Bayern Munich "claimed a global first" by becoming the first sports organization to launch a website service optimized "specifically for poor internet connections." The new site, lite.fcbayern.com, will focus on "efficiently delivering" all the latest news about the club in plain text "without focusing on the graphical representation of the content." Initially available in German, English and Spanish, the articles will be displayed on the platform's homepage in a chronological layout, "with a particular focus on fans in Africa, the Middle East and Asia" (SOCCEREX, 10/19).
Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) extended its TV and digital rights partnership with Formula E. SPN will continue to broadcast each round for a further two seasons "across the Indian sub-continent." SPN will also have "analysis and reaction with supplementary magazine shows and highlights packages" (THE DRUM, 10/20).
Discount supermarket Lidl Ireland began a print campaign "to encourage participation and media coverage for women's sport" by '20. The campaign, titled #20x20, "aims to encourage a 20% increase in attendance, participation and media coverage of women's sport in the next two years." An ad published in the London Independent features a "dummy page," the bottom of which reads, "This is not a mistake. this page should be filled with the incredible achievements of women in sport. By 2020 it will" (THE DRUM, 10/20).
Eleven Sports delivered a La Liga first in Portugal on Saturday when the sports provider livestreamed Barcelona's match against Sevilla on Facebook. It was the first time that a La Liga match was streamed live on Facebook in Portugal and "underlines Eleven Sports' commitment" toward "innovative ways for fans to engage" with live football (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 10/19).
Ginx Esports TV launched on Swisscom's IPTV platform, "marking the channel's first carriage agreement in Switzerland" (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 10/19).
The Int'l Cycling Union (UCI) extended its exclusive partnership with Red Bull Media House for the TV production and media rights distribution of the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup until '22. The agreement also gives Red Bull Media House global broadcast rights for the series (ENDURANCE BUSINESS, 10/19).
