In Orlando, Mike Bianchi reported golfer Annika Sorenstam has "signed on to become an ambassador" with Diamond Resorts, the timeshare company that sponsors this week’s LPGA Tournament of Champions. In return, Diamond "will also sponsor many of Annika’s youth golf tournaments, including the end-of-the-year event that starting next year will be held in Orlando in conjunction with the LPGA event." This follows Sorenstam deciding to "return to competitive golf again" this week, "playing as a celebrity" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/17).
PICTURE SHOW: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Sahil Patel noted advertising tech company Transmit.Live has been "working to bring picture-in-picture ads to live streaming video." Transmit has deals with TV programmers such as ViacomCBS, and its technology has been used for the NHL, among "scores of other, smaller broadcasters and sports leagues" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/15).
CHANGE OVER: Tennis player Felix Auger-Aliassime is starting '21 in some "fresh Adidas gear" ahead of the Australian Open. The world's No. 21-ranked player was "decked out in Nike" the past four years. Although the terms of Auger-Aliassime's "latest clothing deal weren't disclosed, he did sign a multi-year contract" with Adidas (TENNIS.com, 1/18).
