Major step in BNN’s strategy to develop unique mobile content and large public participation programmes in football
BNN Technology (AIM: BNN), a London-listed Chinese technology, content and services company, today announces an expanded, multifaceted partnership with Arsenal Football Club. This significantly expands the three year commercial relationship announced on 9 September 2015 with one of Europe’s most successful clubs, focusing on delivering unique content, developing coaching programmes, providing ‘money-can’t-buy’ VIP experiences for Chinese football fans and offering competitions through the Xinhua News mobile app.
The expanded partnership is a further step in BNN’s strategy to support grassroots football in China by developing large public participation programmes that build on the Company’s longstanding operations in China and enhance the lives of the country’s citizens. BNN’s Chinese technology partner NewNet will manage a new ‘coach the coaches’ programme, offering in the first year up to 250 Chinese football coaches the opportunity to be further trained by qualified Arsenal coaches in China. The programme is open to any coach already involved with a football team in China, regardless of their levels of expertise. Applicants may participate via a nomination process hosted on a microsite on the Xinhua News app. The individuals with the greatest number of votes are selected to attend the training camps.
The expanded partnership also allows BNN, supported by NewNet, to provide a range of Arsenal content to the Xinhua News app, including manager interviews before games, pre-match press conferences, weekly news bulletin videos, weekly training footage, monthly bespoke coaching videos and three news articles per week. In addition, Chinese fans will be offered opportunities to win, through free-to-enter prize draws, fully paid VIP trips to watch Arsenal play at the club’s Emirates Stadium in London, as well as competitions to win exclusive merchandise such as Arsenal jerseys and signed footballs.
Darren Mercer, Chief Executive of BNN Technology, said:
“I am delighted that we are expanding our relationship with Arsenal, one of Europe’s top clubs, to help BNN play a wider role in supporting China’s football ambitions while also delivering first class content to the Xinhua News app and gaining further high quality data to support our other sales channels. Arsenal’s heritage, ethos and coaching style will be invaluable as our Chinese technology partner NewNet builds a programme that will ultimately improve coaching standards throughout China . We firmly believe that football is a powerful force for promoting social engagement, enriching day-to-day lives and in turn strengthening the base of our consumer focused operations.”
Vinai Venkatesham, Chief Commercial Officer of Arsenal FC, said:
“We have enjoyed a fruitful relationship with BNN since welcoming the group to our family of partners in 2015 and are delighted to expand the partnership. As a club we have a huge and incredibly passionate supporter base in China; we have tremendous engagement with our Mandarin-language website and over 5million followers across the major Chinese social media platforms. Interest in the Premier League will continue to grow and, by expanding our partnership with BNN, we are delighted to support the development of football in China through the provision of structured coach education programmes by Arsenal coaches. BNN has shown enormous commitment to China’s mission for football and we look forward to working with the group to help deliver this exciting vision.”