Continues diversification of Playmaker’s North
American content offering and provides a soccer platform to build
upon; reinforces Playmaker’s commitment to becoming the leading
source for soccer content across the Americas; adds to growing
podcast and digital video portfolio
Playmaker Capital Inc. (TSXV: PMKR) (“Playmaker”), the digital
sports media company that delivers authentic content experiences
through its portfolio of sports media and technology brands,
announced today that Playmaker subsidiary, The Nation Network
(“TNN”) has launched two soccer-focused digital media properties,
“Kicked Back” and “Sunday League Pundits”, under newly created
parent brand, “The 90th Minute”.
This press release features multimedia. View
the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220811005157/en/
Playmaker Capital Inc. Launches First
Canadian-Based Soccer Media Brand The 90th Minute (Graphic:
Business Wire)
The 90th Minute will be utilized as a foundation for an
all-soccer platform within TNN, launching with Kicked Back and
Sunday League Pundits, and will expand to include additional
soccer-centric brands that are either acquired or created
internally. In connection with the launch, Playmaker has announced
that Caroline Szwed, a former member of the Canadian Women’s
National Soccer Team, and host for Rogers Sportsnet and Toronto FC,
will serve as Chief Content Officer for The 90th Minute. Mrs. Szwed
is a respected soccer pundit and creator with over 2.2M likes on
TikTok and 125,000 followers cumulatively on TikTok, Instagram, and
Twitter, and she will deliver North American soccer fans an
authentic, insider’s perspective on the game. As a content creator
in collaboration with the broader team in place under The 90th
Minute brand, Mrs. Szwed will cover the most compelling
developments from all major leagues, federations and tournaments to
bolster soccer fandom in North America.
As evidenced in recent surveys by Ampere Analysis and Abacus
Data, more than 49% of US sports fans and 40% of Canadian sports
fans ‘like’ soccer, making it the fourth most popular sport in the
US and the fastest growing sport across North America. In November
2021, Comcast renewed its broadcast rights deal for the English
Premier League, and in June 2022, Apple and MLS agreed on a
historic streaming rights deal providing further tailwinds for
soccer’s popularity growth in the region. Moreover, the US, Canada,
and Mexico have all qualified for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the
first time that all three countries have qualified for the same
World Cup, and the three nations will also host the tournament in
2026.
Playmaker is positioning itself to be the leading source for
digital soccer content across the Americas and Playmaker brand,
Futbol Sites, already ranks as the largest regional digital sports
media group in Latin America. Recently, Playmaker acquired World
Soccer Talk, its first US-based soccer property, and JuanFutbol, a
widely popular sports media publisher in the Mexican and US
Hispanic markets. The 90th Minute brand establishes Playmaker’s
first Canadian-based soccer brand and together with Futbol Sites,
World Soccer Talk, and JuanFutbol, solidifies Playmaker’s presence
in all major North American soccer markets.
Kicked Back and Sunday League Pundits will serve as The 90th
Minute’s flagship properties. Kicked Back, debuting in time for the
build-up to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, is a twice weekly video
podcast hosted by Mrs. Szwed that will feature other soccer experts
from the TNN team as well as special guests from her network in the
soccer world. In addition to the two weekly video podcast episodes,
Kicked Back will produce daily soccer content across TikTok,
Instagram, and Twitter that revolves around the most exciting and
anticipated soccer storylines globally.
“As a former Canadian national team player and a Division I
collegiate athlete, I've always said that football was my first
real love. Ever since I was 10 years old, it's been the one sport
that has captured my entire being,” said Caroline Szwed, Chief
Content Officer of The 90th Minute. “In this newly formed role, I
will be creating and delivering football news and content to our
audience in authentic and engaging ways for fans across the world.
Having the opportunity to bring over 20 years of football knowledge
to Playmaker and TNN, with my experience as a nationally televised
sports host, this next chapter is something that I'm extremely
excited about.”
Sunday League Pundits, formerly The 90th Minute as a standalone
business, was acquired by Playmaker in July 2022. Sunday League
Pundits, led by a group of soccer fanatic friends, is a collection
of soccer and lifestyle themed digital video, podcast, and social
media channels, including a TikTok account that has generated 9
million likes and a YouTube channel with over 20,000 subscribers.
Sunday League Pundits started as a university radio show and has
quickly developed into a popular weekly podcast and live stream
channel for professional soccer matches and esports events,
providing analysis and breakdowns of all the action for its
audiences across multiple social media platforms.
Adding The 90th Minute to TNN’s growing podcast network
strengthens TNN’s bid to become the leading multi-sport and
lifestyle attraction for sports fans across Canada and the US. TNN
has built a highly engaged following of hockey fans across the
region and by introducing soccer focused content, its audience will
be given access to new soccer-centric personalities, digital
entertainment, live events, and merchandise to interact with
daily.
TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE DISCLAIMER
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this release.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release may contain forward-looking information
within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which
reflects Playmaker’s current expectations regarding future events.
The words “will”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”,
“intends” and similar expressions are often intended to identify
forward-looking information, although not all forward-looking
information contains these identifying words. Specific
forward-looking information contained in this press release
includes, but is not limited to, statements relating to (i) the
benefits expected to result from the acquisition of The 90th Minute
by Playmaker, (ii) the future performance of The 90th Minute,
including the achievement of certain targets and its continued
expansion and growth and (iii) other statements that are not
historical facts. Forward-looking information is based on a number
of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties, many of which are beyond Playmaker’s control, which
could cause actual results and events to differ materially from
those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking
information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not
limited to: changes in general economic, business and political
conditions. Playmaker undertakes no obligation to update such
forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly
required by applicable law.
ABOUT PLAYMAKER CAPITAL INC.
Playmaker (TSX-V: PMKR; OTC: PMKRF) is a digital sports media
company that acquires and integrates premier fan-centric media
brands, curated to deliver highly engaged audiences of sports fans
to tier one advertisers, online sports betting operators, and
sports federations and leagues. Leveraging its in-house technology
stack, Bench, and with a 360 degree view of sports fans, Playmaker
delivers authentic digital content experiences for sports fans and
best-in-class results for its partners across the Americas.
For more information, visit: http://www.playmaker.fans or
contact Playmaker Chief Executive Officer Jordan Gnat via email
jgnat@playmaker.fans. |T: (416) 815-4993.
To sign up for Playmaker’s Investor Alerts, visit:
playmaker.fans/investors.
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MEDIA Elias Blahacek – E: elias@playmaker.fans | T: (416)
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