Two giant companies, one from a sports media background, the other a sporting technology and entertainment company with close links to both sports and esports betting and fantasy sports, have combined forces in a brand new deal.
Vox Media’s SB Nation has joined forces with DraftKings to announce a brand new Chorus-based platform DraftKings Nation, covering over 300 communities of this ever-growing group of sports, hobbies, esports and fantasy sports enthusiasts.
Massive Company
News of the deal between DraftKings and Vox Media’s SB Nation is not only big news in the United States sports and esports betting industry, but within the whole fantasy esports, betting and sports industry in general.
Vox Media are one of the largest names within the online industry. They have a hugely popular YouTube Channel (voxdotcom) as well as their own expansive website and they are also the owners of Polygon, one of the largest and most respected video gaming websites available on the Internet today.
While DraftKings interest in the gaming, fantasy, sports and esports betting industries is easy to ascertain, it is something of a surprise to see Vox Media, who are best known more as a vehicle for entertainment and interactivity with their customers, move into the market in such a decisive way.
Shift in Culture
The move could also be evidence of a further shift in culture in the US betting industry in general. An increasing number of states are now allowing online gambling in many forms, with more set to follow over the next couple of years.
Furthermore, New Jersey are now starting to offer regular esports betting markets for their US customers, after a successful trial of esports betting at the recent League of Legends World Championships.
DraftKings have already been at the forefront of opening a new front for US sports fans to interact with their site, through their fantasy sports betting initially and now also through fantasy esports on League of Legends events.
It would therefore seem to be a deal that will offer huge benefits to both partners.
Massive Fan Communities
As Jim Bankoff, the Chairman and CEO of Vox Media explained.
“Over the past decade, SB Nation has honed a unique ability to engage massive fan communities, while Vox Media’s innovative technology platforms, Chorus and Concert, have accelerated that growth,”
“Now in partnership with DraftKings, we have combined our editorial vision and expertise with our technology capabilities to serve passionate sports fans in this fast-growing area.”
New Site
The new DraftKings Nations site uses Chorus as its platform and it joins over 300 communities dedicated to teams, sports, esports and beyond.
As Chief Business Officer at DraftKings Ezra Kucharz explained
“DraftKings partnership with SB Nation provides a new, best-in-class content destination for passionate, skin-in-the-game sports fans.”
“In addition to consumers being able to access expert analysis, this partnership gives advertisers, brands and marketers a new platform to reach highly engaged and coveted sports fans.”
The initial site focuses on the 2019 NFL season, but there are plans for DraftKing Nation to expand to cover other popular US Sports, including the NBA, NCAA Football and Basketball and in future, there is potential for the coverage to expand to cover esports too.
