SMH Sports, the flagship brand of sports media and management company SMH Global, has become the exclusive licensee of La Gazzetta dello Sport in Eurasia.
The company, based in the Georgian capital city Tbilisi, will first take La Gazzetta live in its founding market before launching in other Eurasian countries, highlighting Ukraine as the next country for the outlet.
In addition, the launch follows a history of partnerships between SMH and La Gazzetta Dello Sport, the most widely read daily sports newspaper in Italy, and one of the country’s oldest media outlets.
Lasha Machavariani, SMH Sports Founder, remarked: “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 launch 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 notable sports attendee will be Gianluca Zambrotta, the Italian defender who played in the national team’s victorious 2006 FIFA World Cup campaign.
“I am delighted with the news that La Gazzetta dello Sport is launching in Georgia and will have a local representation,” Zambrotta remarked.
“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 future launch in Ukraine – SMH states that the country will ‘unquestionably’ be La Gazetta’s next Eurasian market – fulfils another key objective SMH has held over the past two years, that being to ensure it remains ‘at the forefront’ of Ukraine-related initiatives.
The launch builds on previous media agreements SMH has inked in the Eurasia region. November last year saw the firm partner with Esports Insider (ESI), focusing on esports and gaming audiences in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East.
Meanwhile, on a day-to-day operational basis, La Gazzetta aims to provide its Eurasian audience with exclusive news, in-depth analyses, and stories, according to the outlet’s Director, Digital Development and New Business, Gianluca Varano.
“I am glad that La Gazzetta dello Sport is launching in Georgia,” Varano commented. “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.’’
