Please wait...
Please wait...

FremantleMedia scores Squawka stake

FremantleMedia has taken a minority stake in London-based football media company Squawka.

The global content production giant will take an almost 35% share, with options to increase its stake in the future, making it the largest single shareholder in the digital business.

Squawka, which was launched in 2012 by Sanjit Atwal and Leo Harrison, uses its proprietary technology to visualise millions of football data points, which form the basis of editorial and social media content.

FremantleMedia claims the entity reaches more than five million fans worldwide daily and produces more than 180 pieces of content a day.

The investment will run alongside football fan network The Football Republic (TFR), which is run by FremantleMedia’s UK digital studio Shotglass Media.

The companies will work together to create new editorial strands using Squawka’s data and content with TFR’s engaged fan base, sharing on- and off-screen talent across both properties and offering brands opportunities for even deeper engagement with football fans on digital platforms.

wild_things“Squawka’s sophisticated data-driven content alongside the scale and engagement of The Football Republic are a powerful combination,” said Kat Hebden, MD of Shotglass Media.

“Football fans want to be at the heart of the conversation, they want passion and authenticity, and they have an appetite for visualised stats and metrics. No other football proposition on the market can offer that.”

The deal is the latest in FremantleMedia’s digital media investment strategy. The firm has a majority share in Divimove, operates joint venture Munchies with Vice Media and also partnered with Jukin Media to grow The Pet Collective.

In the drama and factual space, FremantleMedia has invested in Abot Hameiri, Man Alive Entertainment, Naked Entertainment, Full Fat TV, No Pictures Please, Corona Pictures, Fontaram, Kwai and Wildside.

Please wait...