For Immediate Release
Submitted by USA Rugby
May 19, 2016
LAFAYETTE, Colo. – Rugby International Marketing (RIM) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a one-year contractual agreement with David Sternberg to act as interim Chief Executive Officer of Rugby International Marketing and The Rugby Channel, effective immediately.
Sternberg, a veteran sports media executive, joins RIM following a successful career spanning nearly two decades with Fox Sports, Universal Sports Network and Manchester United Football Club. Most recently, he has served as a consultant to RIM on its broadcast and digital media strategy. Sternberg has been particularly influential in the creation of The Rugby Channel, RIM’s groundbreaking “over the top” video platform featuring live and on-demand rugby video content from the United States and around the world.
Current USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville worked closely with Sternberg on the design, development and launch last month of The Rugby Channel.
“David has led the creation of TheRugbyChannel.tv, which we successfully launched in April,” said Melville. “He knows RIM, our strategy and our considerable value to media partners, sponsors and the global rugby community. His appointment as CEO will help continue RIM’s operating momentum and will guide it to further success.”
In addition to retaining oversight of The Rugby Channel, Sternberg will focus in his new role on growing RIM’s and USA Rugby’s roster of sponsors and marketing partners. He will also work with USA Rugby to maximize the commercial potential of the federation’s events, national teams and intellectual property.
Chad Keck, RIM’s Chairman, noted Sternberg’s unique background in commenting about the appointment. “David is a powerhouse in the sports marketing world, having worked for some of the biggest brands in sports media, and gives us a perfect set of skills for positioning RIM and The Rugby Channel to serve all stakeholders in the growth of rugby in the U.S.” said Keck.
“I look forward to continuing the work begun by Nigel and the RIM Board to build a potent commercial entity in the world of rugby,” said Sternberg. “The sport is riding a tremendous wave of growth in this country, and with its unique sponsorship, event marketing and multi-platform media assets RIM is perfectly positioned to capitalize on that trend.”
Sternberg, 47, holds an MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA and a BA from Princeton University. He is based in the New York City area, where he will help to establish a headquarters office for the RIM management team.
About Rugby International Marketing
Created by USA Rugby, Rugby International Marketing is a unique “for profit” commercial entity that will build a strong revenue generation team representing USA Rugby’s current commercial rights and developing new revenue streams to fund the game. The mission of Rugby International Marketing is to provide incremental financial resources to USA Rugby by utilizing third-party capital in an entrepreneurially driven, for-profit company that leverages the commercial opportunities available to USA Rugby.
About The Rugby Channel
TheRugbyChannel.tv is an “over the top” video platform featuring both free and paid rugby content. Highlights of global matches, news bulletins, interviews and short features are available free of charge, along with fixtures and live scores from competitions around the world. Paying subscribers receive access to exclusive live event programming, including all USA Men’s and Women’s National Team test matches, weekly matchups from the Guinness Pro12 league in Europe and various World Rugby-sanctioned international matches and tournaments. Among the unique features of The Rugby Channel are an HD video player, user personalization, social-sharing functions and calendar synching of global rugby fixtures. Play-by-play, real-time statistics and Twitter feed aggregation are also offered for those matches streamed live on the platform.
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Further Information:
Nick Sero | Manager, Communications and Digital Media | USA Rugby | nsero@usarugby.org
