Nathan Lindberg

PENN Entertainment, Inc has announced that ESPN Bet will soon be seamlessly integrated into the ESPN and theScore apps across North America. This development means users will be able to track their bets, including all legs of parlays, live within these popular media platforms. The integration also includes personalized betting offers, real-time odds updates, and various wagering options, all designed to enhance the overall user experience. https://lnkd.in/eDWnHXrj Personalization is becoming increasingly important for betting platforms to differentiate themselves in a crowded market. If you're looking to elevate your sports betting platform, check out my recent article where I discuss strategies for creating a standout user experience: https://lnkd.in/eWXPqMkJ #DataArt #DataArtMedia #sportsbetting #bettingnews #sportsbusiness #sportsbiz 

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"Despite the significant growth and investment in Esports, several myths persist, creating perceived barriers for brands considering entry into this space," says John Tippins – Regional Strategy Director at UM MENAT. #esports #gaming #middleeast #brandstrategy #planning #advertising #marketing Read the entire article:

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Action 24/7, a major Tennessee sportsbook, has announced a partnership with California-based sports betting technology and media provider WagerWire to launch ActionWire™, a groundbreaking marketplace for active sports bets. This first-of-its-kind collaboration will enable Tennessee sports bettors to buy and sell previously placed wagers on an open secondary market, offering unprecedented value and optionality. 'ActionWire is more than just a feature; it's a game-changer for how our players connect with and control their bets,' said Andrew Jacks, GM of Operations at Action 24/7. 'Offering such a differentiating feature will continue to make us an attractive option for bettors looking for a sportsbook that focuses on player empowerment.' The marketplace allows bettors to treat their wagers as liquid assets that can be bought and sold, in whole or in part, at any time until the buzzer, creating a new standard for innovation and player engagement in the online sports betting industry. Zach Doctor, WagerWire CEO, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, 'Our mission is to empower bettors and unlock value for operators, so we are thrilled to be working with the team at Action 24/7 that also live by these principles and go above and beyond to cater to their passionate local fanbase in the Tennessee market.' As part of the collaboration, WagerWire will amplify high-stakes betting stories to generate brand awareness for Action 24/7 and secure potential buyers. The partnership will also involve social media engagement, contests, giveaways, and targeted campaigns for Tennessee bettors. #sportsbetting #tennessee #wagerwire #action247 #sportsbook #betting @wagerwire @action247

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💸 US Sports betting ad spending is down 20%. What's behind the sudden cutback? Nielsen’s latest report for the American Gaming Association shows a striking dip in 2023 marketing budgets among operators: 👉 Betting ads across TV, billboards, digital, print, and cinemas have dropped 15%.  👉 TV-specific betting ads decreased by 11%. The reason is almost obvious. As the industry stabilizes, ad spending naturally slows down. Having huge budgets at the start was important to snag market share. Now, to stay competitive in a maturing market, you should use targeted ads to reach the right people and try new, creative ways to engage customers. I believe, the marketing approach will get more tailored and optimized. #fsm #digitalmarketing #advertising #sports #sportsmarketing #sportsbetting #sportsbook

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To connect with fans in today’s media-driven world, athletes are challenged to do more than simply sign autographs. Wave Sports + Entertainment helps some of the biggest names & voices in sports capitalize on the media blitz. Now working directly from Suite’s cloud storage, Wave’s editing team has a highlight-reel workflow in the Edit Bay. The biggest win? Centralizing media for instant access, no matter where Wave's collaborators are located. Read the full Case Study >> https://hubs.la/Q02SchMp0 #LosAngeles #AthleteStories #RemoteCollaboration

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Sports remains a vital part of media plans, with companies betting that consumers will continue to pay for it. A recent article provides fascinating insights into the future of sports. What's your sports strategy? Let's discuss! #sportsmedia #sportsbiz #futureofsports #espnfresno #localsportsleader

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Biggest media story of the year: the explosion in women’s sports. The combination of big stars emerging in soccer and basketball with the need for live content for streaming services should drive huge growth. Not to mention the desire for people to go live events and the affordability of taking a family to a game. A lot of strong secular trends should set up the NWSL and WNBA for really good runs.

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Bryce Yang (Sr. Director, Global Sports Marketing at 2K) shared insightful comments this week on the launch of "Top Spin 2K25," the most recent in a growing list of sports releases — 7 of their last 8 games! To me, the interview reinforced the strategic value of collaboration between sports brands and game publishers. Here are my top 3 takeaways, plus how building expertise in gaming can help accelerate your career in sports 👇 🎮 1. Sports allow game publishers to *reach into the mainstream* by welcoming casual gamers. From this foundation, 2K can introduce other titles to passionate gamers: e.g., Borderlands, Bioshock, Civilization, XCOM. 🎾 2. Tennis is a sports that can capture *youth enthusiasm* and partnerships with games can help accelerate that trend. For example, Frances Tiafoe and Carlos Alcaraz have each promoted the game on their Instagram pages. 📸 3. Sports games are natural destinations for *in-game brand advertising,* driving revenue for athletes/leagues/tournaments as well as game publishers. Top Spin 2K25 includes the real-live sponsors of tournaments, such as BNP Paribas's support of Indian Wells. __ As you build your career in sports, showing vigilance on the development of *alternative channels* (including game publishers) is a valuable way to reach new audiences and help grow a sport overall. As gaming continues to become mainstream, expertise on how your sport can help a game publisher expand could give you an edge in building for this new medium. __ Check out the full interview with Digiday: https://lnkd.in/eu44_fiY ⭐️ To contribute to tennis's growth, explore 200+ open Golf / Tennis jobs, including roles at the (USTA) United States Tennis Association, ATP Tour, WTA, and more on TeamWork Online: https://lnkd.in/e8pRjQRB What sports game do you believe has contributed the most to the growth of the sport itself (and why)? ⬇️ 💬

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10 sports & entertainment VC funding rounds from Q4 2024, including 4 sports tech products, 3 emerging leagues, and 2 youth sports platforms, and 1 connected fitness product 👇 💸 $2M Roy - Fan engagement platform that raises and influence team selections, while simplifying fund management for athletes (Oct 2024, led by Groove Capital, Idea Fund of La Crosse) 💸 $3M Fanstake - Helps in organizing player specific programs by pooling funds from fans (Nov 2024, led by Susa Ventures, Will Ventures) 💸 $4.8M GROWL - Connected fitness startup transforming the boxing bag into a personal, at-home boxing & fitness coach (Dec 2024, led by Skip Capital) 💸 $5.5M Major League Table Tennis - MLTT is the first and only professional table tennis league (Oct 2024, led by David Blitzer and Daryl Morey) 💸 $6M BetHog 🥓 - BetHog is a new crypto sports book that brings home the bacon (Nov 2024, led by 6MV) 💸 $21M Volo Sports - Access to a range of sports, fitness, tournaments, social activities, and virtual events for adults above 21 of age (Nov 2024, led by Bluestone Equity Partners) 💸 $21.5M The Snow League - The global league for snowboarding and freestyle skiing competitions (support from Ares Management Corporation, David Blitzer's Bolt Ventures, Ryan Sports Ventures, Will Ventures) 💸 $60M Players Health - Insurance agency that protects athletes and sports organizations with a risk management platform (Dec 2024, led by Bluestone Equity Partners) 💸 $100M League One Volleyball (LOVB) - Sports community for female athletes and initiates its league, LOVB Pro, from its junior volleyball clubs (Nov 2024, led by Atwater Capital) 💸 $100M TOCA Football - Soccer technology company that aims to disrupt and elevate the soccer experience through user-centered technology (Oct 2024, backers include Jim Kavanaugh, co-owner of MLS team, St. Louis CITY SC) __ Q4 2024 has provided a notable increase in funding for emerging company ideas in sports & entertainment, including products for fans, consumers, and new leagues that are building IP in niche areas. 💡 If you're looking to build your career in sports, a simple principle can often unlock career opportunity: *follow the money* Organizations which announcing funding rounds often do so with the intention to broadcast strength and growth potential. This can typically lead to organizations looking to hire talent to meet the new market opportunity. __ 🔗 See other sports funding rounds on Crunchbase: https://lnkd.in/e4paSGn3 ⭐️ Explore 6,000+ open opportunities across sports, including opportunities at many organizations on this list (Volo Sports, TOCA Football, The Snow League, and more): https://lnkd.in/gZJ87gav What other sports & entertainment funding rounds / acquisitions from Q4 2024 are you following? ⬇️ 💬

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🌐 EA Sports’ New Ecosystem Strategy 🌐 EA SPORTS has announced the upcoming EA SPORTS App, a platform that blends live sports coverage with social networking. With an exclusive partnership with LaLiga, the app will offer real-time scores, stats, and community features for fans to connect and share highlights. 3 Key Takeaways for Businesses: 1️⃣ Ecosystem Expansion – EA meets fans’ evolving needs by combining information and community in one platform. 2️⃣ Customer-Centric Design – Integrated content and features enhance user engagement. 3️⃣ Multi-Channel Brand Building – Diverse touchpoints boost customer loyalty and reach. 🎥🔗 For more insights, check out our latest video and blog post on this topic: https://lnkd.in/e6gKkBiN 📚🔗 If you prefer reading to watching, check out our blog post: https://lnkd.in/e9dyAB4q Visit Ecosystemizer’s website to see how we support businesses in navigating ecosystems. Looking forward to your thoughts! #EcosystemStrategy #Ecosystemizer #EASports #BusinessInnovation #CustomerEngagement #DigitalTransformation #SportsTech #LaLiga #BusinessEcosystems

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"Peak Sports": When Innovation Outpaces Demand...Again In the sports arena, we're witnessing a blitz reminiscent of the "peak TV" frenzy. From the gridiron of the NFL to the precision of the WNBA, not to mention the burgeoning leagues springing up faster than a rookie's first home run—everyone's hustling to score big with live audiences and the streaming giants ready to pony up big bucks for those real-time thrills. But hang on to your helmets—because just like the peak TV craze, this "Peak Sports" phenomenon might just be setting us up for an overtime upset. Saturation vs. Demand (Overcrowded Field) Echoing the days when every network sprinted to pad out their streaming rosters, the sports world is now playing the same risky game. From the fresh fairways of Good Good Golf to the innovative indoor swings of Tiger Woods' TGL, plus newcomers like Pickleball and the Professional Volleyball League—there’s a sudden scramble to inflate the sports bubble. But with overall media consumption dribbling down by 4% YoY in 2023, one has to wonder: are we headed for a slam dunk or a blocked shot? Generational Divide (Rookie vs. Veteran Viewers) The playbook is changing, and not everyone's keen on the new game plan. A mere 23% of Gen Z fans are truly passionate about sports, a steep drop from the 42% of Millennial die-hards. And with 27% of Gen Z waving the "anti-sports" banner—triple that of any previous generation—it’s a game-time decision: adapt or lose these viewers to other pastimes. Economic Challenges (Shaky Financial Footing) Just as cable's once-golden affiliate fees start to deflate like a poorly kept soccer ball, sports are desperately seeking tech tycoons as their new financial MVPs. Yet, without a solid strategy for profitability, this approach mirrors peak TV's flawed financials—where the rush for new subscribers couldn't keep pace with the runaway costs of content creation. Can tech’s deep pockets keep sports in the green indefinitely? Quality vs. Quantity (The League Expansion Draft): In peak TV, the treasure trove of series meant everyone found something to binge, yet it also spawned a deluge of less-than-stellar screen time. Sports might just be courting the same fate. Does the world really need off-season gridiron games or a virtual Tiger Woods drive? It’s a pivotal play, risking the quality of competition for the sake of quantity. In Conclusion As the whistle blows on this era of "Peak Sports," we're all left wondering whether the current strategy is a forward pass leading to groundbreaking growth or a Hail Mary that'll end in a fumble. Like any bubble, without a game plan rooted in real demand and economic sense, this sports surge could see us heading for a match full of unforced errors. Let’s just hope it’s not the fans—those that are left—who end up paying the penalty.

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The crazy thing is many of us (and myself included) believed that streaming should have created a whole new value chain that released more for the sports industry as the avid fan was able to truly acquire what they wanted. Few of us (across sports/media/tech) really understood how much the implosion of the bundle would negatively impact the industry. The one element I have always stated is that after the great unbundling will be the great consolidation… it’s the history of business. So I expect more and more streaming and less old form broadcast (especially as new streaming tech enables better anti piracy in the future) BUT I expect more concepts like Venu or streaming bundles to appear to provide better value both for the customer and business. The trick as always is to have strong beliefs but to be open to new information to adapt and change your opinion and when you do… move. Life and business (and fandom) is never straight line.

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