The Action Network, a leading sports media company that provides in-depth betting content, tools and analytics for sports fans, announced today it has closed on $17.5 million in Series B funding led by Fertitta Capital, a leading private capital firm focused on technology-enabled media and entertainment businesses. As part of this investment, Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Fertitta Capital, joins The Action Network's board of directors.
"Since its inception, Fertitta Capital has focused on uncovering opportunities to leverage our unique combination of experience across sports, media and betting," said Bidarian. "The Action Network is the ideal investment to allow us to fully leverage that experience. We are confident that the company's best-in-class leadership team, products and content will continue to expand its position as the leading sports betting media company."
Independent media holding company The Chernin Group, which formed The Action Network in October 2017, also re-invested in the Series B round. In addition, Mike Kerns, President of Chernin Digital, was named the chairman of the company's board of directors.
"We are thrilled to welcome Fertitta Capital, and this exceptional group of sports, media and technology investors into the fold, as we build the next phase of The Action Network," said Kerns. "The company's remarkable growth this last year is a testament to our strong leadership team, and this latest financing will help us expand our audience reach and depth of product offerings for years to come."
Also contributing to The Action Network's Series B funding were prominent members of ownership groups of major sports organizations and strategic media investors. Among these include David Blitzer of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which owns a stake in the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils; The Chicago Cubs; global esports investor BITKRAFT Esports Ventures; 6721 Capital and former Twitter COO Anthony Noto.
"We are elated to have the confidence and support of top investors across sports and media," said Patrick Keane, CEO of The Action Network. "The Action Network is the benchmark for modern sports betting data, content and analytics. With sports betting now legal in eight states and more than a dozen other states considering legislation to legalize, we see an incredible opportunity as we focus on securing the necessary approvals in regulated US sports betting jurisdictions as well as those around the world."
The Action Network launched in January of 2018, five months before the Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on sports betting. Taking advantage of the rapidly evolving sports media landscape and audience demand for credible sports betting products and information, the company has hired several prominent industry personalities. These include Darren Rovell, former ESPN sports business writer; Rob Perez (aka "WorldWideWob"), former host of co-branded ESPN and Cycle Media production "Buckets"; and Jason Sobel, formerly of ESPN and the Golf Channel. The Action Network's mobile application, available for free on iOS and Android, also allows users to track bets, receive alerts corresponding to picks and see how much money is placed on each side of every wager. As a sign of progress for The Action Network, downloads of the app increased over 700% on the day of Super Bowl 53, as compared to Super Bowl 52, with registered users also rising over 500% when measured on that same basis.
What This Means If You Like and/or Subscribe to The Action Network
This is great news for our product, content and users. We want to continue building the best tech and media platform for sports bettors, helping you make the most informed decisions you can on a daily basis.
About Us
About The Action Network
Launched in January 2018 by The Chernin Group, The Action Network provides premium storytelling and analysis, real-time odds, in-depth information on the betting markets, personalized alerts for users, as well as the ability to track bets via its website and sports industry-leading app. The Action Network has been featured in New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, CNBC, ESPN, Fox Sports, Sports Business Journal and dozens of other media outlets as the leading source for news, information and primary data in sports betting. For more information, please visit www.actionnetwork.com or contact press@actionnetwork.com.
About Fertitta Capital
Fertitta Capital is a private capital firm focused on media and entertainment businesses that have a significant online or digital element. Founded in 2017 by Lorenzo Fertitta, Frank Fertitta III and Nakisa Bidarian, the firm seeks opportunities where it can drive success through true partnership, operational experience and strategic capital. Fertitta Capital has offices in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.fertittacapital.com.
About The Chernin Group
The Chernin Group, LLC ("TCG") is a privately held, independent media holding company founded by Peter Chernin and based in Los Angeles, California. TCG has built, managed, operated, and invested in businesses in the media/entertainment, sports, consumer, and technology sectors around the world since 2010. TCG's divisions include Chernin Entertainment, which produces feature films and television programs; TCG Digital, which acquires and invests in companies in the digital media sector such as Headspace, Barstool Sports, The Action Network, The Athletic, Scopely, and Stadium Goods; and CA Media, which operates media and entertainment businesses in India and Indonesia. In 2018, AT&T acquired TCG's controlling interest in Otter Media, the joint venture between the two companies formed in 2014 to invest in and launch global over-the-top video services.
TCG Capital Management, LP ("TCM") is an investment advisory firm based in Los Angeles and San Francisco, California that was founded in 2018. TCM sponsors and manages investments in the media/entertainment, technology, sports, and consumer sectors.
