- Major sports cable network ESPN has signed a deal with Web3 startup Autograph
- The agreement will see ESPN launch its first NFT collection with NFL Superstar Tom Brady
- ESPN’s reach is considerably large with over 140 million subscribers worldwide
ESPN has teamed up with Web3 brand Autograph for a multi-year deal geared towards launching an NFT collection, according to a press statement published on Wednesday (April 6, 2022).
Per the details of the announcement, the collection will feature NFL star quarterback Tom Brady who recently came out of retirement to return to his role in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers football team.
The first set of digital collectibles Dubbed “Man in The Arena: Tom Brady Collection” illustrates Brady’s impressive career with three ESPN zone covers. Each piece from the project was designed by Religion of Sport and Autograph, a digital outfit co-founded by Brady himself.
In addition, the collection goes live on April 6, 2022. The star quarterback will supposedly sign his autograph on 50 collectibles to add an extra layer of rarity and reward loyal fans. Interested buyers can trade the NFT on Draftkings Marketplace and view the collection on Autograph.io.
Commenting on the launch, Vice President of Sports Business Development & Innovation at ESPN, Kevin Lopes said:
“ESPN is excited to offer our first NFTs to meet our fans at the intersection of sports, technology, and content. Our work with ESPN Edge has led us to where we are today, exploring new, innovative ways of engaging fans, and we are thrilled to partner with Autograph for this collection and others in the future.
NFTs Gaining Traction in Mainstream Spaces
Digital collectibles powered by blockchain technology have evolved into a multi-billion industry after erupting in late 2019/early 2020.
Since then the space has continued to grow in leads and bounds, making headlines and establishing a presence in mainstream industries like Sports and Entertainment. A number of celebrities and sports stars like Madonna, Steph Curry, Snoop Dogg, and Post Malone own NFTs from high-profile collections like Bored Apes Yacht Club and Crypto Punks.