Sportsradar strengthens broadcast arm with sportsman media acquisition

Sports data, insight and analysis provider Sportradar AG has confirmed that it has agreed to acquire ‘the shares and core businesses of European sports media rights and marketing specialist sportsman media holding GmbH.

Sportsradar governance agreed to acquire sportsman media assets from founders Thomas Krohne and Karl Wieseneder, in a move the company stated would significantly “upgrade its audiovisual content offering”.

Combining its broadcast portfolio with sportsman media assets, Sportradar will create one of the biggest international audiovisual catalogues for its existing clients, including premium content from the Bundesliga, ITF Tennis, Spain’s Copa del Rey and Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

Announcing the deal, Sportradar AG CEO Carsten Koerl commented:

“Even after 15 years in the betting industry, Sportradar never rests on its laurels. Although we already provide the market-leading offering in data, odds and trading services, this agreement marks a shift. It will upgrade our audiovisual portfolio and will ensure that our clients will have the broadest and best range of solutions to choose from, whether on an individual basis, or whether on a bespoke bundle of solutions basis.

“But it also provides a unique opportunity to explore new synergies where we can cross-pollinate our various products and services. Let’s also not forget the possibilities the Laola1 platforms present: through these channels, we will explore how we can provide rights holders and industry partners the maximum awareness and reach in combination with some of our unique data services and solutions

sportsman media holding founder and Co-CEO Thomas Krohne commented on the sale:

“We have chosen an ideal buyer for our group of companies with Sportradar. The sports rights, production and platform business we set up perfectly complements that of Sportradar. The clear synergies give us confidence that the company we built up and our staff have very good future prospects under Carsten Koerl’s stewardship. This was important to us when choosing this buyer. The size and international orientation of Sportradar offer the ideal conditions for successfully developing the business we set up.”

The acquisition of sportsman media holding remains subject to approval from the relevant antitrust authorities and is expected to go through by June this year.