August 6, 2012
Leading Sports Digital Property Joins Turner Sports Portfolio
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. has acquired Bleacher
Report (B/R), one of the fastest-growing sports digital
properties on the Internet, it was announced today by David
Levy, president of sales, distribution and sports of Turner
Broadcasting. San Francisco-based B/R (http://www.bleacherreport.com)
and its popular mobile offerings will now operate as part
of the Turner Sports division.
B/R delivers original and entertaining sports editorial
content and is a leading sports media destination,
delivering over 10 million monthly unique visitors. The
company has developed a next-generation publishing model
powered by an expanding base of passionate and
knowledgeable contributors who deliver high-quality content
that readers crave at the team and topic level.
"Bleacher Report is a strategic acquisition that
further enhances Turner's portfolio of sports
offerings, as well as reflects our continuing commitment to
bring fans greater content across all screens throughout
the entire year," said Levy. "As brand builders
and content providers, we were attracted to Bleacher
Report's fast growth to a leading marketplace position
and a valued consumer destination. The site will continue
to innovate and provide users and sports fans with branded
news and information. With our expansive digital rights and
resources, Turner will further ensure Bleacher Report's
continued growth and success."
Levy added, "With the acquisition of Bleacher Report,
we have added another dimension to our portfolio of digital
and mobile properties that will enable us to offer our
advertising partners integrated opportunities across all
screens and demos that will enhance our ability to monetize
sports programming throughout the entire year."
"Bleacher Report was created to put fans first, and we
are excited to integrate our innovative content publishing
model and engaging multi-platform consumer digital media
experience within Turner Sports' world-class television
and digital content portfolio," said Brian Grey, in
his newly-expanded role as chief executive officer,
Bleacher Report & senior vice president, Turner Sports.
"Together the portfolio will define how content
creators, consumers and marketers come together around the
sports team and topic content experience that fans will
consume across every screen."
Turner Sports currently manages digital properties on
behalf of the NBA, NCAA and PGA, oversees ad sales for
NASCAR.COM and has a strategic sales relationship with
Yahoo! Sports. B/R will complement a preeminent collection
of brands within the Turner Digital portfolio spanning
entertainment, sports, kids, news and comedy destinations
across broadband, mobile and tablet. The Turner Digital
portfolio currently reaches 86 million unique visitors a
month.
In addition to its digital portfolio, Turner Sports
broadcasts a number of events year-round on TBS, TNT and
truTV, including the NBA, MLB, NASCAR, the PGA Championship
and the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship.
Its on-air roster of announcers and analysts includes Marv
Albert, Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Reggie
Miller, Steve Kerr, Shaquille O'Neal, Cal Ripken,
Dennis Eckersley, John Smoltz, Ron Darling, David Wells and
Kyle Petty, among others.
Grey will continue to oversee B/R's day-to-day
operations out of its San Francisco offices and will report
directly to Lenny Daniels, executive vice president and
chief operating officer of Turner Sports. Together, Grey
and Matt Hong, senior vice president and general manager of
operations for Turner Sports, will partner in the overall
management and integration of the Bleacher Report
operations into the Turner Sports portfolio.
Dave Finocchio, founder and chief content & product
officer, Bleacher Report & vice president, Turner Sports;
Sam Parnell, chief technology officer, Bleacher Report &
vice president, Turner Sports and Rich Calacci, Chief
Revenue Officer, Bleacher Report & senior vice president,
Turner Digital Ad Sales will all stay on board within their
expanded roles.
On this transaction, Turner Broadcasting was advised by
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and Bleacher Report was
advised by RBC Capital Markets and Latham & Watkins LLP.
About Bleacher Report
Bleacher Report (B/R) is the Web's leading publisher of
original and entertaining sports content and is one of the
fastest growing sports media Web sites in the U.S. Since
launching in 2008, B/R's Web site has grown to an
audience of more than 10 million monthly unique visitors.
The company's distinguished editorial team leads more
than 2,000 core contributors, and directs Bleacher
Report's unique data-driven approach to creating and
programming content. The result is first-rate sports
commentary that gives B/R's audience the stories they
want to read in real-time around the teams and topics they
are most passionate about. B/R's editorial content is
also syndicated to a number of national and regional
publishing partners including USA Today, Los Angeles Times,
The Baltimore Sun, Philly.com, San Francisco Chronicle,
Houston Chronicle and Seattle PI. In addition, more than 2
million fans subscribe to B/R's sport-and-team-specific
email newsletters and more than 1 million users have
installed B/R's leading Team Stream™ mobile and tablet
app, which provide a comprehensive mix of content that
engages a broad array of sports fans at the team and topic
level.
About Turner Sports
Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System,
Inc., is an industry leader in televised and online sports
programming, airing championship-level sporting events on
TBS, TNT and truTV, and managing some of the most popular
sports sites on the Internet. Turner Sports' television
lineup includes the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NCAA
Division I Men's Basketball Championship, NASCAR and
professional golf. The company's digital portfolio
includes NASCAR.COM, NCAA.com and March Madness Live,
PGATOUR.COM and PGA.com, as well as an accompanying
collection of mobile websites and connected device apps.
Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital,
which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA
Mobile, the NBA Game Time App, NBADLEAGUE.com and WNBA.com.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company,
creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation
and young adult; and sports media environments on
television and other platforms for consumers around the
world.
Source/Notes: ComScore MediaMetrix P2+ Home/Work Data for
June 2012.
CONTACTS:
Sal Petruzzi
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
(212) 275-6897
sal.petruzzi@turner.com
Jenn Toner
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
(212) 275-6642
jenn.toner@turner.com
Visit the Turner Sports online pressroom for additional
press materials; follow Turner Sports on Twitter at
@TurnerSportsPR.
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