(NYSE:MANU) Manchester United today launched its official Twitter
(@ManUtd) and Sina Weibo (www.weibo.com/manchesterunited)
pages. The micro-blogging services will allow fans around the world to
engage with the club in a way they have never experienced before with
iconic artwork, behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive content sent
directly to their news feeds.
The @ManUtd Twitter page will reach the Club’s fans among the 200
million active Twitter users worldwide. The account will initially
launch in English, with foreign-language versions to follow. Manchester
United’s Sina Weibo account will provide content in Mandarin to the
service’s 500 million users.
Manchester United already has an impressive online presence with 67m
page views on its manutd.com
website during the final month of the 2012/13 football season and over
34m likes on its Facebook page. Today’s launches mark the next phase in
the enhancement of the Club’s digital media offering, with further new
products and platforms to be announced later this summer.
These new services will be complemented by the updated press office
Twitter account (rebranded as @MU_spokesperson) that will supply updates
on Manchester United’s business and commercial developments.
Richard Arnold, Group Managing Director, said:
“Connecting with our fans is a key part of the Club's strategy. We have
invested a lot of time and resource into providing the best media
offering for its fans, which is evident from the recent MUTV acquisition
and today’s Twitter and Sina Weibo launches.
“Every month there are over 5 million Manchester United related social
media posts and the level of engagement we have with our fans via social
media is amongst the highest of all top global brands. I look forward to
these new ventures further extending the Club’s interaction with its
fans around the world.”
About Manchester United
Manchester United is one of the most popular and successful sports teams
in the world, playing one of the most popular spectator sports on Earth.
Through our 135-year heritage we have won 61 trophies, enabling us to
develop the world’s leading sports brand and a global community of 659
million followers. Our large, passionate community provides Manchester
United with a worldwide platform to generate significant revenue from
multiple sources, including sponsorship, merchandising, product
licensing, new media & mobile, broadcasting and match day.
Copyright Business Wire 2013