The Whistle Sports Network, a sports-focused cross platform network and community, said it has acquired The Lacrosse Network (TLN), the top YouTube destination for that fast-growing sport. Terms were not disclosed.
“Our first acquisition is also the first place millions of lacrosse fans and athletes have turned to learn about and enjoy their favorite sport. TLN has built a great team, captured a growing and passionate audience and delivered interesting content on a regular basis,” Whistle co-founder Jeff Urban said in a release. “We look forward to making them an important part of our team and an important part of our own growth.”
The acquisition gives The Whistle access to TLN’s live broadcasts of lacrosse games, documentaries, sports stories, highlight reels and a library of original programming. It also gives The Whistle Network access to TLN’s 2.3 million video views a month and 210,000 network subscribers on YouTube.
"The momentum we're seeing from sports channels on YouTube like The Whistle and The Lacrosse Network is as thrilling to see as the sports themselves. With so much opportunity in sports video, we look forward to seeing what these channels do next," Claude Ruibal, YouTube’s Global Head of Sports Partnerships, said in the release from The Whistle.
TLN’s founders and employees, including co-founders Samir Chaudry and Julien Berndt and creative director Colin Rosenblum, will become part of The Whistle Network team. TLN’s studio in Los Angeles will add to The Whistle’s production facilities in New York and Dallas and President Samir Chaudry will remain as president.
“We love what we’ve built and are building and would not have done a deal like this if we were not convinced that it will be a great way to grow rapidly,” TLN co-founder Samir Chaudry said in the release. “The Whistle is building an entirely new kind of cross platform digital network and, with the support of pro leagues, is moving quick to scale across multiple sports. We look forward to integrating our team, our programming and our expertise into their multi-million subscriber network.”
The Whistle Network will work with TLN’s team to develop and promote content on their YouTube channels, including behind the scenes and cross-channel programming on their digital platforms. These platforms include their website, mobile apps and on YouTube.
The Whistle Network, which launched on New Year’s Eve with backing from pro league partners and YouTube content creators like Dude Perfect, says it is one of the top two sports destinations on YouTube in North America, with 4.3 million subscribers, 101 channel partners and a library of more than 11,800 videos viewed more than 604 million times. Professional league content and equity partners include Major League Baseball’s Advanced Media, the NFL, PGA Tour, NASCAR, Major League Lacrosse, Major League Ultimate and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.
