Monday morning, news broke that Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) would be splitting into two companies: one that houses its TV and movie studio along with its Max (soon to be HBO Max) streaming service and another that houses its legacy assets, including the TNT Sports family of cable networks.

It was an expected move. Last December, the company restructured internally along those lines. In April, CNBC reported that the company had hired bankers to explore its split options. And now, it is finally happening.

WBD is the second major media company to opt for a split or spin. Earlier this year, Comcast announced it would launch Versant, a spinoff entity that will include most of the NBCUniversal cable portfolio, including USA, MSNBC, CNBC, Golf Channel, and others.

The move obviously has massive implications for sports fans. TNT Sports owns numerous prevalent live sports rights in the United States, and its split from WBD will impact how and where fans can access those games. Similarly to Versant, WBD’s new entity, which is temporarily being called Global Networks, will have to navigate its future without direct access to a broadcast network or a streaming service.

However, unlike Versant, which is primarily acquiring the scraps of NBC’s larger live sports portfolio, Global Networks is acquiring the entire enchilada from WBD. That means the:

• NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament (through 2032)
• MLB (through 2028)
• NHL (through 2028)
• College Football Playoff (through 2028)
• NASCAR (through 2031)
• French Open (through 2034)

For individuals who access TNT properties through a traditional pay-TV bundle, not much will change. The question becomes how these networks will be distributed digitally as more consumers move to streaming and cable goes the way of the dodo. In the interim, TNT Sports properties will continue to stream through Max, per the company’s investor call discussing the move on Monday. But that will be a temporary solution. At some point, TNT Sports will need to find a streaming partner willing to license its content for its platform. And given TNT’s live sports portfolio, that may prove more challenging than it seems.

Currently, the list of sports rights appears favorable on paper. College Football Playoff inventory, which will now include a semifinal game, is must-have content. So is March Madness and, to a lesser extent, parts of the NHL and MLB postseasons. The issue is that, other than March Madness, all of those rights expire in three years. How can TNT Sports, absent consolidation with a major streaming service or broadcast network, afford to compete for those expensive rights? Especially when much of WBD’s current debt load is being saddled onto the new venture.

WBD’s entire U.S.-based sports division is being put on an island. For now, the networks will survive off of existing carriage agreements. They’ll save some money by not having to pay for NBA rights, though the league’s absence will put a sizeable dent in its advertising business.

However, this isn’t a question about how TNT will survive for the next few years. This is a question about how TNT will survive for the next 10 years or if that’s even possible.

One thing looks certain: it will be imperative for the new entity to find a company (or companies) willing to pay to license its live sports content. Otherwise, TNT will struggle to renew any meaningful rights. And in three years’ time, if TNT loses the CFP, MLB, and NHL all in the same calendar year, what league or conference would willingly sign a new agreement with the network without the reach of a broadcast network or the growing userbase of a streamer? Doing so would be hopping on a sinking ship.

As it stands, TNT will likely already have to pay a premium for sports rights compared to other potential bidders, given its limited reach, which isn’t exactly an attractive move considering the company’s massive debt load.

It isn’t easy to see how TNT can dig itself out of this hole. The question becomes, how can the network leverage its currently valuable sports portfolio while it still can? Does a prominent streaming platform like Amazon, Apple, or Netflix have any interest? Do those companies think TNT’s portfolio can drive subscriptions?

If you listened to WBD CEO David Zaslav during Monday’s call, those rights didn’t do much to drive Max subscriptions. Could that be different on another platform? Maybe.

Could a tie-up with Versant make sense? Perhaps, though, Versant CEO Mark Lazarus has already made clear that he doesn’t want to acquire any debt-ridden companies. However, perhaps there are alternative arrangements to be considered outside of an outright acquisition.

Then there are wildcards. Maybe Paramount, under new ownership, wants to make a splash in live sports? Does Fox see value in the TNT Sports portfolio as it prepares to launch Fox One? There are several possibilities, but finding an arrangement that proves mutually beneficial to both TNT and the other party becomes significantly more challenging.

Ultimately, what we’re witnessing is the late stages of a cable network’s declining business. And while the outlook may seem grim, there is still much that needs to unfold. It’s not time to dig TNT’s grave just yet, but we’re approaching life support. These next three years will be critical for the network’s long-term survival, so much as “survival” is even a possibility for cable networks a decade from now.

For years, access to high-quality football tracking data and advanced match content has been limited to top leagues with multi-million euro budgets. Most clubs, federations, and broadcasters simply couldn’t afford the infrastructure or production costs required by traditional systems, which rely on multi-camera setups and on-site installations. This has left most of the football world, especially women’s and youth teams, without the insights and experiences defining the modern game. ReSpo.Vision, a Warsaw-based deep tech sports startup, was established with a transformative mission.

 “Football, unlike other major sports, was lagging in adopting truly data-driven methods, especially beyond the top leagues,” explains CEO and co-founder Paweł Osterreicher. “We’re using AI to shatter that barrier — putting fans on the pitch, empowering broadcasters with next-gen storytelling tools, and equipping clubs and federations with elite tactical insight.”

The company has just raised €4.2 million in its latest funding round, bringing total funding to €7 million, as told exclusively to TFN. The round was led by VC funds Vinci and Smartlink, with participation from Premier League defender Jan Bednarek, Snowflake co-founder Marcin Zukowski, and Wayve co-founder Amar Shah.

“This funding is a strong endorsement of our vision to bring sport into a more interactive, intelligent era,” says Osterreicher. “Whether powering enhanced broadcasts, highlight reels, or second-screen experiences, we’re helping rights-holders deliver richer, more interactive content without costly production overheads. This funding will make these innovations accessible to competitions that historically lacked access to the latest data and analysis tools.”

Democratising elite analytics and immersive match content for all teams

ReSpo.Vision was founded by a diverse and experienced team — Paweł Osterreicher (CEO), Mateusz Szala (COO), Wojciech Rosiński (CTO), and Łukasz Grad (Chief Data Scientist). Their combined strategic, technical, and startup expertise and a shared passion for sport and technology ensure that ReSpo. Vision is bringing cutting-edge tech into football and making it accessible to all, regardless of club status.

“Our mission is to level the playing field by making elite insight and immersive match content available to every team, fan, and league. This round brings together world-class investors from deep tech, football, and media—and it’s a huge validation of our vision to change how sport is analysed, broadcast, and experienced,” Osterreicher tells TFN exclusively.

The founding team’s backgrounds include leadership roles at deepsense.ai and Boston Consulting Group and award-winning work in data science and machine learning competitions.

Behind ReSpo.Vision: AI-powered 3D tracking from any single camera

At the heart of ReSpo.Vision’s technology is a breakthrough use of computer vision and deep learning to extract highly detailed 3D tracking data from single-camera video feeds, such as standard sports TV broadcasts.

The system uses computer vision and deep learning to extract highly detailed 3D tracking data from single-camera video feeds, such as standard sports TV broadcasts. It can detect over 50 body points per player in 3D space with centimetre-level accuracy without wearables or expensive camera setups. This drastically reduces the cost of data capture, making analysis possible for more clubs and federations across the sporting world and at more levels of the football pyramid, including women’s and youth team games.

ReSpo.Vision’s technology can extract this data from existing footage, such as standard TV broadcasts or tactical recordings, unlocking advanced analytics for virtually any match anywhere in the world.

ReSpo.Vision transforms this data into tactical insights and performance analytics and then goes further to create new fan experiences. Their Digital Twin Technology enables hyper-realistic recreations of real-life matches, allowing fans to relive key moments from a player’s first-person perspective. Fans can experience a mazy dribble and goal through the eyes of a striker or witness a brilliant attacking move from the view of a defender left behind.

Other media tools include automated visual overlays, such as contextual in-game graphics, match stats, branded elements, and natural language interfaces that make complex analytics accessible through simple prompts.

ReSpo.Vision was recently certified by FIFA for data quality, placing it among a select few companies globally to meet the highest industry standards for accuracy. Its clients include global football stakeholders — from major international competitions like CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 to national associations such as the Polish FA and Danish FA, as well as individual clubs including UEFA Champions League winners and Serie A’s Parma Calcio. Leading sports analytics companies also rely on ReSpo.Vision’s data to power both performance analysis and fan-facing platforms.

Industry veterans and players back ReSpo.Vision’s vision

“As a player, I know how much of a difference the right data can make—in preparation, in performance, in understanding the game at a deeper level,” said Bednarek. “What stood out to me with ReSpo.Vision is that they’re making this kind of insight available not just to top clubs, but to leagues and teams everywhere. That’s something I really believe in, because better data means better football, at every level.”

Amar Shah added: “Any sports fan would cherish the experience of reliving iconic moments of a match from the perspective of a player right at the heart of the action. ReSpo.Vision makes this dream come true by combining cutting-edge computer vision, virtual reality, and graphics technologies.”

Bartosz Drabikowski, President of the Management Board of Vinci S.A., commented, “We support companies that create innovations and, on top of that, can successfully develop and export them. We consider this project to be very promising, both in terms of technology as well as investment. We also acknowledge the potential this solution has in the future. For instance, the possibility of future implementation of this technology in other industries, such as defence or medicine.”

Miroslaw Czekaj, President of the Management Board of Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, added: “Our investment in ReSpo.Vision is in line with BGK’s strategic goals of supporting innovative, scalable Polish technologies and building a strong knowledge-based economy. We are pleased that through the Vinci Fund, we can support the development of a company that has the potential to become a global ambassador of Polish technological thought and, at the same time, support key areas for public security.”

What’s next for ReSpo.Vision?

With the new funding, ReSpo.Vision will expand its offer to broadcasters, rights holders, and digital platforms, focusing on scaling global presence across more leagues and federations. It will launch new product lines — real-time visual overlays and immersive Digital Twins — and continue to develop its AI stack to support live data, fan engagement, and automated storytelling.

The company’s unique approach is already helping to open up elite-level analysis for those who previously lacked access, from underserved women’s and youth games to lower division clubs. Women’s football is a prime example — it’s growing faster than the men’s game, and technology has a vital role in continuing to close the gap.

ReSpo.Vision also aims to address a growing challenge in sports media: capturing the attention of younger audiences. Reports show that only 31% of global sports fans aged 18–24 watch full live matches, far lower than older demographics, with many younger viewers preferring short-form, interactive content.

ReSpo.Vision is helping democratise both elite-level analytics and next-gen storytelling, making them accessible across the entire football ecosystem.

Phigolf, a global leader in home golf simulation and sports motion technology, is preparing to launch two breakthrough innovations that will redefine interactive sports and connected fitness: the Phigolf Web3 version, a Web3-integrated golf experience, and Phi Connect, a smartwatch-compatible sports gaming platform.

Torrance, California, United States, June 10, 2025 — Phigolf, a global leader in home golf simulation and sports motion technology, is preparing to launch two breakthrough innovations that will redefine interactive sports and connected fitness: the Phigolf Web3 version, a Web3-integrated golf experience, and Phi Connect, a smartwatch-compatible sports gaming platform.

The Phigolf Web3 version enhances the company’s signature golf simulation system by incorporating Web3 elements, offering players a new layer of engagement through digital customization and community-based competition. Built on Phigolf’s widely loved swing tracking platform, this new version allows users to connect and participate in global tournaments in more immersive ways than ever before. The Web3 version will also introduce collectible digital assets that enhance user interaction and personalization, with plans to expand the experience to smartwatch users in future updates.

Phi Connect, the second upcoming release, is an API library that transforms smartwatches into motion controllers for a wide range of sports games. By utilizing wearable technology, users can enjoy golf, baseball, tennis, and more, all without additional hardware. Designed for seamless Bluetooth connectivity across both Android and Apple smartwatches and devices, Phi Connect makes it easier for developers to build motion-driven games and for users to enjoy intuitive, immersive gameplay on their existing devices. For developers, this provides a streamlined pathway to bring real-world movement into mobile games without requiring new sensors or peripherals.

Since launching in 2017, Phigolf has become one of the most recognized brands in home golf tech, building a global user base of over 300,000 players. The company’s swing trainer has held the #1 Best Seller position in Amazon’s swing trainer category, and its technology continues to lead in motion-based sports performance and interactive game development. What began as a mission to help golfers improve their swing has grown into a broader platform for active play, connection, and well-being.

With the upcoming releases of the Phigolf Web3 version and Phi Connect, the company continues to expand its vision. Empowering users not just to improve their game, but to stay active and connected through meaningful, movement-based play.

For more information, visit https://phigolf.com or contact Phigolf at [email protected].

Contact Info:

Name: Younghun Kim

Email: Send Email

Organization: PhiNetworks

Phone: +82-70-7019-9017

Website: https://phigolf.com

Release ID: 89161300

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In recent years, sports betting has transformed from a niche hobby into a mainstream global phenomenon. As regulatory frameworks shift and digital technology advances, the industry has become more accessible than ever, drawing in millions of users from across the world. From local fans placing friendly wagers to serious punters analyzing stats with software tools, the betting landscape is evolving at breakneck speed.

The primary catalyst behind this surge is the global expansion of online betting platforms. In the past, bettors were limited to physical bookmakers or regional systems that restricted choice. Today, mobile apps and online platforms allow users to bet on events across dozens of sports—anytime and anywhere. Whether it’s football in the UK, basketball in the U.S., or cricket in India, fans can now place real-time bets with a few taps on their smartphones.

The role of technology cannot be overstated. Sophisticated algorithms, real-time data feeds, and AI-powered analytics have enabled punters to make more informed decisions. Live betting has gained traction, where odds update dynamically as the game progresses, adding a new level of excitement and strategy. Meanwhile, social betting—where users follow expert bettors or friends and mimic their wagers—is helping new users get involved with less risk.

In the broader context of international betting, many users have turned to offshore betting sites to access wider markets and higher odds. These platforms operate outside of domestic regulatory frameworks, offering services in regions where local laws may be restrictive or unclear. While this often means more freedom and a broader array of betting options, it also raises concerns about consumer protection, financial security, and responsible gambling oversight. Bettors must weigh the pros and cons carefully before using these services.

Legalization efforts in various parts of the world are further shaping the industry. The U.S., for example, has seen a wave of state-level legalization since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting in 2018. As a result, major sports leagues and franchises have formed partnerships with sportsbooks, bringing betting directly into the fan experience. In contrast, some countries still maintain strict prohibitions or government monopolies, creating a fragmented global landscape.

Another important trend is the integration of betting into live broadcasts and sports content. Broadcasters now offer odds overlays during games, exclusive betting shows, and in-depth betting insights. This fusion of content and betting helps drive user engagement, with fans feeling more invested in every play and decision. However, it also calls for increased awareness around responsible gambling, especially among younger audiences who are most active online.

Despite the meteoric rise, challenges remain. Regulatory uncertainty in key markets, concerns over match-fixing, and the need for robust responsible gaming frameworks all demand attention. The industry must strike a balance between innovation and integrity, ensuring that the thrill of betting does not overshadow ethical and legal responsibilities.

In conclusion, sports betting is undergoing a renaissance, fueled by tech advancements, global accessibility, and evolving consumer behavior. With more people engaging than ever before, the industry stands at a crossroads—poised for further growth, but also facing complex challenges. As the line between sports entertainment and betting continues to blur, stakeholders must collaborate to ensure a safe, fair, and transparent environment for all.

By KELVIN CHAN and MATT O’BRIEN

LONDON (AP) — Getty Images is facing off against artificial intelligence company Stability AI in a London courtroom for the first major copyright trial of the generative AI industry.

Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™.

The New York Times inked a multi-year deal with Amazon last month to license its content to Amazon’s artificial intelligence models.

Amazon will have access to The New York Times’ content, including NYT Cooking and its sports publication, The Athletic.

Amazon’s AI services, such as Alexa, will produce real-time summaries and short excerpts. Similar to other news publishers, The New York Times views a licensing deal as a viable way to generate profits as AI companies attempt to siphon copyrighted content to train their chatbots.

Attitudes towards AI use, especially regarding news organizations, can be polarizing. Other publishers such as The Washington Post, Associated Press, and Axios have also signed deals with AI companies to license their content. A few years ago, AI companies were using copyrighted material without permission. Media company Ziff Davis and The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft in 2023, alleging intellectual theft.

The Times’s decision to do business with an AI company feels like a departure from its initial thoughts on AI; the biggest difference is that the publication is being paid for its intellectual property. The majority of the litigation against OpenAI and other AI companies stems from allegations that they fail to properly credit the source of their information.

There are several reasons to be wary about AI, including its environmental impact, the potential for spreading misinformation, and its potential to alter the way we work. Artificial intelligence isn’t disappearing anytime soon though. It’s better for news organizations to be compensated for their work rather than allowing AI companies to continue scraping their content for free. It creates a chain of accountability and forces these companies to pay.

When a consumer uses AI to ask a question, chatbots provide the user with answers sourced from various news articles, making it less likely for the user to scroll through the publisher’s website to find the answer themselves. This licensing deal balances the scales between artificial intelligence and news publishers that are struggling to increase traffic and assures them a cut of the profits.

More artists and publishers should take note of this. OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, and more are resistant to effective AI legislation because they don’t want to compensate people for their intellectual property. These deals could be a first step in artists demanding their own deals, not only to protect their art but also to ensure that these companies aren’t hoarding all the profits they make from their work.

We can’t allow them to train AI with our content for free. If AI companies wish to use our work, they need to pay us for it.