SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has partnered with Spring Media to offer fans a betting package that includes all FIH events.
Representing more than 1,300 matches across a four-year cycle, the betting package is the latest addition to the Spring Media’s hockey portfolio.
FIH President, Tayyab Ikram, stated: “We very much look forward to this partnership with Spring Media. It is a great addition to our commercial portfolio, and expands our resources for the benefit of the growth of hockey.”
The term started with the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers that are now being staged in India, Spain, and Oman (from 13 January onwards).
It continues almost immediately with the inaugural FIH Hockey5s World Cup being played in Oman from 24-31 January.
“On behalf of FIH, I’d like to thank Spring Media for their involvement,” Ikram continued. “This new agreement is an additional significant contribution to the enhancement of our commercial and broadcast approach.”
The agency recently partnered with the Australian top-tier HockeyOne league, distributing the media rights of its 2023 edition to several key markets outside national borders.
Craig Neilson, Commercial Director of Spring Media, commented on the new deal: “We are excited to be working with the FIH to broaden our hockey presence and knowhow.
“The package holds strong relevance in major International markets and offers a large bulk of top-tier events on competitive time slots – ideal for betting partners.”
The move however caused some integrity concerns for hockey fans, but the organisation still backed its decision in stating that legal betting is ‘the way forward’ in the world of sport.
“We have signed with a legal betting entity, so there is no question at all of integrity. It’s completely legal and controlled,” according to PTI.
According to more reports, FIH also emphasised that it is ‘a move to bring in some funds’, helping get the resources to develop the sport even further.
