Global Media Giant Buys Majority Stake in Gary Neville's YouTube Sports Channel
In a significant development for sports broadcasting, global media company Global has acquired a majority stake in The Overlap, the popular YouTube channel co-founded by former Manchester United defender Gary Neville. This move marks another major player in the streaming platform entering the sports broadcasting space.
The deal sees Global increasing its presence in the fast-growing world of video podcasting and sports pundry, which has proven to be a lucrative market in recent years. The Overlap, launched just four years ago, has already become one of the UK's most popular football content channels, boasting over 38 million monthly views on YouTube.
As part of the acquisition, Neville will remain co-chairman of the company, while Global's leadership team will oversee the expansion of The Overlap into a "multi-format sports media network". This new venture aims to capitalize on the growing demand for sports content across various platforms and age groups, with a particular focus on football.
The plan is ambitious, with The Overlap set to become a global leader in sports broadcasting. With its flagship show Stick to Football, which features a team of pundits including Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott, Roy Keane, and Ian Wright, the channel has already established itself as a major player in the market.
This deal also highlights the increasingly blurred lines between traditional broadcasters and digital media outlets. Many of The Overlap's most prominent figures are former sports professionals who made their names on mainstream channels such as Sky Sports before turning to YouTube.
Global's acquisition of The Overlap is seen as a strategic move to tap into the growing power of new media, with Simon Pitts, Global's group chief executive, hailing Neville and his team as "extraordinary" and welcoming them to the company.
As The Overlap embarks on this next phase of growth, one thing is certain: the world of sports broadcasting will be watching with bated breath.
In a significant development for sports broadcasting, global media company Global has acquired a majority stake in The Overlap, the popular YouTube channel co-founded by former Manchester United defender Gary Neville. This move marks another major player in the streaming platform entering the sports broadcasting space.
The deal sees Global increasing its presence in the fast-growing world of video podcasting and sports pundry, which has proven to be a lucrative market in recent years. The Overlap, launched just four years ago, has already become one of the UK's most popular football content channels, boasting over 38 million monthly views on YouTube.
As part of the acquisition, Neville will remain co-chairman of the company, while Global's leadership team will oversee the expansion of The Overlap into a "multi-format sports media network". This new venture aims to capitalize on the growing demand for sports content across various platforms and age groups, with a particular focus on football.
The plan is ambitious, with The Overlap set to become a global leader in sports broadcasting. With its flagship show Stick to Football, which features a team of pundits including Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott, Roy Keane, and Ian Wright, the channel has already established itself as a major player in the market.
This deal also highlights the increasingly blurred lines between traditional broadcasters and digital media outlets. Many of The Overlap's most prominent figures are former sports professionals who made their names on mainstream channels such as Sky Sports before turning to YouTube.
Global's acquisition of The Overlap is seen as a strategic move to tap into the growing power of new media, with Simon Pitts, Global's group chief executive, hailing Neville and his team as "extraordinary" and welcoming them to the company.
As The Overlap embarks on this next phase of growth, one thing is certain: the world of sports broadcasting will be watching with bated breath.