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SPRING CHRISTMAS CHESS: Magnus Carlsen plays Wesley So on “The Champions Chess Tour,” with Unibet clearly on his billboard. On the right is NRK chess expert Torstein Bae. Photo: Screenshot from NRK TV
NRK invites space Christmas chess with Magnus Carlsen and world stars, with a foreign betting company as one of the most prominent features.
– Now we are in contact with them, because this surprised us a bit. We have asked not to be this kind of advertising, and I am not happy about it, says NRK sports manager Egil Sundvor.
The ad Sundvor is talking about is from Unibet betting company, which is one of Magnus Carlsen’s main sponsors and is in the background of Carlsen’s game screen throughout the broadcast.
– We found out when the broadcast started, says Sundvor, who adds that he believes their wishes will be fulfilled through good dialogue.
This Christmas, the second round of the “Tour of Chess Champions”, which is part of a ten-month tournament, will be spread over the same number of months. Chess broadcasts are sent from the “headquarters” of the grandmasters and Carlsen is overseas, which means the broadcast is by definition from overseas.
Starting in the New Year, the Norwegian Media Authority will have the opportunity to stop advertising foreign gambling companies targeting Norwegian viewers. A general ban on broadcasting this type of advertising on Norwegian television channels to Norwegian viewers has already been adopted, which some broadcasters circumvent by transmitting signals from abroad.
Carlsen previously ran the game company on chess broadcasts in Norway, most recently at the Magnus Carlsen Tour Finals on TV 2 in August.
– It is illegal to market to Norwegians, no matter where it occurs from, the department director of the Norwegian Lottery Authority, Henrik Nordal, told VG in January, when Carlsen’s comprehensive agreement with Unibet was known.
also read
The Norwegian Lottery Authority on Carlsen advertising: illegal on Norwegian TV screens
Request strongly
NRK-sporten editor-in-chief Torbjørn Sarre-Jensen handles the dialogue with the organizer.
– We want them to remove the ad, even if by definition they are not doing anything illegal, since he is abroad and sends it from abroad. We strongly ask you to avoid having Unibet in the background, but we cannot demand it, says NRK-sporten editor-in-chief Torbjørn Sarre-Jensen.
He says it was a clear wish of NRK before the broadcast that the game company should not be part of the digital advertising poster behind the world champion, adding that it is only this advertising that they want for the life of the poster.
– What do you think of the fact that they still choose to have the betting company in the background?
– It was a bit surprising and not entirely lucky, says Sarre-Jensen.
Arenareklame
The Champions Chess Tour is organized by the Carlsen-owned Play Magnus company, and Arne Horvei is employed by the company as the tournament director and is therefore responsible for the games that are played now. Play Magnus has no agreement with the betting company; it is Carlsen Private who has done it.
– We have several spots available and players have the opportunity to have private sponsorships from their back wall. He does not play from Norway, and he has it in the background there have sits down, so it should be seen as publicity in the arena, Horvei says, emphasizing that it’s not tournament collaboration that’s looming.
It confirms a dialogue that NRK did not want this ad, but explains that Carlsen himself has considered it according to the rules for displaying this sponsor.
– It is the place from where you play and the rules of the local arena are applied. Players sit in many different places around the world and have the opportunity to follow local rules, Horvei says.
VG has tried to contact father and coach Henrik Carlsen for comment, so far without success.
P.S.! Carlsen has played four tying games on the first day of the tournament.
