cornerplay

ACCOMPANYING, INNOVATING, ENRICHING

Creator of strategic and commercial value
in the world of sports

 

THE EXPERTISE

Accompanying right holders
with their audio-visual development

  • working with sports stakeholders as part of their reflections on the audio-visual exploitation of their events
  • design of marketing programmes for audio-visual rights through calls for proposals and/or negotiation assistance
  • production of sporting events, from the system’s design through to the delivery of multimedia signals

Innovating in sport
business dynamics

  • renewal of the approach for sports with little current media coverage
  • integration of economic dimensions in the creation of new competitions

Enriching the approach
of stakeholders in the economic development
of sport

  • acceleration of the integration of industrial economic actors into the world of sports
  • contribution to the understanding of the organisation of sports for economic newcomers and alignment of the objectives
 

THE MISSIONS

Created in 2013, Cornerplay has emerged as a major player in the marketing of audio-visual rights for sports competitions in France. The competitions marketed in France and internationally by Cornerplay amount to over one billion euros in audio-visual rights.

The progression of right holders' contracts is gauged according to twin dimensions: a financial dimension, with a significant increase in the amount of rights, and a dimension related to enhanced exploitation in terms of the quality of audio-visual production, optimisation of the marketing procedures related to broadcast or the digital promotion of competitions.

Cornerplay helps its customers factor in new trends when it comes to consumption of audio-visual output through studies, meetings with key players on the international market and seminars presenting the results.

Logo de la ligue nationale de Handball
Logo de la ligue nationale de Rugby

Ligue Nationale de Handball (National Handball League)

Continuous support mission since 2013 for the marketing and management of audio-visual rights contracts in France and abroad: analysis of issues, reorganisation of the weekly calendar of championship matches, definition of production standards allowing the broadcasting of all matches in a controlled economy, multi-media segmentation of the exploitation of images, definition and implementation of the commercial strategy, monitoring of developments concerning broadcasters and new players, and assistance with management of the rights contract.

  • Logo de la Star League
  • Logo de la Pro League
  • Logo de la Coupe de la League
  • Logo des Trophées des Champions

After a contribution to the transformation of the competitions’ brands and the arrival of a title sponsor, a new tender made it possible to prolong the contractual relationship with beIN Sports under conditions which were significantly improved and, in particular, the broadcast of all the Liqui Moly Starligue matches live, unscrambled exposure windows, the promotion of the Proligue, the League Cup and the Champions Trophy and a proactive policy on international exploitation. After a 5 five years contract, the new agreement runs from season 2019/2020 to season 2022/2023.

Finally, for 4 seasons, the LNH has entrusted Cornerplay with responsibility for producing its digital audio-visual content: match summaries, editorial sections, content for social networks and the HD archiving process.

Ligue Nationale de Rugby (National Rugby League)

Cornerplay supports the LNR on its audio-visual projects: marketing and monitoring of TOP 14, PRO D2 and rugby sevens championships, strategic review of digital issues, international rights.

  • Logo du Top 14

TOP 14: strategic support mission for marketing of the media rights concerning the TOP 14 French rugby championship, both in France and internationally. Analysis of international and domestic markets, understanding of the competitive stakes and the strategy of the media players. Structuring of audio-visual rights and organisation of production.

Cornerplay oversaw 4 marketing cycles; the rights were marketed to Canal+ until the season 2026/2027. Since the 2014/2015 season, the amount of rights has more than tripled.

  • Logo des pro D2 Rugby

PRO D2: The marketing mission for this championship has resulted in reorganisation of the time slots for the competition, production of all the matches and an unscrambled window and an amount of rights multiplied sixfold. Exploitation of the rights has been attributed to Canal+, Eurosport and France Télévisions for seasons 2015/2016 to 2019/2020, and to Canal+ until the season 2026/2027

  • Logo du super sevens

SUPERSEVENS : participation in the audiovisual reflection for the creation of the competition, at the level of production and multi-devices exploitation of the footage. Marketing of the audiovisual rights to Canal+, starting with the pre-event stage in February 2020 onward.


Strategic plan: participation in the initial review of the LNR Strategic Plan 2023 for the audio-visual part. A project was initiated concerning the digital strategy of French professional rugby. Cornerplay helped set out the key issues through understanding of 'best practices' in the sport.

Digital platform: analysis of the digital offers of international sports rights holders, definition of the library of usable audiovisual content, consumers behaviour study.

International rights: setting up of a marketing and commercial project for international development. Leadership of a Steering Committee, definition of a strategy and associated budgets, meetings with the key international players. The LNR aims to become the most powerful league in terms of the audio-visual economy and footprint outside its borders with regard to club competitions.

European Professional Club Rugby (European rugby cups)

Management of tenders concerning two consecutive cycles for the audio-visual rights on the French market for the European Rugby Champions Cup and for the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Mission to coordinate the exploitation of audio-visual rights in all host countries: management of international signals, graphic presentation, promotion, management of financial partners and schedule of matches.

Market studies, economic analyses and modelling of the expectations of audio-visual players in France. Development of the rights offer to be marketed and the auction procedure through to the allocation of rights. The rights were marketed to beIN Sport and France Télévisions until the season 2021/2022; the amount of fees has risen sharply over both cycles.

National Volleyball League

Cornerplay carried out a consultancy mission for the French National Volleyball League concerning the audiovisual dimension of its offer. Management of working group, analysis of the situation and discussions with market players. The National Volleyball League then put together a digital offer for all its competitions.

The initial stage of development consists of a paid digital offer concerning all the LNV competitions starting with the 2018/2019 season.



Horse racing (France): France Galop and Le Trot

Audiovisual strategy support consulting mission. Rights portofolio analysis. Opportunities case studies including existing broadcasters in collaborative workshops. Short and midterm implementation plans.

Infront

Participation in the commercial development with international sports institution.

National Basketball League

Strategic intelligence mission carried out in 2019 on the audiovisual rights of French professional basketball competitions: market study, analysis of potential targets, exploitation and production methods for matches.

The WORDS of SPORT

Cornerplay has created a translation and interpreting company in association with the Tradutec group, the French leader in the sector. Serving all the players in the sports industry, The WORDS of SPORT operates in France as well as on the international market alongside international federations, organising committees, national federations, professional leagues and, more generally, actors in the sporting world.

 

STÉPHANE

DOR

Experience in marketing, sports and media

STÉPHANE DOR

15 years with the French Professional Football League (1998 to 2013), including 11 as Marketing and Media Director.

ESSEC graduate in 1991 then 6 years of professional experience in marketing large-scale consumption food, cosmetic and entertainment products, before starting at the French Professional Football League:

Groupe DANONE : Brand manager, successively for Maille and Liebig. In charge of product marketing development, strategy and implementation of advertising-promotional campaigns as well as budget management.

Vendôme Laboratories : Brand manager for Le Petit Marseillais. In charge of product marketing development, strategy and implementation of advertising-promotional campaigns, relations with the plant, coordination of the sales force for the food sector mass retail distribution, as well as the operational account for each reference.

Disney Consumers Products : Football Program Manager, in charge of programme development for derivative products, on behalf of the French Professional Football League. Creation of brands and graphic charters, management of negotiations with manufacturers as well as food distribution and specialised store brands.

JEAN-GUILLAUME

WELGRYN

Experience in entertainment, media and sports

JEAN-GUILLAUME WELGRYN

11 years with the French Professional Football League, including 7 as Director in charge of Media and International development (2002 to 2013)

Graduate of the Paris Political Science Institute in 1991 and Masters degree in Marketing-Management from ESSEC in 2003, then 9 years of professional experience in the leisure sector, media and sports before moving to the French Professional Football League:

Sony Music Entertainment : Media and Advertising Manager, in charge of purchasing advertising spaces, as well as framework negotiations with agencies and the media.

Sony World Cup : Marketing and Communications Director, management of the licensing and merchandising programme for the France 98 FIFA Football World Cup.

L’Equipe : Marketing and Development Manager, brand development on new media and new assets (multimedia, print, entertainment, etc.).

“Le Lab” Digital Agency : Marketing Director, in charge of customer development for the creation of Internet sites and new media applications.

 

KNOW-HOW

Together, they managed the media and marketing responsibilities for the French Professional Football League from 2001 to 2013:

BROADCAST RIGHTS

BROADCAST RIGHTS

NEGOCIATION OF AUDIO-VISUAL CONTRACTS BETWEEN 2002 AND 2013 :

  • Growth of the generated turnover from €300 million to €680 million / season. Entry on audio-visual market of Orange Sport in 2008 and beIN Sport in 2012.

PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION OF IMAGES FOR THE LIGUE 1 AND LIGUE 2
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES :

  • Strategic recommendation, preparation and implementation, design of the production and media charters applied on the site during matches.
  • Significant raising of the production standards, leading Ligue 1 to be recognised as one of the best produced championships in the world.
  • Innovative development of signals dedicated to new media in order to adapt to screen sizes (full-screen shots, graphics).

INTERNATIONAL

INTERNATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE OF THE LIGUE 1 :

  • Negotiation of contracts with worldwide representation agencies.
  • Turnover increase by 5 times in 8 seasons.
  • Broadcasting of the championship in more than 150 countries today.

TELEVISION

TELEVISION

CFOOT

(official channel of the French Professional Football League)
  • Drafting of the concept, choice of service providers (technical and programmes), securing of the DTT frequency from the French regulation authorities,
  • Negotiation of distribution and advertising network contracts,
  • Marketing and promotional plan for the channel.

COMPETITION

COMPETITION

REFORM OF THE LEAGUE CUP

  • Format and marketing of the competition, contract negotiations with the Stade de France for the finals, preparation of the commercial strategy, negotiation of audio-visual and sponsoring contracts, signing of a partnership contract with a charity organization, event management for the Final.

DEVELOPMENT

DEVELOPMENT

EXPORT OF THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY ABROAD :

  • Montréal (2009), Tunis (2010),
    Tangier (2011), New York (2012)
    and Libreville (2013).
  • Increase of the event’s turnover by 6 times and record crowd of
    55,000 spectators.
  • Broadcast of the match in more than 50 countries with each edition

BRANDING

BRANDING

"BRANDING" DEVELOPMENT OF THE INSTITUTION'S BRANDS (LFP)
AND OF ITS COMPETITIONS

(Ligue 1, Ligue 2, League Cup and Champions Trophy) :
  • Trophies, designations, logos, official ball, decoration of the stadiums, broadcast graphics

INSTITUTION

INSTITUTION

MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION OF THE "MARKETING
AND TV RIGHTS COMMISSION"

  • Reflection and recommendation body for the French Football League on economic matters, consisting of the Chairman of the League and the Presidents of the club designated by the League’s Board of Directors
 

CONTACT




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