Earlier this week, Athlete Content and Entertainment (ACE Media) was launched as a new way for athletes to broadcast themselves as traditional media would not. The organisation will provide the public with branded written and video pieces produced by NFL athletes.
“Like all athletes, NFL players are an extraordinary group of people with an incredible range of talents, passions, perspectives and backstories. Many of those stories have flown under the public radar,” says Ahmad Nassar, a member of ACE Media’s Board of Directors and President of NFL Players Inc, according to a press release.
“ACE Media will aim to unlock those stories for diehard and casual fans alike and will reach new audiences as well by casting athletes in a light that allows their off-the-field attributes to amplify and complement their on-field accomplishments.”
The NFL Player’s Association (NFLPA) will be the majority shareholder of the new organization, also working with other media and sports partners. While the NFLPA will be in control of ACE, the content will be distributed through BET Networks, Bleacher Report, The Players’ Tribune and 120 Sports.
The whole idea behind the launch is to engage fans in a way that has not been done before. When fans see their favorite athletes on game day, they only see one small part of their identity. Now with ACE Media, they will be able to see their idols in a more intimate context. Seeing how a high-profile athlete trains and lives is something that has previously been kept very much in the dark.
Sure, most athletes have their own social media accounts, but having one media outlet dedicated to providing all athlete activity in one place is something that fans have always wanted to see.
“As professional athletes we have a huge opportunity to offer unbelievable levels of access and authenticity to the fans that support us,” said Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman in a statement. “With the launch of ACE Media, we now have a way to seize that opportunity by creating content that no one else can, showing sides of ourselves that you won’t see anywhere else. We’re excited about the content we plan to help create, and we’re excited by the future of this company.”
While ACE has initially only begun within the NFL, there are plans to expand into all sports. The reason for choosing the NFL was due to the great interest and support shown by the NFLPA.
With some gigantic distribution companies partnering up, it sounds as though the content involved with the organization will see remarkable success right away. With sports like basketball, baseball and soccer also having huge global followings, the opportunities for ACE Media are truly endless.