• Loading stock data...
Saturday, November 9, 2024
DEADLINE EXTENDED: The Best Employers in Sports survey is now open through Nov. 13 Learn More

FRS Sports Network and Its Plans for the Future of Sports Coverage

FRS Sports Network is looking to double down on its quality journalism and big-name talent. (Photo via FRS Sports Network)

In an era of clickbait journalism and a race to the bottom when it comes to CPMs, FRS Sports Network is doubling down on a commitment to quality journalism behind the likes of Jon Heyman, Jon Rothstein, and Zach Harper.

Never heard of FRS Sports Network? Well, that’s okay, you’re probably not alone. FRS Sports Network is the evolution of FanRag Sports after the company decided it needed to head in a new direction under its new leadership after seeing itself grow from a small blog to a nationally recognized name in the sports media world.

“We brought on a new CEO, Craig Amazeen, and the goal of that move was to take us to the next level,” said Jaime Eisner, Managing Editor/Director of Content for FRS Sports Network. “We had to be more clear in our branding, we had to be more cohesive. This is what led to us changing the name from FanRag Sports to FRS Sports Network.”

“The name ‘FanRag’ was always a point of contention. As a site that produces quality content and quality journalism, having the words ‘fan’ and ‘rag’ in your name didn’t really exude journalistic excellence.”

[the_ad id=”14294″]

Eisner, who has been with the company since 2014, has seen the different iterations of the brand and the evolution of the company, helping the brand pivot multiple times to where it finds itself today.

The biggest boost the brand got was when they were able to bring on Jon Heyman after he parted ways with CBS.

“We reached out to Heyman originally when he left CBS. At the time, he wasn’t interested in writing anywhere. A couple of months went by and he wrote an article that he published in full on his own Facebook page. At that point, we reached out again and let him know we were still interested and he took us up on a meeting.”

As Managing Editor/Director of Content, Jaime Eisner has big plans for FRS Sports Network (Photo via FRS Sports Network)

During that meeting, former director of content Tommy Stokke, Eisner and the FRS team were able to sell Heyman on their commitment to paying writers and quality content. Heyman took the sell and has been breaking news for the company ever since.

“He was really sold on our mission to create quality content and produce quality journalism and that all of our writers were paid,” said Eisner. “Bringing him on board launched us to a new level. It was the justifier for us. He gave us credibility. He made it okay to read FanRag Sports.”

As part of the launch of the new FRS Sports Network brand, the company also announced a multi-dimensional partnership with theScore that will see their content prominently featured in theScore’s app, a partnership that Eisner sees as beneficial for all parties involved.

“The Score has the ability, as they did on Thursday, to grab content from Jon Heyman and fill out their in-app MLB section with content people are interested in. To make their app as comprehensive as possible, it makes sense for them to partner with us to have that content. For us, it allows us to grab the high-quality features theScore produces and share them on our platforms. It is a win-win for everyone involved.”

Want more content like this? Subscribe to our daily newsletter!

For any company, rebranding can be a massive undertaking that, if not done well, can alienate core customers. Luckily for FRS Sports Network, everything they did was well received across all of their platforms.

Paige Dimakos, Video Host & Director of Social Media for FRS Sports Network, sees FRS’ fresh digital content as a way to organically work with sponsors. (Photo via FRS Sports Network)

“From a social standpoint, it was overwhelmingly positive because putting the word fan and rag together has never really set well from a branding standpoint when you are trying to push out credible journalism,” said Paige Dimakos, Video Host & Director of Social Media. “From a branding standpoint, even just talking to people on social media, the logo has come across well and mostly an overwhelming understanding of why we did what we did.”

With any company, the next step after a rebrand usually involves diving deeper into how to continue to grow an audience and grow revenue. That’s where new CEO Craig Amazeen will have a lion share of the duty.

[the_ad id=”14294″]

“The next year is all about guiding our content into the proper packaging. The content, the content packaging, and the niche content we are moving into is the next year,” said Amazeen. “Once we get past that, it becomes a technology and partner play. How do we evolve into all of the new areas of technology and also deliver high-level human talent, multi-faceted engagement, and traditional digital advertising opportunities for our partners.”

Only a week off of its facelift, the staff at FRS Sports Network sees a bright future ahead.

“I have always believed that talent wins,” said Amazeen. “For me, the most important thing is to see how talented the team at FRS is. It’s small, but it is very talented and that’s why we are going to succeed.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Members of the NY Giants run onto the field to start the game between the New York Giants and the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.

The NFL Is Becoming the League With No Borders

Where will the NFL go next? International expansion will only get bigger.
Tigers Head Coach Brian Kelly as the LSU Tigers take on the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA. Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.

Source of LSU’s New Tiger Has History of Animal Abuse Allegations

LSU isn’t using the tiger that lives on campus for Saturday’s game.

NBA Ratings Are Dipping and One Legend Has a Theory Why

NBA teams are averaging 37 three-points attempts per game this season.

MLB Fires Back at DSG Plan, Raising Doubt Over Long-Term Viability

The league and the Braves say they “have grave concerns” about the company’s future viability.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

First College Football Playoff Rankings Mark New Era

0:00

Featured Today

NFL Center Connor McGovern Is the Heir to a Potato Empire

The NFL vet’s family provides potatoes for McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and others.
Vanderbilt Commodores fans head to the south end zone as the goal post is taken down by exuberant fans after beating No. 1 Alabama 40-35 at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024.
opinion
November 2, 2024

Something New in College Football This Year: Parity

Upsets, surprises. CFB is more fun on the field than the NFL.
Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump waves flanked by former Georgia Bulldogs player Herschel Walker, recording art Kid Rock, professional golfer John Daily, Alabama senators Tommy Tuberville (R) and Katie Britt (R) during the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
November 1, 2024

Mission Swing State: College Football’s Political Advertising Battle

Trump, Harris, and the PACs that support them are utilizing the sport.
October 31, 2024

The Untapped Revenue ‘Powder Keg’ of Women’s NFL Fandom

There’s a “boatload” of money at stake for brands and the league.
The stands at the Solheim Cup

LPGA Apologizes for Solheim Cup Fan Bus Debacle That Left Stands Half-Empty

The USA-Europe women’s team golf event teed off Friday morning.
October 3, 2022

Real Madrid President Renews Call for Super League

Real Madrid’s president believes that soccer is losing ground.
May 20, 2024

Top Sports Business Jobs This Week (May 2024)

Each week, our staff combs through the thousands of job listings from…
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
August 10, 2022

PGA Tour Touts Projected Earnings to Keep Players

The PGA Tour is asking its players to consider their potential futures.
August 10, 2022

Bayern Munich to Make Growth Push in U.S. Market

Bayern Munich is looking to expand its reach in the U.S.
Nintendo-logo
August 3, 2022

Nintendo Profits Underwhelm, Switch Sales Decline

Nintendo failed to meet expectations in the company’s latest earnings report.
manfred_at_microphone
August 19, 2021

MLB Owners Propose $100M Salary Floor

Major League Baseball owners have proposed a $100 million payroll minimum for MLB’s 30 teams and a lower luxury tax threshold.