Speier said.

Since Division I basketball inequities were exposed last year, the NCAA has made a number of improvements — though several [[link removed]] long-term changes haven’t been acted upon yet.

Lawmakers’ Big Stage

On Tuesday, Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced [[link removed].] a bill related to reforming the NCAA’s infractions process.

Wednesday, Booker and several other Democrats hosted [[link removed]] a virtual panel on college athlete empowerment, health and safety, and gender equity.

Mark Bezos’ Firm Acquires Fitness Platform Centr

Centr

Private equity firm HighPost, co-founded by Jeff Bezos’ brother Mark Bezos, has acquired digital fitness platform Centr and exercise equipment maker Inspire Fitness in a deal that will see the two companies merge.

The combined entity is reportedly [[link removed]] valued at more than $200 million including debt. Centr founder and “Thor” actor Chris Hemsworth is the company’s second-largest shareholder.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Inspire Fitness, which designs, manufactures, and distributes fitness equipment, will merge [[link removed]] with Centr — which provides workouts, nutrition, and mindfulness content — under the Centr, LLC name.

Centr already has more than 200,000 subscribers since launching in 2019. The platform’s three subscription tiers run [[link removed]] for $10, $20, and $29.99 per month.

The platform has traction in North America and Australia, but will look to expand in Southeast Asia and Europe.Australian-born Hemsworth, who will continue his involvement with the company, said it plans to add other languages to the platform. HighPost’s High Hopes

“Our model shows subscribers growing to 700,000 in four years, but I think it’s going to be much bigger than that,” said David Moross, HighPost’s co-founder, chairman, and CEO.

Hemsworth added, “There are endless options in terms of what we can provide customers, in how we can improve.”

SPONSORED BY PARAMOUNT+

The World’s Game Lives on Paramount+

Stream 2,000+ soccer matches from the biggest leagues in the world, live on Paramount+ [[link removed]]. Superstars from the men’s and women’s game take to the pitch in the UEFA Champions League, Italy’s Serie A, the National Women’s Soccer League and more!

The UEFA Champions League returns tomorrow [[link removed]] as the Quarterfinal round gets underway! Only 8 of Europe’s best clubs remain in the quest to be crowned champions.

Tuesday kicks things off as Manchester City host Atlético Madrid and Benfica face a dominant Liverpool side. The fireworks continue on Wednesday when Chelsea welcome Spanish giants Real Madrid and Villarreal go toe-to-toe with Bayern Munich.

Stream every match live, starting at 3 p.m. ET, exclusively on Paramount+. Try It Free [[link removed]]!

Conversation Starters Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has called on the Glazer family to sell [[link removed]] the team following criticism from fans over the European Super League proposal and lack of success. The USFL, NFL Films, and FOX Sports announced [[link removed]] the production of a 13-episode series called “United By Football: A Season in the USFL,” capturing athletes’ personalities and circumstances in the league. The wide adoption and usage of OTT options among consumers, alongside the introduction of new content creation tools such as TikTok and Twitch is driving rights holders to revise their business strategies. Learn more [[link removed]] about the effects of these shifts in fan behavior in Nielsen’s latest report.* WHOOP is a wearable, but unlike other wearables, WHOOP is designed to help you optimize your performance based on your sleep, your daily recovery, and your activity habits. Get started [[link removed]] with WHOOP and get a free month today.*

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Question Of The Day

Are you surprised FIFA's president has reversed his stance on a biennial World Cup proposal?

Yes [[link removed]] No [[link removed]]

Thursday’s Answer

67% of respondents plan to watch Final Four games this weekend.

Written by Owen Poindexter [[link removed]], Amanda Christovich [[link removed]], Abigail Gentrup [[link removed]]

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