EA becomes exclusive game publisher of the EPL

Electronic Arts and the Premier League today announced that EA SPORTS has become the Official Sports Technology Partner of the Premier League. Under the partnership, EA SPORTS will expand its current relationship with fans of the English Barclays Premier League with exclusive enhanced experiences and even greater authenticity inside of EA SPORTS FIFA products. EA SPORTS branding will be featured on all live on-screen broadcasts of English Barclays Premier League matches, and EA SPORTS will work with broadcasters to develop enhancements for match day broadcast analysis and increased fan interaction. EA SPORTS will also sponsor the Player Performance Index and will explore new ways to utilize more in depth Barclays Premier League statistics than ever before in future iterations of EA SPORTS FIFA products.

“As the most watched national soccer competition in the world, the Barclays Premier League delivers tremendous global exposure and direct access to one of the most passionate soccer audiences in the world,” said Matt Bilbey, Vice President of Soccer, EA SPORTS. “Partnering with the Premier League further establishes EA SPORTS and its FIFA Soccer franchise as the ultimate, authentic soccer gaming experience. We look forward to adding further in-game authenticity with the direct access to the Player Performance Index as well as releasing new ways to leverage our technology to enhance the fans enjoyment of Barclays Premier League soccer on and beyond match day each week.”

In the exclusive role as Official Sports Technology Partner of the Premier League, EA SPORTS will explore new ways to leverage actual match and performance data to deliver improved interactive soccer experiences that match the complexity, finesse and excitement of a real world soccer match. Examples include:

• The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index: EA SPORTS will sponsor the Premier League Player Performance Index that will soon expand to include new performance data that will now account for time and distance measurements. This will allow for detailed statistics such as the speed at which a shot is hit, the force of a ball as a keeper makes a key save, the height of a jump, the speed at which a penalty is struck and more. EA SPORTS will have direct access to the Player Performance Index to further extend the authenticity and depth of its soccer franchises including EA SPORTS FIFA in future versions.
• EA SPORTS Team of the Week: Available atwww.premierleague.com, the Premier League and EA SPORTS will publish the EA SPORTS Team of the Week. The team will be based on ratings from the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index after each round of the Barclays Premier League and will be integrated into EA SPORTS FIFA products.
• Barclays Premier League Broadcast Branding: EA SPORTS branding will appear on-screen, linked with live match statistics, during all Barclays Premier League broadcasts in the UK and overseas.
• Barclays Premier League Match Broadcast Enhancements: Using EA SPORTS graphics, animations and interactive technology combined with real-time, real world data feeds, EA will work with broadcasters toward enhancements for match day broadcast analysis that will bring soccer fans closer and deeper into the action direct from their couch.

Premier League Director of Sales & Marketing, Richard Masters, said: “We are extremely pleased that EA SPORTS has had the foresight to enter into this exciting new partnership that will connect with Barclays Premier League fans in new and inventive ways. Fans have a thirst for statistics and information and that is something that the Premier League, working with EA SPORTS, will provide to a level not seen before in professional football.”

In addition to the Sports Technology Partnership agreement, the Premier League and EA have also agreed upon an extension to the Electronic Game License.