Playmaker Capital Inc. Acquires World Soccer Talk to Bolster Growth of Soccer Fandom in North America

By: Playmaker Capital Inc. via Business Wire

July 05, 2022 at 07:30 AM EDT

Strengthens Playmaker’s bid to become the leading source for soccer content across the Americas; introduces an affiliate-first revenue generating asset to the Playmaker ecosystem of digital sports media brands.

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, has acquired 100% of the digital assets of Double Decker Group, LLC dba World Soccer Talk (“World Soccer Talk”), a U.S.-based, soccer-focused media business that provides breaking news, deep analysis, and need-to-know broadcast and streaming information related to soccer events, leagues, and clubs globally.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220705005274/en/

Playmaker Capital Inc. Acquires World Soccer Talk (Graphic: Business Wire)

World Soccer Talk’s audience across web, social channels, and podcasts is primarily based in the U.S. and immediately contributes to Playmaker’s growing presence with North American soccer fans. Playmaker’s wholly owned subsidiary, Futbol Sites, has an expansive footprint across Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and the U.S. Hispanic market through widely popular soccer-first web properties, and it ranks as the largest regional digital sports media group in Latin America. World Soccer Talk will complement Playmaker’s presence in the Latin American sports market and with the U.S. Hispanic population, and establish Playmaker as a leading provider of digital soccer content in North America.

Soccer has now surpassed hockey for interest in the U.S. and it currently ranks as the fourth most popular sport in the country, behind only football, basketball, and baseball.¹ Recently announced long-term broadcast and streaming rights deals among U.S.-based media companies, including Apple’s new 10-year deal with Major League Soccer, will contribute additional tailwinds for soccer’s ascent up North America’s sports rankings. Furthermore, FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, predicts that with World Cup 2022 featuring each of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, and World Cup 2026 hosted by the same three nations, soccer could eventually become North America’s most popular sport.²

“Soccer is on the rise in the U.S. and Canada, and Playmaker is focused on becoming the preeminent voice for the sport across the Americas, from the top of Canada to the bottom of Argentina,” said Jordan Gnat, Playmaker CEO. “World Soccer Talk Founder, Christopher Harris, exudes a true passion for sport that’s shared by the entire Playmaker team, and we’re excited to welcome him and World Soccer Talk into our family and our ecosystem as a core piece of a broader soccer strategy in advance of World Cups 2022, 2023 and 2026.”

World Soccer Talk’s domain authority for “where-to-watch” content makes it a popular and trusted source for soccer related information as well as an invaluable affiliate partner to sports streaming services. Affiliate advertising, the practice of delivering users to advertisers and sponsors and receiving a fee for users that convert to subscribers or one-time customers, is a vertical that Playmaker has sought to further activate across its myriad platforms. World Soccer Talk’s specialty in affiliate revenue generation will diversify Playmaker’s revenue streams and enhance user experience through exclusive and relevant promotions from the world’s leading brands and sports betting operators.

Through club and team schedules, prediction tools and brackets, and broadcast and streaming information, World Soccer Talk delivers a full-service content experience that goes beyond news and analysis. World Soccer Talk’s coverage of the business of soccer and the logistics associated with international soccer events, involving both club and national teams, serves as a valuable resource for soccer fans who wish to engage with the sport through a variety of storylines and developments.

World Soccer Talk’s complete multi-channel offering includes a website, mobile app, podcast, and multiple social media channels. Looking ahead to World Cup 2022 and beyond, Playmaker will extend key resources to World Soccer Talk including technical solutions, product design, and operational and editorial support to grow each of these platforms and to pursue additional monetization opportunities.

TRANSACTION DETAILS

Pursuant to the terms of a purchase agreement dated July 5, 2022, Playmaker acquired 100% of the digital assets of World Soccer Talk for aggregate consideration of up to US$1.15 million. The purchase price consideration consisted of (i) a closing cash payment of US$350,000, (ii) the issuance of 510,000 Playmaker common shares (the “Playmaker Shares”) on closing, priced at CAD$0.75 per Playmaker Share, and (iii) up to a total of US$500,000 in the form of an earn-out, payable to the sellers upon World Soccer Talk achieving certain revenue and performance targets in the first and second years following closing.

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 World Soccer Talk by Playmaker, (ii) the future performance of World Soccer Talk, 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

Playmaker Capital Inc. (TSX-V: PMKR; OTC: PMKRF) is a digital sports media company that lives at the intersection of sports, gambling, media and technology. Playmaker is building a premier collection of sports media brands, curated to deliver highly engaged audiences of sports fans to sports betting companies, leagues, teams and advertisers.

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.

¹ Ampere Analysis, December 2021

² Reuters, Amy Tennery, 17 June 2022