New fresh look of the MOTW, three commentators in action

Starting this season EHF Marketing would like to bring Europe’s premier handball competition to a whole new level. To achieve this, a greater focus will be put on this season’s MATCH OF THE WEEK (MOTW) ties and the engagement with fans through our various social media channels will increase.

The aim of this is to make games during the whole season more accessible for handball fans and to create an arc of suspense towards the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne.

The first episode of the MOTW in 2016/17 will take place on this Saturday in northern Germany, where the 2014 VELUX EHF Champions League winners SG Flensburg-Handewitt receive the runners-up of the previous two seasons Telekom Veszprém.

EHF Marketing will take one match per round as the MOTW, as it has been custom in past seasons. The most interesting game in terms of fan’s expectations and the entertainment value of the tie will be selected. Whether well-known clubs compete against each other or less experienced clubs fight to get into the next round –all the games will be captivating and thrilling.

The MOTW will receive more attention in terms of TV commentary, branding, social media activities, half-time games, mobile reporting and the sale of merchandise in the hall itself. The idea is to continuously develop the concept throughout the season and also to bring fresh content to fans in the arena, in front of their TV or on their laptops at home.

Live commentary with insights and captivating explanations, and an enhanced look and feel of TV graphics will give the audience the feeling of being right in the action.

This season the commentary team will be expanded with Tom O’Brannagain being joined by David Bregazzi and Chris O‘Reilly, who will all take their own MOTW games. They both also took part in the pre-season Expert's Hangout with Julen Aguinagalde last Wednesday.

David will host the first match in Flensburg, while Tom will travel to Barcelona for the Round 2 match between the home team and their arc rivals THW Kiel and Chris will guide all viewers through an intriguing contest between the defending champions Vive Tauron Kielce on the court of MOL-Pick Szeged in Round 3.

MOTW also offers also the perfect platform to develop and implement new exciting technical equipment that brings the best handball directly into households around world. For example, referee cameras and other new broadcasting elements will come into use at selected matches during this season.

MOTW on social media

Since the 2015/16 season the MOTWs enjoy also a strong presence of EHF's social media channels. Also in the new season the EH's mobile reporter will provide from behind the scenes coverage in each MOTW venue on four main channels (Facebook, twitter, instagram and snapchat).