06/04/2022 ESPN Tags Tom Brady for Its First NFTs: Digital Collectibles for His ESPN Plus Docuseries ‘Man in the Arena’

ESPNhas clambered aboard the NFT bandwagon: The sports giant is going into business with Tom Brady, angling to sell fans on the idea of owning a digital piece of the famed NFL quarterback’s legacy.

ESPN inked a multiyear deal withAutograph, the NFT startup co-founded by Brady, to release its first nonfungible tokens.NFTsprovide a way to authenticate ownership of digital content, using distributed blockchain networks — and media and entertainment companies have flocked to NFTs as a way to generate incremental revenue and boost fan loyalty.

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The collaboration kicks off Wednesday (April 6) with the release at 5 p.m. ET of an NFT collection based on “Man in the Arena: Tom Brady,” the 10-part ESPN Plus documentary series produced by Religion of Sports, a media company in which Brady is also a co-founder.

The prices for the NFTs will range from $100 to $500. The “Man in the Arena: Tom Brady Collection” NFTs are exclusively available to view on autograph.io and may be purchased on the DraftKings Marketplace for NFTs. The collection consists of three ESPN digital “zine covers” illustrating Brady’s career, wins and achievements. There are 50 NFTs from the collection signed digitally by Brady (priced at $500 each) along with 100 NFTs of the “Tom Brady: Legacy” cover ($250 each) and 250 NFTs of the “Tom Brady: Greatest of All Time” cover ($100 each).

ESPN’s first NFT release coincides with Disney releasing the docuseries across Hulu and Disney Plus — in addition to ESPN Plus — for a “limited time.”

A second NFT collection from ESPN and Autograph — themed “Back in the Arena,” alluding toBrady’s reversing his decision to retirewith plans to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next season — will drop in conjunction with the premiere later this month of the series’ 10th and final episode on ESPN Plus. (There’s no confirmed date yet for the episode’s release.)

“ESPN is excited to offer our first NFTs to meet our fans at the intersection of sports, technology and content,” said Kevin Lopes, ESPN’s VP of sports business development and innovation. “Our work with[an R&D partnership formed with Accenture; Microsoft and Verizon] 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.”

“Man in the Arena,” directed by Gotham Chopra, features interviews with Brady and other sports figures breaking down milestones of the quarterback’s NFL career. The docuseries explores “the psychological and emotional terrain of each victory and defeat,” per Religion of Sports.

L.A.-based Autograph, in addition to its NFL partnership with DraftKings, hasto release digital collectibles based on the studio’s intellectual property. Autograph has released NFTs for Brady and other sports stars, including Derek Jeter, Wayne Gretzky, Tony Hawk, Rob Gronkowski, Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, Usain Bolt, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tiger Woods.

“This unique collection around Tom’s ‘Man in the Arena’ docuseries marks the beginning of our relationship with ESPN,” Dillon Rosenblatt, co-founder and CEO of Autograph, said in a statement. “As the first NFT partner for ESPN, the possibilities across sports and technology are endless, and we couldn’t be more excited to get this content out to the world in a massive way.”

Arts

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/espn-tags-tom-brady-first-133027373.html

Interesting NFTs
Mars House
Mars House is the first NFT digital house in the world. Upon purchase of Mars House NFT, 3D files will be sent to the new owner by Krista Kim Studio Inc. for file upload to the owner’s Metaverse. Technical support for Mars House integration on Metaverse is provided. (Architectural Digest, March 14, 2021) “Kim ventured into NFTs while exploring meditative design during quarantine; her hope was to use the influx of digital life as an opportunity to promote wellbeing. Comprised entirely of light, the visual effects of her crypto-home are meant to omit a zen, healing atmosphere. The artist also partnered with musician Jeff Schroeder of The Smashing Pumpkins to create a calming musical accompaniment. So what makes the file a compelling purchase? Beyond the promise of buying into the lucrative NFT market, the home and all of the furniture in it can be built in real life by glass furniture-makers in Italy, as well as through MicroLED screen technology. Kim also has a strong visions the art being projected, as well. “Everyone should install an LED wall in their house for NFT art.” says the artist. “ This is the future, and Mars House demonstrates the beauty of that possibility.” The owner is in agreement to the following terms and conditions upon purchase of Mars House (hereby referred to as Mars House NFT): The collector agrees to own one copy of Mars House NFT on a single Metaverse platform. The collector is required to register Mars House NFT ownership with Krista Kim Studio Inc. Krista Kim Studio Inc. will provide technical support to upload and integrate Mars House NFT on a Metaverse platform. If/when Mars House is resold, the collector is required to delete all Mars House NFT 3D file(s) from his/her Metaverse, and provide verification of deletion to Krista Kim Studio Inc. before new 3D files are transferred to the new owner by the artist. The new owner is required to register Mars House NFT ownership with Krista Kim Studio Inc. Krista Kim Studio will send Mars House NFT 3D files directly to the new owner and provide support for Metaverse integration. This verified ownership transfer system will be appointed to Krista Kim Studio Inc. trusteeship, after 40 years of the date of the sale. Krista Kim Studio Inc. retains ownership of Mars House NFT copyright. All rights reserved. All reproductions of Mars House (NFT) in both digital and physical formats, are restricted. Mars House NFT physical furniture pieces, made of tempered printed glass in Italy, may be commissioned by the collector as NFT physical pieces.
The classical poet Ono no Komachi, one of the Six Immortal Poets
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) The classical poet Ono no Komachi, one of the Six Immortal Poets 1800s-1810s - Japan
ICY GENES
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