Playmaker Capital Inc. Acquires World Soccer Talk
Playmaker Capital Inc. (Playmaker), the digital sports media company that delivers authentic content experiences through its portfolio of sports media and technology brands, has acquired 100% of the digital assets of Double Decker Group, LLC dba World Soccer Talk (World Soccer Talk), a U.S.-based, soccer-focused media business that provides breaking news, deep analysis, and need-to-know broadcast and streaming information related to soccer events, leagues, and clubs globally.
World Soccer Talk’s audience across web, social channels, and podcasts is primarily based in the U.S. and immediately contributes to Playmaker’s growing presence with North American soccer fans. Playmaker’s wholly owned subsidiary, Futbol Sites, has an expansive footprint across Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and the U.S. Hispanic market through widely popular soccer-first web properties, and it ranks as the largest regional digital sports media group in Latin America. World Soccer Talk will complement Playmaker’s presence in the Latin American sports market and with the U.S. Hispanic population, and establish Playmaker as a leading provider of digital soccer content in North America.
Soccer has now surpassed hockey for interest in the U.S. and it currently ranks as the fourth most popular sport in the country, behind only football, basketball, and baseball.1 Recently announced long-term broadcast and streaming rights deals among U.S.-based media companies, including Apple’s new 10-year deal with Major League Soccer, will contribute additional tailwinds for soccer’s ascent up North America’s sports rankings. Furthermore, FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, predicts that with World Cup 2022 featuring each of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, and World Cup 2026 hosted by the same three nations, soccer could eventually become North America’s most popular sport.2
“Soccer is on the rise in the U.S. and Canada, and Playmaker is focused on becoming the preeminent voice for the sport across the Americas, from the top of Canada to the bottom of Argentina,” said Jordan Gnat, Playmaker CEO. “World Soccer Talk Founder, Christopher Harris, exudes a true passion for sport that’s shared by the entire Playmaker team, and we’re excited to welcome him and World Soccer Talk into our family and our ecosystem as a core piece of a broader soccer strategy in advance of World Cups 2022, 2023 and 2026.”
World Soccer Talk’s domain authority for “where-to-watch” content makes it a popular and trusted source for soccer related information as well as an invaluable affiliate partner to sports streaming services. Affiliate advertising, the practice of delivering users to advertisers and sponsors and receiving a fee for users that convert to subscribers or one-time customers, is a vertical that Playmaker has sought to further activate across its myriad platforms. World Soccer Talk’s specialty in affiliate revenue generation will diversify Playmaker’s revenue streams and enhance user experience through exclusive and relevant promotions from the world’s leading brands and sports betting operators.
Through club and team schedules, prediction tools and brackets, and broadcast and streaming information, World Soccer Talk delivers a full-service content experience that goes beyond news and analysis. World Soccer Talk’s coverage of the business of soccer and the logistics associated with international soccer events, involving both club and national teams, serves as a valuable resource for soccer fans who wish to engage with the sport through a variety of storylines and developments.
World Soccer Talk’s complete multi-channel offering includes a website, mobile app, podcast, and multiple social media channels. Looking ahead to World Cup 2022 and beyond, Playmaker will extend key resources to World Soccer Talk including technical solutions, product design, and operational and editorial support to grow each of these platforms and to pursue additional monetization opportunities.
