Bolt+ to collaborate with WBC Boxing and VIVE TV
Almost everyone is familiar with the bright lights and fanfare of a main title card in boxing. It is a dazzling affair, where two of the greatest combatants on the planet meet face to face in an epic showdown. After the dust clears, one victor remains and their name is forever etched into the pantheons of boxing legend.
But all legends have to start somewhere, and that’s what the initiative between VIVE TV, the WBC and Bolt+ will facilitate.
Though Tyson and Ali became household names, few members of the public had heard of them prior to that. In a sport like boxing, where an athlete’s success is critically dependent on their reputation and persona, ‘not being heard of’ can immobilise a career before it gets started.
There are some options to help them; social media has provided a useful tool for a budding fighter to build a fan base. This, in turn, can help them build a reputation. Video streaming platforms have also made it easier to demonstrate skills and publicise talent. Even then, fighters run into several issues:
- Current social media platforms require that you pay for essential distribution and outreach.
- It’s difficult to monetise content.
- Video platforms are too saturated with content, resulting in an empty echo chamber.
It’s our belief at Bolt+ that fighters shouldn’t need to sacrifice financial sustainability and community growth potential by using services that prioritise the needs of the platform over the user. They should be able to access tools that allow them to distribute their content far and wide, engage with their community and build a personal brand on their own terms.
Which is why we’re excited to announce our new relationship with VIVE TV and the WBC.
Their vision is much the same as ours; in order to sustain the longevity of boxing as a sport, you have to grow the community. In order to do that, you need to empower fighters to establish and grow their own individual brands and communities.
Anwar Jamal, VP of Operations at Bolt Global, had this to say of the alliance:
“We’re thrilled to be working alongside the VIVE Network and WBC. VIVE aims to revolutionise the sporting TV industry by democratising the entire content value chain. We look forward to working with VIVE and the WBC to provide combat athletes across the globe with the tools to own and grow their own brand”
The simple yet advanced BoltOS tools Anwar speaks of, allows fighters to distribute their content, engage their communities, and offers help and advice on how to monetise those communities effectively. Doing this from an early stage in their career gives them a head start that will enable them to drive public awareness, wherever they are in the world. By building that personal brand from day one, they’re also opening up a world of career opportunities within the sport after leaving the ring. Combined, these are a powerful way to promote the entire sport around the globe.
Danielle Jacaman, Chief Content Officer at VIVE Network, commented this of the opportunity:
“This is the most exciting distribution deal for WBC LIVE Channel X VIVE to date. The interactivity, community spirit, and feature roadmap Bolt+ plans to roll out in the months ahead make for a ‘knockout‘ combination that we believe gives this platform an edge. Not to mention the benefits the fighters, talent team, and fans will reap as well”
That work has already begun with the launch of the WBC Live channel, which is now available on Bolt+. A 24/7 TV channel that provides fighters with the opportunity to market themselves on a global stage, come to the attention of a host of promoters and sponsors, and give their fans a home where they can connect. These tools are what sports personalities really need, and on Bolt+, VIVE TV and the WBC will be able to offer their fighters even more
“The best partnerships aren’t dependent on a mere common goal but on a shared path of equality, desire, and no small amount of passion”
- Sarah Maclean, New York Times bestselling American Author
