1. SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES OFFER FOX MILLIONS FOR WORLD CUP HIGHLIGHT RIGHTS: Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat are all seeking online rights to video highlights from the World Cup soccer tournament in 2018. Bloomberg: "The companies have offered 21st Century Fox Inc. tens of millions of dollars for rights to highlights from the Russia-hosted games that air in the U.S., according to the people, who declined to provide more specific terms and asked not to be identified because the talks are private. Fox hasn’t decided whether to sell exclusive rights to one buyer or to spread them around. Social media’s growing interest in video, including sports, gives Fox a potentially significant new revenue source for the games as well as a tool to promote its coverage. Fox holds U.S. rights to the quadrennial event, and will air games on broadcast and cable TV. The company paid a reported $400 million for multiyear World Cup rights. The World Cup is an attractive target for social-media companies eager to exhibit more premium video and attract advertisers. The 2014 World Cup Final was viewed by more than 25 million people in the U.S., the most-watched soccer match in the country’s history. With many of next year’s games at odd hours because of the time difference in Russia, highlights may be in greater demand. The four companies declined to comment on talks, which also could include other parties. Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube offers highlights and historic games from the National Football League, while Amazon.com Inc. acquired the rights to show a handful of NFL games in the upcoming season. Verizon Communications Inc. holds mobile rights to the NFL." https://bloom.bg/2sso0Px
2. CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ACQUIRES BLUE MAN GROUP WITH PLANS TO EXPAND LIVE SHOWS: Visual acrobatic circus production Cirque du Soleil has bought the comedic percussionist act Blue Man Group, and plans to expand the group's live performances to other countries including China. The New York Times: "Cirque du Soleil, the global performance juggernaut best known for its acrobatic circus displays, on Thursday announced that it had acquired Blue Man Productions, with the mutual aim of expanding Blue Man’s reach beyond its five permanent United States shows (in New York, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla.), a world tour and one permanent international show (Berlin). After the acquisition, Blue Man will be able to tap into Cirque’s worldwide access to theaters and marketers. In particular, both organizations have their eye on China, home to one of the most powerful and quickly growing entertainment industries in the world. 'We saw the potential for a marketing and distributing powerhouse like Cirque du Soleil to be able to distribute Blue Man Group and make their brand better known internationally,' said Daniel Lamarre, Cirque’s chief executive, in an interview. Cirque currently has 18 live shows worldwide.The purchase provided an opportunity for Cirque to diversify its portfolio after years of financial tumult. In 2015, the company sold a majority stake to TPG, a private equity firm in Texas. 'The acquisition of Blue Man, for us, is kind of a breakthrough to make clear to people that Cirque is going from a circus company to becoming a global leader of entertainment,' Mr. Lamarre said." http://nyti.ms/2tovLsm
3. AMERICAN EXPRESS BANNED FROM HOSTING EVENTS AT GREY GARDENS ESTATE: East Hampton in New York has banned American Express from hosting events at the famed Grey Gardens estate. The company has been renting the house for the summer. Newsday: “Amex rented the famed property in June for an undisclosed amount and planned to use the site for a series of card member events. Village Administrator Becky Hansen says after officials learned via promotional materials of a Jennifer Fisher Jewelry trunk sale scheduled to be held at the property on June 30, a cease-and-desist letter was sent to the homeowner saying commercial use of land is not permitted in residential districts. ‘The fact that they would be conducting a commercial enterprise in a private residence does violate our zoning code,’ Hansen says. Hansen says shortly after the letter was received, the village was informed that the trunk sale would be held at an alternate location, which she believed to be in Southampton. Hansen says she is not aware if Amex will continue to rent the property. A representative from American Express could not immediately be reached for comment. The 1.7-acre property, with a pool and tennis court, includes a three-story, shingle-style home with nine bedrooms and 7 1⁄2 bathrooms. The house, listed with Michael Schultz and Susan Ryan of The Corcoran Group, was first put on the market in February with an asking price of $19.995 million, which has since been slashed to $17.995 million.” http://nwsdy.li/2uPkq2z
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: Event rental company Party Rental Ltd. has expanded its services to Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and has debuted two local design studios in Boston and Franklin, Massachusetts.
LAS VEGAS: Caesars Entertainment Corporation has announced the appointments of Marco Roca, president of global development, and Michael Daly, senior vice president of strategy and M&A. The new senior executives will help lead the company's growth and value-creation strategy.
LOS ANGELES: This year’s OC Fair will run July 14-August 13. The 23-day event will include performances at the Pacific Amphitheatre, night music at the Hangar, and sporting events at the Action Sports Arena.
For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MILWAUKEE: Summerfest music festival, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, is suing Red Lobster over its use of the event name for its “Lobster and Shrimp Summerfest” campaign. Consumerist: http://bit.ly/2sKvYaZ
NEW YORK: The 13th annual A Hamptons Happening, which benefits the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation, will take place August 5 at the home of Maria and Kenneth Fishel in Bridgehampton. Hosted by CBS 2 News anchor Chris Wragge, the event will feature performances by Rufus Wainwright and Sophie Beem.
The Thomas Moran Trust Garden Party will take place August 5 at the Thomas Moran and Mary Nimmo Moran Studio in East Hampton Village. The event will celebrate the final phase of the Moran Studio restaurant and the debut of the Mary Nimmo Moran 19th century-inspired garden.
The third annual Flame Con, the city’s L.G.B.T.Q. comic convention, will take place August 19-20 at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge.
The 55th edition of the New York Film Festival, presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, will take place September 28-October 15. The festival will open with the Todd Haynes film Wonderstruck.
For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
SAN FRANCISCO: Amfar's charity poker tournament, All In for a Cure, will take place September 7 at Ken Fulk's Magic Factory. The event will be hosted by Charlize Theron and produced by Josh Wood Productions.
TORONTO: The Beer, Bourbon & BBQ festival, presented by Taste Toronto, will take place August 25-27 at Ontario Place. The event will offer barbecue dishes from more than 20 vendors and include activities such as mechanical bull rides, line dancing lessons, and axe throwing.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Laura Thompson has been promoted to senior director of expositions at P.M.M.I., the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, which owns and produces the Pack Expo. Thompson is based in Reston, Virginia, while this year's Pack Expo will be held September 25-27 in Las Vegas.
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With contributions from Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, Rayna Katz, and Ian Zelaya in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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