This morning’s reading list brings together a curious mix of AI gloves for UFC (!), mobile ticketing, a guide to social video views, PWC’s research on live sports & cord cutting (US focussed) and some video magic from South Carolina. It’s a very US centric wrap up today, but hopefully that won’t put you off. As always, get in touch with me on @DanielMclaren or daniel@digitalsport.co if you have anything we wish to enter for tomorrow’s update!

INDUSTRY ARTICLES/NEWS

UFC to test AI gloves (sportindustry.biz)

A great move by UFC is the news that they’ll be using data collected by the gloves of competitors to provide fans, and presumably the fighters too for their training/prep, with real-time data from their gloves. A test has been given the go-ahead before any potential full roll out will be seen. I’d imagine though that boxing must look at this as a way to improve fan engagement with gloves being such central part of the sport. More so than UFC.

Fanatics to power NBA’s online stores across Asia-Pacific (sportspro.com)

Sport continues to target asia-pacific as a area of great growth potential and NBA are generally ahead of the game when it comes to this. The 10 new countries coming on board doubles their international online retail presence.

Millennials Bring Mobile Ticketing to the Forefront (frntofficesports.com)

Sport as a business is generally behind the curve when it comes to consumer trends, and mobile ticketing is one of them. With smarter and smarter phones comes the ability to do everything you need from the one device. Now more venues are cottoning on and offering new methods and payment options for a more fickle and spoilt for options audience. Wembley is one here that has made contactless entry an option now, will others move to catch up in this space?

How South Carolina Makes Video Content That Stands Out (socialnsport.com)

A great look by Jess Smith on her blog at what makes South Carolina Gamecocks stand out when it comes to their use of video. Includes a quick Q&A with Justin King, Associate Athletics Director for New and Creative Media at The University of South Carolina.

PwC: Live sports keep viewers from cutting the cord (marketingdive.com)

A quick briefing from PwC on how they think live sports is key to preventing too many people from going away from their sources of live sport. This shows us again why the likes of Sky, BT and ESPN spend so much money on live sports rights each year, and will continue to do so.

What’s in a view? A guide to social video view counts (newswhip.com)

If you’re struggling to answer this question, as most of us would admit we do, then this article is definitely for you. It takes a look at each of the major platforms and provides good ammunition to use in ‘discussions’ with management when it comes to social media video!

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