ESPN is turning to social influencers to strengthen its coverage of this summer’s football aka Soccer in the US having partnered with popular YouTuber KSI for a new Euro 2016 show.
The new show hosted by KSI, whose real name Olajide Olatunji, features football challenges, skits, and interviews, all filmed in the ESPN Inn clubhouse.
By appointing the Watford based YouTuber, ESPN will benefit from his 13 million strong subscriber base while also broadening its international reach. KSI will be joined by fellow YouTubers Manny and Calfreezy with all three showing episodes on their own platforms. The three YouTubers regularly appear in each other’s videos. ESPN has also enlisted the help of footballers including Frank Lebouef, who makes an appearance in a penalty challenge. ESPN meanwhile will host the episodes on its own website via the ESPN Inn hub.
In addition to the show with KSI, the sports broadcaster’s Euro 2016 coverage also includes a new digital exclusive show, EURO After Dark presented by ESPN FC host Alison Bender. ESPN has joined forces with Copa 90-owned platform KICK to provide a unique US angled coverage of the tournament. The video series follows one fan’s road trip from New York to a tour around Europe. This new video content supplements ESPN’s UEFA Euro 2016 previews, match reports, exclusive interviews with players such as France’s Paul Pogba and Germany’s Manuel Neuer, plus comment from its line-up of writers and bloggers from across Europe.
Commenting on the campaign, Charly Classen, vice president and general manager of ESPN – Europe, Middle East and Africa said, “ESPN is one of the biggest sports brands in the world, and KSI is one of the biggest YouTube stars in the world, collaborating on this is a great way to complement our wide coverage and promote this summer’s football through a different lens to a new audience. The ESPN Inn video series celebrates the excitement and anticipation all fans feel when a major tournament comes around, and perfectly complements our extensive editorial coverage.”
Check Out KSI’s vlog, “1 ON 1 SKILL FOOTBALL CHALLENGE!”
