All tagged social media

Grant Russell: Find a unique story, stick to the story, live the story

Grant Russell: Find a unique story, stick to the story, live the story

Rich Clarke
podcast

Motherwell FC have lifted only one trophy in the past 30 years. However, off the pitch, they beat off competition from Manchester United, Everton and Leicester to win the Best Digital/Social Media category at the Football Business Awards this year.

Grant Russell is the club’s Head of Brand, Digital and Communications. In this episode, he talks about the thinking, discipline and creativity that have gone into building a stand-out story for an otherwise overlooked Scottish team.

This is a deep dive into content strategy and, like me, Russell believes in cutting through clutter with a strict, realistic yet progressive vision for storytelling.

Sarim Akhtar: Life as a sports meme

Sarim Akhtar: Life as a sports meme

Rich Clarke
podcast

Sarim Akhtar's face has become synonymous with anger but he is actually a very happy chap.

However, when the television cameras momentarily caught his expression at a cricket match two years ago, the Pakistan fan was furious after his team had dropped a catch. Within hours, the anonymous meme-makers had pounced on the picture and spread it around social media. He has been 'Insta-famous' ever since.

How should you react in this situation? Ignore it, embrace it or just make as much cash as you can?

Mario Leo: Sportsbiz, digital, the need of New Year resolution

Mario Leo: Sportsbiz, digital, the need of New Year resolution

Rich Clarke
podcast

Sports digital media is full of loud voices with little to say. Mario Leo is the opposite. The founder and CEO of Result Sports is one of Europe's leading experts on social media strategy and metrics. He also has firm views on ways the sports industry should try to monetise existing audiences and look to engage new ones. Mario and I have shared an hour on this podcast for the last four New Years. But the effect of the pandemic makes this conversation very different - some things will be changed forever, some will never come back and some will be accelerated. We discuss why 2021 is a crucial year for the future of sports business.

Achint Gupta: Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL and content strategy

Achint Gupta: Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL and content strategy

Rich Clarke
podcast

In 2019, the Indian Premier League averaged 25,700 spectators per game, a figure that left the cricket tournament nestled neatly between La Liga and Serie A as the eighth most popular annual sports event in the world.

The content created by IPL franchises is generally excellent and the crowds are as passionate as you will find for a relatively new event. However, it rarely gets the credit it deserves.

Achint Gupta is Head of Media and Content at Kolkata Knight Riders, a major IPL franchise with a social media reach akin to that of a major Champions League football club. They were producing their only documentaries long before other sports teams started to eye a spot on Netflix.

They are also internationalising their brand and developing unique content strands that combine Bollywood glamour, Indian music and a different attitude to storytelling.

Adrian Warner: Redundancy and re-evaluation in sports media after COVID-19

Adrian Warner: Redundancy and re-evaluation in sports media after COVID-19

Rich Clarke
podcast

Like everything else, the sports media industry may be irrevocably changed in the wake of the Coronavirus crisis. The loss of matches, Tests and races has not only effected players, clubs and leagues but made an immediate impact in related industries such as media, broadcasting, hospitality and gambling. Adrian Warner went through a significant change in his career a few years ago when he was made redundant from his role as a sports reporter for the BBC. He wrote a book about how to handle the emotional and practical side of having to change when your job ends. From coping with anger, dealing with former colleagues to getting your CV ready to re-enter the job market and understanding what really makes you happy, Adrian has many lessons for those who may be affected by the economic issues that follow COVID-19

Panagiotis Aroniadis: How to start the first club OTT channel in Europe

Panagiotis Aroniadis: How to start the first club OTT channel in Europe

Rich Clarke
podcast

PAOK may be the first European football club to launch an OTT channel showing exclusive, live coverage of their home games.

This is the latest move for a historic club that has been trying to changes its story over recent years. Last season, they won their first Greek title for a generation, staying unbeaten throughout and later adding a victory in the cup final. This success came just a few years after new ownership had brought in a fresh approach to content strategy. The mood had clearly changed. So, when the conditions were conducive to launch an OTT channel, according to Panagiotis Aroniadis, they had the 'power and the madness' to take the plunge.

Luke Sutton: Mental health, elite athletes and finding a 'new balance'

Luke Sutton: Mental health, elite athletes and finding a 'new balance'

Rich Clarke
podcast

Luke Sutton is trying to change the narrative around mental health and elite athletes, using lessons from his own story.

At the end of a long career in county cricket, team-mates staged an intervention over his alcohol-consumption and self-destructive behaviour.

On retirement, Sutton became an agent for one of those concerned friends, record-breaking England Test bowler Jimmy Anderson. Since then the agency has expanded, taking on footballers, boxers and Olympians.

At the end of 2019, Sutton released a book called Back from the Edge, which recounts the mental descent during his time as a wicketkeeper-batsman and how he turned his life around.

Sutton has vowed to run his agency with his clients' long-term well-being in mind, even if that leaves 'money on the table'. He also has strong views on the way elite athletes are perceived and how they are handled by the press, public and the sporting authorities.

Nicola Palios: How to create a community football club

Nicola Palios: How to create a community football club

Rich Clarke
podcast

Tranmere Rovers have been a true footballing success story in the last five years. The other team from Liverpool had just slipped out of the Football League when Mark and Nicola Palios bought the club. There was even a danger they might case to exist.

Since then they have had trips to Wembley, a couple of promotion but, just as importantly, built a solid football business with a positive impact on its local community.

The Palios’ have just finished their first five-year plan. It concluded with this husband and wife team taking on investment from Indonesia, a place close to my heart.

Vice-chair Nicola talked to me about Tranmere’s turnaround, the crucial revenue-raising community schemes, the importance of pro-active communication and what their next five-year plan may bring

Mario Leo: Football Digital Media predictions 2020

Mario Leo: Football Digital Media predictions 2020

Rich Clarke
podcast

It is now a tradition for Mario Leo and I to discuss digital sports trends at the start of each year. Mario runs RESULT Sports, a global digital sports media platform enabling mobile, social and web opportunities for rights-holders all over the world. Therefore his opinions are worth listening to.

This is the 50th edition of Sports Content Strategy and, quite fittingly, it is a long, deep conversation looking at all aspects of the business. We look at broadcasting, social media, sports business models, globalisation, streaming, data, the role of politics and much much more

Jacqui Oatley: How women in football are raising their voice

Jacqui Oatley: How women in football are raising their voice

Rich Clarke
podcast

Match of the Day is a British institution.

The BBC’s Saturday night football show started in 1964 and still sets the weekly agenda for the sport that dominates the UK and the League that enthralls the world.

So it is incredible to think that it took until 2007 to hear the voice of a female commentator for the first time.

In this podcast, Jacqui Oatley talks to me about the attention see received on the back of that appearance. We also discussed the state of play for women sports broadcasters and journalists in the UK. What is changing, what is not and, as usual, how the social media has changed the landscape.

As you’ll hear, everyone, including me, has a lot to learn.

Egor Kretsan: Zenit St Petersburg - bold, brash and speaking 15 languages

Egor Kretsan: Zenit St Petersburg - bold, brash and speaking 15 languages

Rich Clarke
podcast

Russian football is undergoing a makeover. It has just hosted a successful World Cup and its club sides are regulars in the latter stages of European competition. The Russian League revealed a radical rebranding last year and its leading club, Zenit St Petersburg, are thinking beyond the serious stereotype into which the country’s persona sometimes falls.

They are creating high polished content, translating it into 15 languages and are not afraid to take on the world’s big teams and major media outlets on social media.

New Media Director Egor Kretsan leads the club’s content strategy. He spoke to me about their approach.

Ben Warren: Can digital media save County Championship cricket?

Rich Clarke
podcast

Cricket, lovely cricket.

England's national sport has been under pressure for many years, with the four-day County Championship widely perceived as the domestic competition in the most precarious position.

However, there has been genuine hope in the blossoming audience for a relatively basic video streaming service synced with the traditional radio commentary.

It is a League-Wide scheme developed by the England and Wales Cricket Board but Somerset CCC have been at the forefront. Digital marketing & communications executive Ben Warren runs the service for the club.

With a controversial new franchise-based tournament starting next season and threatening to take attention from the longer-form game, the pressure is on.

But can digital media really help save county cricket?

Julian Valentin: Rockies, social media and ballpark figures

Julian Valentin: Rockies, social media and ballpark figures

Rich Clarke
podcast

In terms of digital and social media, Major League Baseball is perhaps the most enigmatic sport in the world.

We are constantly told that America’s pastime is past its prime. It is an ‘aging sport’ that is struggling to hold on to the coat-tails of the major players, NBA and NFL whilst coming under increasing pressure from up-and-coming sports like soccer.

However, MLB Advanced Media and incarnations were at the very forefront of innovation long before other sports started to plough resources into digital and continue to be a leading light.

The Colorado Rockies are not the most fashionable team in baseball but they have built a reputation for quirky interaction and content with personality.

Julian Valentin leads the strategy at Coors Field. With the 2019 baseball season fast approaching we discussed the past, present and future for the Rockies and how the hell his team covers 162 regular seasons games!

Mario Leo: Sports Social Media Trends for 2019

Rich Clarke
podcast

This time last year sports social media analytics expert Mario Leo discussed his reflections on 2017 and his predictions for 2018.

We decided to repeat the feat this year with Mario picking out six major trends.

Given that his company, Result Sports, provides social media data on some of the world biggest football teams, Mario is in a perfect position to predict the next 12 months.

Barry Hearn: Darts, DAZN and Digital

Barry Hearn: Darts, DAZN and Digital

Rich Clarke
podcast

Barry Hearn has been promoting sports for well over 40 years.

As the head of Matchroom Sport, he has revolutionised snooker twice and made his PDC Darts World Championship the second most viewed event on Sky Sports. He managed a stable of boxers in the 1980s and his son Eddie is now guiding the career of world heavyweight king Anthony Joshua among many others.

Now 70, Barry still describes himself as “an accountant from a council estate with a chip on his shoulder”. He still rallies against “the blazers” and still wants to change the sporting world on a daily basis.

John Cross: 'Scufflers', social media and Gareth Southgate

John Cross: 'Scufflers', social media and Gareth Southgate

Rich Clarke
podcast

John Cross is one of the best story-getters currently working in British sports journalism.

As Chief Football Writer for the Daily Mirror, he was in Russia reporting on the World Cup when he chatted to Sport: Digital and Social.

We spoke in the first week of the tournament and there was much to discuss: covering England, the Panama team-sheet story, a new media approach for the Three Lions, social media, his career and the industry in general.

David Murray: Finding the cracks in the sports rights market

David Murray: Finding the cracks in the sports rights market

Rich Clarke
podcast

David Murray is an expert in sports rights.

He led the BBC’s negotiations between 1999 and 2014, sealing deals with almost every major governing body during his time.

Sports rights have always been a contentious issue but now, with social media platforms and new OTT players entering the market, the conversation has taken a very different turn. 

He is an independent, rational and intelligent voice who can put the current sports rights environment (especially its threats and opportunities) in context. 

Jason Chilton: The Fan-Controlled Football League may change sport forever

Jason Chilton: The Fan-Controlled Football League may change sport forever

Rich Clarke
podcast

The Fan-Controlled Football League is like nothing we've seen before.

This competition puts the supporters in charge.. of everything... yep everything.

So many clubs in so many sports see conflict between those in the directors box and those in the stands.

This Arena American Football event merges the two with fans voting for the coach, the signing, the team colours and, most intriguingly, the plays in the game.

It has been called a real-life Madden by its devotees and an unworkable novelty by its critics.

Starting in late 2018, it promises to be an interesting blend of traditional sports, esports, crypto-currency, reality television, crowdsourcing and democracy.

I spoke to Jason Chilton, Head of Football Experience, to understand how this is going to work

Colin Kelly: Launching LA-LAFC

Colin Kelly: Launching LA-LAFC

Rich Clarke
podcast

Colin Kelly is Director of Digital at a soccer team who are yet to play a game.

LAFC will kick-off their first MLS season in March 2018. But, unlike most of the recent expansion franchises, they are an entirely new club.

For the content team this one huge blank sheet of paper, when I spoke to Colin, he had barely met the playing staff.

So, how do you create a fresh and engaging soccer tale in Tinseltown, the storytelling capital of the world? Still, LAFC have a star-studded ownership group, a nationally known-coach, a soccer-lovers stadium on the way and soaring ambition

But will they fly in the City of Angels?

Luca Massaro: How to become an award-winning Sports Digital Agency

Luca Massaro: How to become an award-winning Sports Digital Agency

Rich Clarke
podcast

Starting a sports digital agency is a dream for many people and arguably there has never been a better time set up on your own.

You are your own boss, you can be creative, work in sport and make good money. On the flipside, the responsibility is entirely on your shoulders and, right now, competition is particularly intense.

Luca Massaro took the plunge five years ago when he set up WePlay in London. In this podcast we talk about how he assessed the market before launch, character lessons, how they have had to change their offering, the crucial art of pitching for business and the qualities that brought them the Football Business Agency of the year award in 2017.

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