World Chase Tag USA Signs Distribution Deal With ESPN, Tupelo Honey to Handle Productions

World Chase Tag USA and ESPN have announced a multi-year agreement to distribute WCT programming across ESPN television and digital platforms. ESPN and ESPN2 will be the primary television network homes of WCT in addition to distribution through ESPN digital properties. Terms were not disclosed.

“We are extremely excited to announce ESPN as the new distribution home for World Chase Tag,” said Christian Devaux, CEO and Co-Creator of World Chase Tag. “Teaming with ESPN is an incredible opportunity to increase our stage for the best parkour athletes in the world. WCT has seen unparalleled growth since its inception, and we are proud that ESPN shares our enthusiasm for the future. ESPN provides WCT a new opportunity to strategically distribute WCT content through their television and digital channels.”

Emmy Award-winning Tupelo Honey, helmed by founder and CEO Cary Glotzer, has been designated the production vendor for WCT and ESPN. Tupelo and parent company Gray Television are partners and investors in WCT. In addition, Gray Sports & Entertainment will be handling brand advertising and sponsorship sales, led by veteran sales executive Bill Lancaster.

The new agreement begins with a two-hour primetime special set for August 6, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. ET and televised on ESPN2. The special will be co-produced by Tupelo Honey, ESPN and Hall of Fame Village Media, which is led by industry veterans Olivia Steier and Scott Langerman, and is the content studio division of Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company. Former NFL running back and Dancing with The Stars season 24 champion Rashad Jennings will co-host the special from Goodyear Hall in Akron, Ohio, which is a partner property of Hall of Fame Village. The competition, featuring 20 teams with the best parkour athletes in the USA, coincides with NFL Hall of Fame weekend that also features the Cowboys and Steelers.

“ESPN is a perfect platform for World Chase Tag and its growth in the U.S.,” says Cary Glotzer, CEO of Tupelo Honey. “WCT features the world’s premier parkour and Ninja Warrior athletes competing at the highest level, and ESPN offers the perfect platform. I can’t think of a better way to kick off the relationship between WCT and ESPN than to produce the first event as part of the Hall of Fame weekend festivities.” 

WCT is the world’s first and only global competitive tag organization. Over the past seven years, WCT has garnered worldwide attention with a global following with more than 400 million organic online views, including 50 million in the last 12 months on World Chase Tag-owned and operated platforms. In the past year, WCT has broadcast a total of 70 hours of programming on networks such as NBCSN in the United States and Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. It is also distributed online to an engaged social following, with 2M subscribers on social platforms including YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, and Bilibili (China). WCT is also currently expanding throughout China with a 10-city event tour scheduled for later this year.

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