Liberty Global has invested $10.8 million in U.K.-based Bigballs Media, the parent of You Tube soccer fan channel Copa90.
The deal gives Liberty Global and global venture capital firm e.ventures a 14% stake in Bigballs Media and the opportunity to raise that interest in about six months.
Copa90 has been around for about three years and has about 2.3 million subscribers who watch the Internet channel an average of 37 minutes per week, according to the Financial Times. Content on the channel ranges from comment shows to in-depth features on fan culture. The channel does not carry actual soccer matches.
Bigballs Media also produces other content, including original shows like You, Me & The Apocalypse, a series for European satellite service Sky and NBC in the United States; action sports “collective” Line 9; and Kate Modern, a drama made for social network Bebo in 2007 that has attracted more than 67 million viewers in two seasons, the company claims.
Bigballs purchased North American soccer fan channel KICKTV in January from Major League Soccer to create what it said is YouTube’s largest soccer network.
