• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, July 16, 2025

FloSports Pushing Forward With Media Rights Acquisition Strategy

  • OTT provider acquired media rights to Gulf South Conference football on April 16.
  • Based on viewership trends during the coronavirus pandemic, FloSports is looking to acquire additional motorsports in 2020 as well as virtual cycling.
Photo Credit: Gulf South Conference

The coronavirus pandemic has not put a stop to FloSports’ aggressive media rights acquisition strategy in 2020. Plans remain largely unaltered for the remainder of the year as rights holders await the return of live sports.

The OTT service provider on April 16 acquired the distribution rights to NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference football games until the end of the 2023 season. FloSports will also livestream the conference’s championship tournaments for basketball and softball, among other team sports. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

But there is even more coming on the acquisitions front, Phil Wendler, senior vice president of global rights acquisition at FloSports, said. FloSports will announce at least three more deals to add to its OTT channel lineup in the coming weeks, including a motorsports addition and another conference contract.

“We’re not out there trying to compete with the big players for top-tier level rights,” Wendler said. “But beneath that, we see a lot of underserved sports communities. The GSC will perform just as well as the Colonial Athletic Conference did for us last season and serve fans that have not had a true OTT media partner in the past.”

FloSports has continued to ramp up its number of media deals over the past two years. More than 250 contracts were signed in 2019, ranging from single events and tournaments to professional sports leagues and college conference rights.

All decisions are based on viewer consumption data on FloSports’ platform, Wendler said. The OTT service is coming off a record year in 2019, where subscriptions grew 100% year-over-year, and live-streamed events increased 70%.

READ MORE: OTT Providers Offer Free Access to Grow Subscribers for Sports’ Return

Based on viewership trends during the coronavirus pandemic, FloSports is looking to acquire more motorsports rights in 2020 as well as virtual cycling. The company partnered with indoor cycling gamification app Zwift to rebroadcast the 2019 Milano-San Remo race on its FloBikes OTT channel last month via a virtual watch and ride party.

“We feel like our game plan works. We continued to see strong numbers in the first two months of the year,” Wendler said. “We just got a little bit of a timeout, if you will, to ride out and keep everybody safe until it’s safe to go back to work.”

FloSports, founded in 2006, currently has more than 300,000 active users. The company’s OTT verticals include wrestling, track & field, rugby, and several other competitions spanning professional, collegiate, and high school sports.

“We want to be smart about how we go about buying rights. This situation reinforces that in a big way,” Wendler said. “We’re a full-service partner producing content and marketing for properties. We look at the big picture from a budget perspective versus what we believe we can generate in return.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Georgia’s Kirby Smart Says Money Is Making Players Too Comfortable

The football coach is concerned about the revenue-sharing era.

NCAA: March Madness Expansion to 76 Teams ‘Still Viable’ for 2026

Negotiations continue with media rights holder CBS and TNT Sports.
Rimouski, QC - JUNE 1: Final Game of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Medicine Hats Tigers and the London Knights on June 1, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc.

CHL Is Facing a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of Questions Amid NCAA Talent Departure

As players defect to college, the Canadian Hockey League won’t cede ground.

Featured Today

May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.
July 12, 2025

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

Baseball’s most important keepsake drives long lines—and big business.
Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.
July 9, 2025

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.

MLB Home Run Derby Draws 5.7M Viewers on ESPN, Up 5%

ESPN reverses the trend from last year and registers audience growth.
Brittney Griner and Caitlin Clark
exclusive
July 15, 2025

‘Good Morning America’ Will Air From WNBA All-Star in First

The All-Star Game’s relevance has exploded with the league in recent years.
July 15, 2025

WNBA Hits Fourth-Highest ABC Viewership With Clark-Bueckers Duel

Clark missed the first Fever vs. Wings game with an injury.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
NBC Sports
exclusive
July 14, 2025

NBC Hiring Ex-Hawks Exec Grant Liffmann As NBA Front Office Insider

Liffmann spent the last three years with Atlanta after covering the Warriors.
Jul 10, 2025; Wimbledon, United Kingdom; Iga Swiatek of Poland at her on court interview after winning her match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland on day 11 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
July 10, 2025

Wimbledon Set to Deliver Strong Finals Matchup for ESPN

Novak Djokovic is still in the hunt for his 25th Grand Slam.
Paige Bueckers
exclusive
July 8, 2025

Women’s March Madness Expansion Wouldn’t Yield More ESPN Money

ESPN is not required to pay extra if women’s March Madness expands.
Feb 7, 2025; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies center Tarris Reed Jr. (5) reacts after his basket against the St. John's Red Storm in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
July 8, 2025

After Decade Apart, ESPN and Big East Rekindle Media Rights Relationship

After a decade-plus apart, the network will stream hundreds of conference events.