ENTRIES NOW OPEN
The SportsPro Media Awards recognise and celebrate the trailblazers shaping the future of the sports media landscape.
From global broadcasters and major rights holders to cutting-edge technology companies and innovative content creators, these awards celebrate the individuals and organisations driving the industry’s evolution.
With a focus on collaboration, innovation, and creativity, the awards honour those pushing the boundaries of how sports content is produced, distributed, and consumed, serving as the highest accolade in the industry for our shortlistees and winners.
Early bird pricing is now live. Save £100 on your entry until Friday 30th May, 2025.
2025 DATES:
ENTRIES
OPEN
Monday, May 5th
EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS
Friday, May 30th
ENTRY DEADLINE
Monday, June 30th
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Friday, July 25th
Excellence can no longer be defined in a silo; the SportsPro Media Awards embraces this wider scope, and celebrates the pioneers, platforms, and storytellers who are coming together to shape the future of how sports are consumed worldwide.
The evolution from the OTT Awards to the SportsPro Media Awards reflects the rapid transformation of the sports media landscape. As technology advances and fan consumption habits evolve, the boundaries between traditional and digital media continue to blur. Sports content is no longer confined to a single platform or format—it spans live broadcasts, social media, direct-to-consumer services, influencer-led content, and cutting-edge innovations in AI, personalization, and interactivity.
2025 categories include:
Best New Platform
Best New Platform
This award recognises the most successful launch or re-launch of an OTT platform either direct to consumer or aggregator to the market.
- Innovative features, content offerings, or payment models distinct from competitors within the market
- Proof of success in building subscriber base upon launch
- How disruptive the launch has been to market
- How launch is impacting overall business performance
Category Questions:
- What sets your OTT platform and its launch apart from other competitors?
- How successful was the launch in building subscribers?
- What impact did the new platform have on your overall business?
Platform of the year - Rights Holder
Platform of the year - Rights Holder
This award celebrates the most outstanding sports OTT platform of 2025 operated by the rights holder.
- How the platform provides best-in-class experiences for users
- How does it differentiate from its competitors?
- Growth in audience and subscription numbers
- How does it deal with key technological challenges such as latency and piracy?
- The proof of ROI relative to platform size and scale
- Integration of OTT as a broader Direct to Consumer strategy
Category Questions:
- How does your sports OTT platform ensure an exceptional user experience and differentiate itself from others?
- How the platform addresses key technological challenges such latency and piracy?
- Can you outline the platforms marketing strategy and growth in audience?
Sports Media Partnership of the Year
Sports Media Partnership of the Year
This award recognises the most impactful and innovative partnerships of the year between a sports organisation and media partner. Whether a ground-breaking media rights deal, major acquisition, or strategy distribution strategy, this category celebrates industry-shaping collaboration.
- How does the partnership shape the future of sports media?
- How does the partnership introduce new commercial models or strategy?
- How does the partnership positively impact fan engagement and reach?
Best Use of Data in Media
Best Use of Data in Media
This award recognises the most innovative and effective use of data-driven insights to enhance storytelling, production quality, or audience experience in sports media.
- How well data is used to elevate the sports media experience
- The impact of data in driving new insights, engagement, or decision-making
- Real-world case studies demonstrating the effectiveness of the data application
- Innovation and uniqueness compared to existing industry standards
Category Questions:
- How was the data applied within the sports content?
- What made the data integration unique to other broadcast storytelling techniques?
- What were the technical challenges to deliver impactful data to live sport?
Best Short-Form Content
Best Short-Form Content
This award recognises the best use of short-form, non-live sports content distributed on social channels, YouTube, or other non-traditional broadcast platforms.
- Storytelling effectiveness within the short-form format
- Creativity and innovation in production and delivery
- Performance metrics such as engagement, shares, and audience retention
- Strategic use of platform-specific content formats and features
Category Questions:
- What made this short form content creatively unique in the sports space?
- What platforms did you publish the content on and how did the format adapt to each channel?
- What were the key metrics and how did the content perform?
Best Sports Creator
Best Sports Creator
This award recognises the most successful use of content creators in sports media strategies to drive audience engagement and reach.
- How the creator(s) contributed to audience growth and engagement
- Authenticity of the partnership and alignment with sports fans’ interests
- Measurable impact on viewership, social media metrics, or brand sentiment
- Creative execution and differentiation from standard influencer partnerships
Category Questions:
- What made the content unique from standard sports content?
- What were the KPI’s and how did the creator help achieve them?
- How did the creator’s content help connect with a new target audience?
Best Branded Sports Content
Best Branded Sports Content
This award recognises the most impactful storytelling that effectively integrates a brand or sponsor into sports content, enhancing audience engagement while driving brand awareness and affinity.
- How well the content connects with sports fans while promoting the brand
- Creativity and innovation in execution
- Measurable impact through engagement metrics, brand uplift, or business results
- A storytelling approach that feels organic and enhances the fan experience
Category Questions:
- What was the objective of the campaign, and what role did the brand or sponsor play?
- What made this campaign stand out creatively from other branded sports content?
- What were the key metrics for success, and how did the campaign perform against them?
Best in Broadcast Distribution
Best in Broadcast Distribution
This award recognises innovation and excellence in technology as part of the delivery of live sports production.
- How well does the solution address challenges associated with distributing live sports content such as latency, scalability, and quality of experience?
- Does the solution empower other features which positively impact the user experience for fans?
- How does the solution stand out from others in the market?
Category Questions:
- How does your technology solution address challenges in distributing live sports content, such as latency, scalability, and quality of experience?
- Does your solution empower additional features that enhance the user experience for fans?
- What sets your solution apart from others in the market in terms of innovation and effectiveness?
Best Use of AI
Best Use of AI
This award recognises the best application of artificial intelligence in the creation, production, or delivery of sports content.
- How does this solution stand out from others
- Insights into how the solution’s use of artificial intelligence has improved the user viewing experience or the content distributor’s efficiency
Category Questions:
- How does you AI application enhance sports content creation, impact user experience, or improve efficiency?
- What sets your AI solution apart in sports from others?
- How can the impact of your AI solution be measured?
Best Start Up Tech Company
Best Start Up Tech Company
This award recognises the most impactful technology company entering the OTT industry.
- Case studies of how the technology is providing solutions to partners in real life
- How much impact the company’s solution could have on the wider OTT industry
- How the company’s technology uniquely resolves a challenge within OTT
Category Questions:
- What challenge is your technology looking to solve? And how does it do so?
- What larger impact could this solution have on the broader sports industry?
- Could you provide a case study demonstrating your solution’s impact on a partner?
Best Emerging Tech Company
Best Emerging Tech Company
This award recognises the most innovative and emerging technology company impacting the OTT industry.
- Case studies of how the technology is providing solutions to partners in real life
- How much impact the company’s solution could have on the wider OTT industry
- How the company’s technology uniquely resolves a challenge within OTT
Category Questions:
- What challenge is your technology looking to solve? And how does it do so?
- What larger impact could this solution have on the broader sports industry?
- Could you provide a case study demonstrating your solution’s impact on a partner?
Best Live Streaming Production
Best Live Streaming Production
This award recognises the excellence of a broadcaster or production team that delivered unparalleled quality, innovation, and view engagement through their streaming platform.
- An understanding of the challenges presented by streaming live sports and the technical prowess to address them
- Demonstrable impact of how innovative features positively influenced the user experience and promoted fan engagement
- Commitment to making live sports content more accessible with multi-platform compatibility beyond traditional linear reach and broadcast strategies
Category Questions:
- How did the production overcome a technical challenge/s that are inherent to streaming live sports?
- What innovative features were incorporated into the broadcast that elevated the viewing experience?
Breakthrough Platform of the Year
Breakthrough Platform of the Year
This award celebrates the most innovative and impactful sports streaming or direct-to-consumer platform of 2025, foregoing mainstream media to successfully deliver compelling content and engaging user experiences to underserved sports audiences – offering bold, fresh alternatives to traditional coverage.
- Creative and original thinking in platform design, content strategy, or delivery model
- Evidence of successfully cutting through mainstream markets to champion underserved sports
- How the platform challenges traditional approaches and opens up new possibilities for content and community
- Potential for scalability and long-term success
- Strong connection with its audience, including evidence of brand loyalty or engaged communities
Category Questions:
- How does your platform overcome or challenge the way sports have been delivered and monetised in traditional broadcast?
- What are the standout features, technologies, or creative strategies that make your platform unique?
- Share a success story or case study that highlights how your platform’s influence in your chosen sport or community.
Best Social Channel
Best Social Channel
This award recognises the organisation demonstrating the best use of social media platforms to enhance the fan experience, foster community, and drive meaningful conversation around sports.
- Authenticity of content and interactions generated for sports fans
- Innovative approaches exploring new ways to engage with fans through social media platforms
- Demonstrable results illustrating the effectiveness of a social channel and tangible positive impact on broader business objectives
Category Questions:
- What role does video play in your organization’s social media strategy to engage with fans?
- Can you outline how your organization tailored content for specific platforms considering that platform’s audience?
- How do you evaluate the success of your social channel? Can you describe how the channel succeeded on those metrics?
Best Original Content
Best Original Content
This award recognises the best non-live sports content created for an OTT or digital platform.
- Data demonstrating increased viewership and engagement compared to other content
- Evidence of increased awareness or sentiment attributable to the original content
- Revenue from original content
- Accolades for quality of content
Category Questions:
- What makes your non-live sports content unique and engaging?
- How does your content’s viewership and engagement compare to others?
- Can you show evidence of increased awareness, engagement, revenue, or accolades for you original content?
Best in Fan Engagement
Best in Fan Engagement
This award is for those companies who are successfully building passionate and loyal communities around their OTT platforms and services.
- Measurable proof of the impact this company or campaign has had on the fan
- Examples of how fan engagement has increased as a result of the company of the nomination
- How fan engagement has helped the company drive revenues
Category Questions:
- What strategies or technologies were used to cultivate fan engagement?
- How do you measure the influence of the solution in growing communities and driving engagement?
- How did the solution impact business metrics?
Tech Solution of the Year
Tech Solution of the Year
This award recognises the technology-based solution which best addressed a challenge/s in the industry to deliver an improved viewing experience.
- How well the product addresses the challenge it set to solve
- How unique the product is to existing technology solutions
- How viable is the solution for the long term
Category Questions:
- How effectively did you technology based solution address a specific challenge?
- What sets your solution apart in terms of innovation or functionality compared to others?
- How viable is this solution for long-term adoption and use within the industry?
Innovation of the Year
Innovation of the Year
This award recognises the most innovative concept that has transformed the consumption of sports content by delivering a new experience for consumers or opening new opportunities for organisations to monetise. The innovation can be strategic, content, or technology focused.
- How innovative is the nomination in comparison to existing offerings in the market
- How well it can be proven that this innovation has transformed content consumption
- How much new opportunity did this innovation create
- What is the long term impact this innovation will have on the industry
Category Questions:
- How does the innovation differentiate from existing features in the sports market and what evidence demonstrates its impact on audience behaviour?
- How did the innovation create new opportunities for your organisation to engage with or monetize fans?
- What long-term impact will this innovation have on the sports industry?
Best Tech Company
Best Tech Company
This award recognises the company that’s driving the growth and disruption of the sports OTT industry via the use of technological innovation.
- Real world case studies with prominent rights holders and broadcasters on how this company is delivering for clients
- How much this technology company has expanded its influence on the industry
- How this company has helped improve the consumer experience
- How the company has continued to demonstrate year on year innovation
- A comprehensive range of features and solutions to develop a best in class streaming service
Category Questions:
- Outline a case study which best demonstrates the impact of your company’s capabilities?
- How has your company set itself apart from others?
- How has your company demonstrated continued innovation?
Platform of the Year - Broadcaster or Streamer
Platform of the Year - Broadcaster or Streamer
This award celebrates the most outstanding sports OTT platform of 2025 operated by a broadcaster or platform distributing multiple sports properties.
- How the platform provides best-in-class experiences for users
- How does it differentiate from its competitors
- Growth in audience and subscription numbers
- How does it deal with key technological challenges such as latency and piracy
- The proof of ROI relative to platform size and scale
- Integration of OTT as a broader Direct to Consumer strategy
Category Questions:
- How does your sports OTT platform ensure an exceptional user experience and differentiate itself from others?
- How the platform addresses key technological challenges such latency and piracy?
- Can you outline the platforms marketing strategy and growth in audience?
