Gary Neville has offered a majority stake in his fast-growing media enterprise The Overlap to radio large World, in a deal designed to show the platform right into a world-leading sports activities community.
The previous Manchester United and England defender will proceed to co-chair the enterprise alongside World Group chief govt Simon Pitts, after World acquired the stake from earlier buyers Miroma Group.
The deal paves the best way for a big growth in output, with The Overlap anticipated to provide a broader slate of exhibits and digital content material whereas sustaining its core concentrate on soccer. Funds from the transaction shall be reinvested straight into the enterprise to speed up development.
Launched as a fan-first soccer platform, The Overlap has grow to be one of many UK’s most profitable sports activities media manufacturers. Its flagship present, Stick with Soccer, is broadcast weekly on YouTube and options Neville alongside Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane, Ian Wright and Jill Scott. The programme has helped drive greater than 38 million month-to-month views throughout The Overlap’s YouTube channels.
Past soccer, the enterprise has already begun diversifying into different sports activities, producing fan-led debate codecs, long-form interviews and podcasts overlaying cricket and rugby union. Beneath World’s possession, that remit is predicted to widen additional because the enterprise evolves into what’s being billed internally as “The Overlap Community”.
Neville mentioned the expansion of the platform had exceeded all expectations.
“The Overlap began as an concept that we thought folks would possibly like, and we went for it,” he mentioned. “What has occurred since then has been an amazing journey. We by no means considered it as a enterprise — we simply needed to create one thing folks liked and would come again to each week.
“We see big development potential for The Overlap and are delighted to have discovered the proper companion in World to energy us ahead and create The Overlap Community, with the goal of changing into a world-leading soccer and sports activities media platform.”
World is Europe’s largest business radio group, proudly owning manufacturers together with Capital, LBC, Coronary heart and Traditional FM, alongside a serious promoting and digital audio enterprise. The corporate is predicted to deliver important business, manufacturing and distribution experience to The Overlap because it scales.
Simon Pitts mentioned the acquisition mirrored World’s ambition to develop premium digital content material manufacturers past conventional radio.
“The Overlap is without doubt one of the UK’s most profitable and dynamic sports activities leisure manufacturers, with a massively thrilling development plan,” he mentioned. “Gary and Scott have achieved a rare job constructing the enterprise, and we’re thrilled to be working collectively as we enter this subsequent part of development.”
Scott Melvin will stay lead govt director of the enterprise as The Overlap accelerates its growth throughout platforms and codecs.
