Latest news with #SamButler
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING: AFL star Sam Butler posts stomach-churning photo of horrific injury that has kept him off the field for 418 days
AFL star Sam Butler has posted a stomach-churning image of his broken leg which saw the Hawthorn forward sidelined for over 400 days. Butler, 22, broke both his fibula and tibia in a game for VFL side Box Hill on April 28 last year in horrific scenes. Adding to the drama was Butler then having to wait half an hour for an ambulance to arrive and take him to hospital. A few niggles late in the pre-season delayed the youngster's start to 2025, but he has been recalled by Hawks coach Sam Mitchell to play the Western Bulldogs in a blockbuster at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on Thursday night. Butler, who has displayed his versatility by playing in the midfield for Box Hill in recent weeks, will look to help the Hawks avoid a fourth successive defeat. Concerningly, they were hammered by premiership favourites Collingwood and the Brisbane Lions in their last two outings. Mitchell has outlined what he desperately wants to see from his players more than any other against the Bulldogs. 'I just think it's pressure,' the coach said. The Hawks were outclassed in the tackle counts against the Magpies and Lions, with the numbers - 82-38 and 59-36 - painting a grim picture. 'The winning tackle count is often not the winning team, but you can't get beaten the way we have been,' Mitchell added. 'Enabling the players to be able to put pressure on the opposition is going to be the most important thing for us.' Meanwhile, Luke Beveridge's Bulldogs are bracing themselves for a fierce attack on the contest from a desperate Hawthorn side. 'You're always wary when a club's been under the microscope a bit and the way they galvanise and prepare for their next game,' he said. 'We've got to be ready for their intensity in this game, because it might be more explosive than what you're sometimes used to. 'That's our challenge in the bigger part of the platform to springboard into the back half of the year off a really good experience. 'It's a really critical game for both clubs.'
Broadcast Pro
27-05-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
BLAST and eCLUTCH strike global esports broadcast deal
The BLAST deal is the first of a number of planned acquisitions by eCLUTCH, as part of its mass strategy to change the way esports is served to mainstream audiences. ECLUTCH, the rising force in esports broadcasting, has announced a major global rights deal with esports organiser BLAST to deliver some of the world's top-tier gaming tournaments to broader audiences across its network of pay-TV, FAST channels and OTT platforms. The multi-territory agreement covers live events from three of BLAST's most famous tournament ecosystems, each centred around leading titles in the gaming industry — Fortnite and Rocket League from Epic Games, and Rainbow Six: Siege from Ubisoft. This move signals a significant expansion in the way elite esports content reaches mainstream viewers worldwide. Sam Butler, Director of Acquisitions at eCLUTCH, said: 'BLAST events are a benchmark in tier one esports. The titles BLAST work with align perfectly with our content strategy of curating for the mainstream audience. BLAST is an ideal partner for eCLUTCH and aside from the quality of the content, the team are awesome to work with and they really understand the mainstream entertainment landscape.' Alexander Lewin, SVP Commercial Revenue at BLAST, added: 'We're thrilled to be partnering with eCLUTCH for some of our biggest events in 2025. eCLUTCH will help distribute BLAST in new innovative ways across the globe and we're excited for fans both new and existing to tune in for our action this year in a brand new way.' As part of the deal, BLAST's live esports events will be broadcast across eCLUTCH's platforms nearly every week through the remainder of 2025 and into 2026. These tournaments, taking place in diverse global locations including Rio de Janeiro, Raleigh, and Lyon, offer a rotating lineup of distinctive player communities, cultures, and competitive energy, contributing to a continually fresh viewer experience. This marks the first in a series of anticipated acquisitions by eCLUTCH, reinforcing its ambitious strategy to transform how esports content is delivered to and consumed by mainstream audiences. By integrating live championships, FAST channels, and premium on-demand content into a unified, interactive experience, eCLUTCH is redefining esports entertainment. Leveraging advanced satellite broadcasting technology, eCLUTCH is expanding its global reach and accessibility, positioning itself as a premier destination for esports fans seeking top-quality viewing.
Broadcast Pro
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
eCLUTCH launches second 24/7 esports channel to expand global reach
Backed by strategic partnerships and global broadcasting technology from iKOMG, eCLUTCH LIVE 2 will be available across satellite, pay-TV, and connected TV platforms. eCLUTCH, the premium esports television platform, has officially launched eCLUTCH LIVE 2, a second 24/7 linear channel dedicated to broadcasting top-tier live esports tournaments and dynamic programming to a growing global audience. This expansion marks a significant step in the company's mission to redefine how esports is consumed on television. Built on the same multiscreen infrastructure as the original eCLUTCH LIVE channel, the new service is designed to appeal to both newcomers and seasoned esports enthusiasts alike. By offering more live content without compromising quality, eCLUTCH LIVE 2 aims to deliver a better viewing experience for fans around the world. Arnaud Verlhac, Managing Director, eCLUTCH, said: 'The launch of our second Premium live channel marks a new chapter in eClutch growth, building a consistent offer and delivering high-quality live content and tournaments wherever our audience is. We definitely aim to building a unique Media platform dedicated to LIVE esport events across the globe.' Sam Butler, Director of Acquisitions, eCLUTCH, added: 'When it comes to any sport, live is king and esports is no exception. This underpins eClutch's content strategy for curating the most exciting and relevant live esports events for a TV audience to create maximum impact and engagement for our distribution partners. The launch of a second channel allows eClutch to air even more live events, without compromising the excitement or immediacy of a truly live experience.' eCLUTCH LIVE 2 introduces a programmatic content structure that not only delivers premium live tournaments from top organisers like BLAST, Init Esports and Capcom, but also helps new viewers discover teams, personalities and stories within the esports world. It features enhanced interactive tools to deepen fan engagement and complements the original channel with expanded regional and genre-specific programming. Powered by iKOMG's global broadcasting technology, the new channel will be available via satellite, pay-TV, and connected TV platforms. This distribution strategy is aimed at reaching underserved and hard-to-access audiences, further extending esports' footprint worldwide. As esports viewership continues to skyrocket—forecasted to exceed 1bn by 2025—eCLUTCH is positioning itself as the essential link between traditional broadcast media and a new generation of digital-native fans.
