By: Mollie Cahillane
Summer 2019 is well underway, and it seems like you can’t turn on the TV without seeing soccer. Between the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, CONCACAF Gold Cup and Copa America, there’s something for everyone and every network.
Univision has the Spanish-language rights to the Gold Cup (June 15-July 7). “The Gold Cup is the preeminent competition for our region, and we’re treating it as such. We do the same basic coverage for the event, but we’ve expanded it even greater,” Eric Conrad, EVP of sports programming and acquisitions, told Cablefax.
Univision’s networks are covering all 31 games live from every stadium where matches take place in the US, Jamaica and Costa Rica. “This is the only tournament where we have both the US and Mexico’s men’s teams participating. We anticipate going into this summer this will be the most watched and consumed tournament in the Spanish language,” Conrad said.
The company has also invested heavily in bringing in on-air talent, and new technology. “We’ve also got a new technology, which for lack of a better word, is honestly pretty cool. It’s all done with this augmented reality technology, which I think brings the game to life, especially for millennials,” Conrad said. “As opposed to having a static display or standard graphic on the air, it actually brings it to life and makes it more lively. It makes it in a 3D capacity, it makes it more real to the viewer. In real time, our talent can create what they think or how they believe a team should play. The other element of it is the virtual piece. We call it the talent transportation technology. We can interview someone in the stadium or locker room where they sit down and then they appear in the studio as if they’re there. It’s our first time using it for the Gold Cup.”
Univision also announced the sponsors for the 2019 Gold Cup, including more than 20 brands across the company’s linear and digital portfolio. Sprint returns with a 360-sponsorship, and first-time supporters Valvoline, Uber Eats, Jeep and AT&T signed on.
Source: Cablefax
