London-based ELEVEN SPORTS, the international sports content provider, has agreed to acquire New York-based Team Whistle, the global sports media and entertainment company. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “Upon first meeting Andrea Radrizzani (founder of ELEVEN SPORTS) years ago, we shared a common bond on how sport and entertainment were being reimagined and now with the pace of media transformation happening at an accelerated rate globally, joining forces with ELEVEN allows us to create a truly unique, global media powerhouse,” remarked John West, Team Whistle Founder and Executive Chairman.
Upon first meeting Andrea Radrizzani years ago, we shared a common bond on how sport and entertainment were being reimagined and now with the pace of media transformation happening at an accelerated rate globally, joining forces with ELEVEN allows us to create a truly unique, global media powerhouse – John West
Founded in 2012 by Jeff Urban and West, Team Whistle had raised a total of $141.2M in reported equity funding. Backers of the company include Beringea, TEV Ventures, Manatt Venture Fund, Liberty Global Ventures, Touchdown Ventures, WndrCo, Sky UK, SeventySix Capital, Liberty Media, Emil Capital Partners, iHeartMedia, Derek Jeter, Tegna, Aser Media, Peyton Manning, NBC Sports Ventures, Geraldine Laybourne, and Jeffrey Katzenberg. AlleyWatch published an interview with West covering the startup’s Series D round back in 2018 – This NYC Startup Just Raised $28M to Redefine Sports Media
The transaction is expected to close in Q2 2021 and the entire Team Whistle team will be joining ELEVEN. “We have long recognized the opportunities for partnership between Team Whistle and the wider Aser portfolio. By welcoming Team Whistle into the ELEVEN Group, we are bringing together two media companies who have a track record of building strong and innovative sports media businesses in Europe, Asia, and North America,” remarked Radrizzani.
We have long recognized the opportunities for partnership between Team Whistle and the wider Aser portfolio. By welcoming Team Whistle into the ELEVEN Group, we are bringing together two media companies who have a track record of building strong and innovative sports media businesses in Europe, Asia, and North America. – Andrea Radrizzani
