Turner buys sports blog

US-based Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) has acquired influential sports blog Bleacher Reporter, which recently moved into original YouTube video content, for a reported US$175m.

Bleacher Report

Fan-generated blog Bleacher is among the 100 premium YouTube channels that launched earlier this year. It debuted four series covering panel discussion and analysis, news, gossip and shortform documentary.

TBS, which operates cable channels such as Cartoon Network, TruTV and TNT, has reportedly paid between US$175m and US$200m for the company, which is best known for its crowd-sourced sports blogs.

Earlier this year, TBS took a minority stake, thought to be about 10%, in Will Ferrell’s online comedy site Funny or Die, and has partnered with Arrested Development actor Jason Bateman and Will Arnett’s digital prodco DumbDumb.

“Bleacher Report is a strategic acquisition that further enhances Turner’s portfolio of sports offerings, as well as reflects our continuing commitment to bring fans greater content across all screens throughout the entire year,” said TBS’s president of sales, distribution and sport David Levy.