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

variety.com:

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorESPN has 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 with Autograph, the NFT startup co-founded by Brady, to release its first nonfungible tokens.

NFTs provide 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.The collaboration kicks off Wednesday (April 6) with the release 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. In addition, Brady will sign 50 NFTs from the collection.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 to Brady’s reversing his decision to retire with 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.