Sports media group announces major deal as part of ambition to build the most successful non-live football media platform in the world
The Overlap has acquired The United Stand and That’s Football, the YouTube channels created and fronted by Mark Goldbridge.
The transaction marks a significant step in The Overlap‘s strategy to build an extensive global non-live independent football platform, with specialist coverage of major clubs across Europe.
The deal brings two of the most-watched independent football channels on YouTube, with a combined audience of 3.7 million subscribers, into The Overlap’s network. The United Stand is the biggest Manchester United fan channel on YouTube. That’s Football attracts a broader football audience made up of fans from all clubs across the game.
“We are building what we believe will become one of the most exciting independent football communities in the world – one that gives fans direct, personality-led content. The United Stand and That’s Football are two of the best-known football channels on YouTube, and our intention is to develop them into the most compelling Manchester United and football news channels in the market.”
GARY NEVILLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OVERLAP
Both channels will undergo a significant editorial expansion under The Overlap‘s ownership. New programming will sit alongside existing content, broadening the range of what is on offer without removing what fans already value. Within The United Stand, new formats will include “Stick to United,” a format featuring former players and journalists, and The “Daily United,” a daily Manchester United news strand. That’s Football will be relaunched and rebranded later in the year to a football news and podcast channel.
“The market for independent football content is growing rapidly and the opportunity to build a genuinely scaled network within it is one we have been working towards for some time.
The Overlap exists to build the infrastructure, partnerships, and editorial range that allows the best channels to reach their full potential. Mark has built two of the biggest audiences in this space, and this deal accelerates everything we are building towards.”Scott Melvin, Executive Director of THE OVERLAP
Mark Goldbridge, founder of The United Stand and That’s Football, said: “I’ve spent the last 10 years building The United Stand for Manchester United fans and That’s Football for all fans, and I’m prouder of that than anything I’ve ever done. This deal is about what comes next. The Overlap has the ambition, the credibility, and the resources to help me take what I do to the next level.“
