SMH Sports, the leading sports media and management brand of SMH Global, has entered into an exclusive license agreement with La Gazzetta dello Sport for the Eurasia region.
The company, headquartered in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, plans to introduce La Gazzetta to the primary market, followed by expansion into Eurasian countries, with an emphasis on entering the Ukrainian market as the next step.
The launch also follows the history of the partnership between SMH and La Gazzetta Dello Sport, which is the most popular daily sports newspaper in Italy and one of the oldest media outlets in the country.
Lasha Machavariani, SMH Sports Founder, commented: “For one year, we worked very intensively to present the Georgian version of the world’s leading sports media, La Gazzetta dello Sport. Georgia was a priority for us in the contract, and even though this broad partnership includes various countries, we decided that the first localisation should take place in Georgia.”
A presentation for La Gazzetta’s Georgian and Eurasian launch is planned in Tbilisi on 31 January, with attendees including governing body representatives, various media figures, businessman, sports industry stakeholders and sportsmen. A special guest will be Gianluca Zambrotta, the Italian defender who was part of the national team’s victorious 2006 FIFA World Cup campaign.
Zambrotta expressed: “I am delighted with the news that La Gazzetta dello Sport is launching in Georgia and will have a local representation. All this will greatly strengthen the bond between the Italian sports community and our supporters in Georgia. I look forward to sharing my excitement with the people of Georgia and the unique perspective that this collaboration has brought.”
The planned launch of La Gazzetta in Ukraine, according to SMH, is the next step in the Eurasian market and the fulfillment of the company’s key goal — to remain “at the forefront” of Ukraine. The move builds on previous media deals, including a partnership with Esports Insider (ESI) in Eurasia targeting esports and gaming audiences in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East, struck last November.
According to Director of Digital Development and New Business Gianluca Varano, La Gazzetta’s daily work aims to provide its Eurasian audience with exclusive news, in-depth analysis and compelling stories.
“I am glad that La Gazzetta dello Sport is launching in Georgia. Of course, in-depth coverage of sports events and sport in general, remains our main mission, and we are happy to make new connections, extended our audiences. It is indeed a mutually beneficial partnership”, added Varano.
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