British Sports Marketing Bureau To Launch In New Year

Britain's Olympic and Paralympic sports "are to pool their commercial rights into an independent company, called the British Sports Marketing Bureau, which is set to launch in the new year, if it is backed by the national governing bodies," according to John Reynolds of MARKETING MAGAZINE. Around 80 sports governing bodies and related sports organizations "have been consulted on the proposals, which will involve them collaborating on rights deals." The idea is that the BSMB "would use its contacts and expertise to stitch together deals across a range of sports, which would be tailor-made" to match sponsors' requirements. Currently, more than 80 British sporting rights holders "have been asked to sign a Memorandum of Understanding." Should it "prove successful in the sponsorship field," the BSMB will in time extend its scope of activity to cover broadcasting rights (MARKETING MAGAZINE, 12/19).