BrazilEmerald Media acquires stake in global sports management firm GSC
Global Sports Commerce, one of the world’s largest sport-focused management and technology consultancies, has been acquired by KRR-backed Emerald Media.
Global Sports Commerce (GSC) is a leading player in the worldwide sports industry, providing a range of services including consulting, commercial sponsorship and management solutions. The company’s head office is situated in Singapore and they have 13 subsidiaries around the globe, offering services across Australasia, Africa, Europe, the USA and Middle East.
GSC and their affiliate Techfront Australia are together fusing sports with media and technology to dominate their field. Techfront, who are known in Australia for their modular temporary LED signage for stadiums, also advise sporting entities how to create audience-specific branding strategies, increase advertising revenue and connect through sponsorships. They advise sports bodies, leagues, rights’ holders, stadiums and brands on the ways in which technology developments can foster customer engagement.
"We are very happy to have a strong partner in Emerald Media, whose team’s extensive investment experience and critical connections across the globe will help deepen GSC’s engagement with the world of sports. This investment further contributes to the consolidation of sports commerce worldwide via use of technology, and it helps us expand our international footprint,” said M S Muralidharan, the CEO of GSC.
It’s perhaps no surprise that Emerald Media, an advisory agency who are aggressively investing across Asia, decided to join forces with GSC. Emerald Media’s position in the Asian media industry and a string of recent acquisitions show the company’s strategy is to expand both within and beyond the fast developing Asian media market.
Funded by global investment firm KKR, Emerald Media will now have the growth capital to invest in next generation technologies for the sporting eco-system. The company plans to continue its upscaling through inorganic growth and by expanding its operations in the fast-growing digital sporting solutions markets worldwide.
Paul Aiello, Managing Director of Emerald Media, said, “In a few short years GSC has established itself as a leader in the Sports technology industry. We are pleased to partner with M S Muralidharan who is a pioneer in the field and look forward to accelerating the expansion of the business as a key player in the industry, as it further expands its reach in the global market.”
Sports tech developments
At the game, digital technology has changed the way that sports and sports management obtain revenue and how patrons experience live events. Technology like LED displays and the Internet of Things (IOT) connect fans to their teams and stadiums and venues with consumers to provide new opportunities for engagement.
Rajesh Kamat, Managing Director of Emerald Media, states; “The introduction of digital technology into the world of sports has helped amplify fans’ appreciation of the games and has helped to create an alternative source of revenue for clients, besides the games themselves.”
These digital developments also give patrons access to stimulating additions to their live sports coverage, ranging from real-time statistics to replays on demand. Today these types of technology are the standard in sports coverage and together Emerald Media and GSC are on track to create new forms of digital sports engagement.
Kamat continued; “GSC, with its 360-degree sports solutions, has transformed sports tech in India and across the globe by enhancing the way sports franchises interact with fans and capitalising on the ardor of their fan base. With GSC, we are excited to add sports to our eco-system of assets.”
GSC’s affiliates do business with sports organisations including: FIFA, the English Premier League, UEFA, NRL Australia, the Australian Football League (AFL), IPL, Formula 1, the Big Bash League, New Zealand Cricket, Cricket Australia, IMG and Asia Sports.
