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from ronaldo to mbappé: how the controversial saudi soccer league became the talk of the summer
img has been shopping rights to the kingdom-set league since January, a job that just got a lot easier thanks to an intense global spending spree |
“It’s going from a league that no-one considered to one that everyone does,” says Adam Kelly.
The IMG Media President is talking about the Saudi Pro League, whose profile has skyrocketed this year following soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr at the end of 2022. A flurry of transfer activity this summer that has seen some of Europe’s top players making the switch to the Gulf state has turned the league into the sports story of the summer. This has led to a raft of ethical questions directed at players and managers, mainly related to Saudi Arabia’s hardline position on many human rights issues and whether the investment is another example of so-called ‘sports-washing.’ It’s also quietly sparked fears from rival leagues such as the MLS that they might be usurped in the soccer pecking order.
IMG, part of WME owner Endeavor, has been shopping the rights to the league since the turn of the year, and we understand will continue to do so for the 2023/24 and 2024/25. Around 35 international deals were struck for Ronaldo's initial months. None of the major streamers came in and pricing is believed to have been low.
However, this summer, there's been a step change. Ronaldo has been joined by dozens of high-profile players such as Wolves captain Ruben Neves, 2022 Ballon D’Or winner Karim Benzema, Chelsea midfield engine N’Golo Kante and Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino, with many more transfers on the horizon. There have been so many signings that ESPN now has a ‘Saudi Arabia transfer tracker’ page updating daily.
Ronaldo’s contract was rumoured to be €200M ($221M) a year, including commercial and sponsorship agreements, along with a signing-on fee of around €100M. That could shortly be dwarfed by the one offered to France’s Kylian Mbappé, who has been offered a brain-pounding salary package of an estimated €700M for one year at Al Hilal.
Last month, the Saudi Pro League instructed IMG Media to secure new broadcast deals for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons as this year’s August kick-off nears. Sources say the value of a first round of deals, secured quickly after Ronaldo made the move to Riyadh’s Al-Nassr, was small but the league’s backers have big ambitions and are desperate for exposure. Many believe they aim to establish one of the top divisions in world soccer alongside the EPL, Spain’s La Liga, Germany’s Bundesliga and Italy’s Serie A. >>>"Every Broadcaster Now Considers It Viable" |
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Warner Bros.' Beauty - After Barbie saw a record Monday at the domestic box office with $26.1M, they made $26M again yesterday, giving Warner Bros a record Tuesday. Barbie crosses the $200M in five days with $214.1M. Pic beats previous Warner Bros Tuesday highs of Aquaman's Christmas Day 2018 take of $21.98M and Dark Knight's haul on July 22, 2008 of $20.8M. >>> Excellent 2nd Weekend Expected
Dynamic Duo - Manolo and Juancho Cardona’s banner 11:11 Films & TV has signed a deal with TelevisaUnivision streamer ViX to produce new original titles. Under the agreement, 11:11 Films & TV will develop and produce a movie and series with the brothers serving as executive producers and showrunners of the projects. Manolo (Who Killed Sara?) will also star in both titles. >>>Spanish-Language Streaming
TV Chef Bullying Fallout - ITV will “closely monitor” productions from under-fire TV chief James Martin going forwards. We understand the UK network will continue to work with Martin and his Blue Marlin Television production outfit after warning the chef about his behavior on set. Several accusations of bullying were uncovered in a Deadline investigation yesterday, including a formal complaint made earlier this year. >>>"Lessons Have Been Learned"
A+E Trainees - A+E Networks has announced a new career training program that will further opportunity and BIPOC representation in the industry and underscores the media group’s unwavering commitment to DEI initiatives. >>>Inaugural Class Of 8 |
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QUOTABLE
“I’m fine” - Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell after suddenly freezing up mid-sentence during a press conference on Wednesday, leading to concerns about his health |
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BY THE NUMBERS
$900,000 a year - The salary Netflix is currently offering for an AI Producer Manager position, the remit of which includes "helping us buy and create great content" |
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📈 Media giant Comcast beat on its top and bottom line with the studio and theme parks leading the way even as it basks in the giant opening for Opppenheimer. Total revenue nosed up 1.7% to $30.5 billion for the second quarter ended in June. Net income jumped 25% to $4.28 billion. EPS of $1.02 compared with $0.76 the year earlier. At studios, adjusted EBITDA (a profit metric Wall Street likes) surged by $258 million to $255 million driven by the The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed $1.3 billion in worldwide box office in the second quarter.
⏳ Days Of Our Lives veteran Peter Reckell is the latest to react to our report on the misconduct investigation into the show’s longtime director/co-executive producer Albert Alarr. Reckell called the revelations "disturbing" and added, "With quick resolution, I hope to see a return to its past values of family and respect for all.”
🐭 Disney filed its response yesterday to Ron DeSantis’ June 26 motion to toss out the Mouse House’s retaliation and free speech suit against the ambitious so-called anti-woke politician. And Disney didn’t mince words. “This case presents the fundamental question whether the Governor and the State can escape accountability for their open defiance of our Nation’s most cherished liberties,” Disney said Wednesday in its opposition to state defendants’ motion to dismiss.
👆 Stocks closed mixed as the U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates again Wednesday – hike no. 11 since March of 2022, as the central bank tries to stamp down record inflation. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said at a press conference today after the 25 basis-point (0.25%) increase, that he wouldn't promise there won’t be more rate hikes. The Fed’s key policy rate, the fed funds rate, now stands at 5.25%-5.50%, the highest point in 22 years.
🇬🇧 ITV bosses have provided color on how the U.S. labor strikes are impacting the UK broadcaster and why they walked away from a £1B ($1.3B) deal to acquire The Traitors production group All3Media. ITV Studios Managing Director Julian Bellamy said the writers and actors strikes would not have “a material impact” on his production and sales division’s 2023 financials. “Saying that, if the strike goes into the autumn, it will potentially impact on the start of [ITV Studios] productions” in the U.S., he added. “Obviously, we’re hoping for a swift resolution.” |
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Trending  Imax blew past Wall Street forecasts with sales up 32% at $98 million for the second quarter ended in June. Adjusted EPS was 26 cents a share – up 271%. The company swung to a net profit of $8.35 million (15 cents a share) from a loss of $2.85 million (negative 5 cents) the year before. Shares popped 3% in after-market trading.
🔻 Disneyland’s popular Fantasmic! show will return next spring after a one-year closure prompted by a fire that engulfed the show’s giant prop dragon. The extravaganza has been on hold since the accident in April. |
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OBITUARIES
🕯 Sineád O’Connor, the gifted and Grammy-winning but troubled Irish singer and activist who scored a global smash with Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” in 1990 and was banned from Saturday Night Live for tearing up a photo of Pope John Paul II during her performance two years later, has died at 56, according to a statement from her family provided to Irish TV and radio broadcaster RTÉ. No details on the cause, date or place of her death were given, though police said today they are not treating it as suspicious. 🕯 Bo Goldman, an Academy Award-winning screenwriter for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) and Melvin and Howard (1980), died Tuesday in Helendale, Calif. He was 90. 🕯 Stu Silver, the writer of the 1987 comedy Throw Momma From The Train, died July 18 in Rochester, NY from complications of prostate cancer. He was 76, his son said. 🕯 William “Bill” Cunningham, who more than 50 years ago founded the company that became CESD Talent Agency, has died at 96. The agency said he died July 15 at his West Hollywood home but gave no other details. 🕯 Mark Simon, a longtime casting director for stage productions on Broadway and at Los Angeles’ Center Theatre Group, died July 16 in Los Angeles. He was 70. His death was confirmed by Broadway publicist Adrian Bryan-Brown. 🕯 Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2023: Photo Gallery & Obituaries |
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On the Radar
Thu - Comcast and Roku earnings; Norman Lear turns 101
Sun - The Righteous Gemstones S3 finale
Tue - U.S. Women's National Soccer Team faces Portugal
Wed - Winning Time S2 debut |
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Tie Goes To The Runner - Lindsey Horan brought the U.S. Women's National Team back to tie the game in dramatic fashion after it trailed an aggressive Netherlands 0-1 for most of the first half. U.S. Captain Horan was the recipient of a hard shoulder from Dutch midfielder Danielle van de Donk at the opening of the second half, and it seemed to wake her up. Just moments later, Horan went up amidst a sea of orange to head Alex Morgan's corner kick into the net. Though the game ended in a tie, Horan's goal kept the No. 1-ranked U.S. team atop their group in the tournament. |
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