Fubo Says It Still Plans To Launch Sports Pay-TV Bundle By Fall
Fubo CEO David Gandler says the company is sticking with its plan to launch a sports-focused pay-TV bundle in time for football season. Speaking to Wall Street analysts on Fubo’s first-quarter earnings call Friday, Gandler addressed the sports bundle, which has long been prized by sports fans seeking a pure-play option to watch games. “We […]
Fubo CEO David Gandler says the company is sticking with its plan to launch a sports-focused pay-TV bundle in time for football season.
Speaking to Wall Street analysts on Fubo’s first-quarter earnings call Friday, Gandler addressed the sports bundle, which has long been prized by sports fans seeking a pure-play option to watch games.
“We are working hard to secure content from non-Disney programmers for the new service,” Gandler said. “It is critical for Fubo subscribers that we are able to negotiate content licensing agreements at fair rates and terms. Our goal remains to launch the service for the fall sports season.”
That concept may sound familiar. The joint venture Venu Sports, which was backed by Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery, pursued the same goal in 2024. The JV ended up shuttering before launch after Fubo successfully sued the media companies on antitrust grounds. As part of its settlement of the lawsuit, Disney agreed to acquire majority control of Fubo and combine it with Hulu + Live TV, though the deal is not expected to close until 2026.
Disney-owned ESPN, meanwhile, is also proceeding with a major streaming launch of its own timed for the start of college and NFL football: the long-in-the-works, stand-alone ESPN service.
Asked by one analyst about progress on securing carriage with a range of networks for the sports service, Gandler didn’t offer any specific updates but described the service as a key “growth opportunity” for Fubo.
The nature of the sports TV landscape is such that Venu Sports was never likely to be a dominant player, especially because it was missing two key rights holders in NBCUniversal and Paramount Global. While those companies have carriage deals with Fubo, participating in a sports-focused bundle could be a non-starter, especially for NBCU given how crucial sports is as a driver of Peacock subscriptions and advertising.
The quarterly report was generally downbeat. Total subscribers slipped 3% to 1.47 million, though the number came in slightly ahead of internal forecasts. Revenue of $407.9 million exceeded Wall Street analysts’ consensus estimate, but an adjusted loss per share of 2 cents compared unfavorably to analysts’ forecast of a break-even quarter.
Advertising slid 17% to $22.9M, with the company citing a carriage impasse with TelevisaUnivision, which resulted in its networks going dark on Fubo during the quarter. With those networks on the air, execs said ad revenue would have grown in the period.
Shares in Fubo, which got a huge boost in January on the Disney and legal news, fell 12% in early trading on the quarterly numbers.
Massachusetts 19-year-old pleading guilty to stealing, extorting teacher and student private data – Boston News, Weather, Sports
BOSTON, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts college student will plead guilty to stealing millions of students’ and teachers’ private data from two U.S. education tech companies and extorting it for ransom, the U.S. attorney’s office said. Assumption University student Matthew Lane, 19, is accused of using stolen login credentials to access the computer network of […]
BOSTON, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts college student will plead guilty to stealing millions of students’ and teachers’ private data from two U.S. education tech companies and extorting it for ransom, the U.S. attorney’s office said.
Assumption University student Matthew Lane, 19, is accused of using stolen login credentials to access the computer network of a software and cloud storage company serving school systems in the U.S. and abroad, according to U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Leah B. Foley.
PowerSchool was not named in the court filings, but a source familiar with the case confirmed the company’s involvement.
According to court records, Lane is then alleged to have threatened the release of 60 million students’ and 10 million teachers’ names, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, residential addresses and medical histories if the company did not pay a ransom of approximately $2.85 million in Bitcoin.
Foley said Lane’s actions “instilled fear in parents that their kids’ information had been leaked into the hands of criminals – all to put a notch in his hacking belt.”
An attorney representing Lane didn’t return a phone call from The Associated Press requesting comment on Wednesday. Lane, of Sterling, Mass., faces counts of cyber extortion conspiracy, cyber extortion and unauthorized access to protected computers and aggravated identity theft. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Lane is also accused of extorting a $200,000 ransom payment from another telecommunications company last spring by threatening to release customer data.
“Matthew Lane apparently thought he found a way to get rich quick, but this 19-year-old now stands accused of hiding behind his keyboard to gain unauthorized access to an education software provider to obtain sensitive data which was used in an attempt to extort millions of dollars,” said Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division.
(Copyright (c) 2024 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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As mentioned above, it’s Sports Business Awards night. There are 93 nominees across 14 categories for tonight’s festivities, and a slew of them have significant tech connections we cover daily here. I wanted to highlight a few of those nominees (either by categories or as standouts among their competitors) that leaned on tech to get […]
As mentioned above, it’s Sports Business Awards night. There are 93 nominees across 14 categories for tonight’s festivities, and a slew of them have significant tech connections we cover daily here. I wanted to highlight a few of those nominees (either by categories or as standouts among their competitors) that leaned on tech to get here in the first place.
Betting on innovation: Genius Sports and Fanatics Sportsbook are battling it out for Best in Sports Betting, along with DraftKings and FanDuel.
Genius Sports was one of our 10 Most Innovative Sports Tech companies in 2023, continuing to soar through its interactive AR product called BetVision, which has deployments with the with NFL as well as soccer. Genius Sports also landed a data distribution deal with NCAA to serve as the sportsbook of choice for all its postseason competitions (including the Holy Grail that is March Madness).
Fanatics has also pushed forward with an innovative approach to transforming a user experience that spans data, memorabilia and merchandise. The company has worked to better connect those three business pillars via a data insights layer and also streamline the overall Fanatics experience by catering more to the individual user’s experience.
Breaking through with tech: Cosm, EA Sports College Football 25 and the TGL each have a compelling chance at Sports Breakthrough of the Year. Cosm was honored as one of the 10 Most Innovative Sports Tech Companies earlier this year, and they continue to expand with Atlanta and Detroit locations currently in various stages of development. The collaborative effort that created the platform powering the NIL payout for players involved in College Football 25 won Best Technology Collaboration at SBA: Tech in March. And my colleague Bret McCormick dove into the tech that makes TGL work earlier this year.
An immersive case: Noche UFC’s candidacy in Sports Event of the Year is enhanced thanks to its use of the Sphere in Las Vegas. It was the second sports-specific event to take place at the technological marvel, which also hosted the NHL Draft last summer.
Standing with a serious stack: Intuit Dome is a strong contender in Sports Facility of the Year due to the sheer effort to streamline the fan experience via tech, allowing attendees to focus more on the game. Key component of that experience is the Parallel Reality experience provided by Misapplied Sciences and the autonomous shopping experience throughout the venue by AiFi — both companies that were honored as 10 Most Innovative honorees this year with Cosm.
Clippers and Intuit Dome CTO George Hanna was also our Technology Executive of the Year.
The exec with the tech: In Executive of the Year, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is one of the five in the mix. It’s worth noting that he was our headliner at SBJ Tech Week in March.
How Catapult’s CEO engineered a billion-dollar comeback — Capital Brief
Catapult’s stock surged to new peaks on Wednesday, signalling a return to form for the once-hyped sports tech company — and marking a high point for chief executive Will Lopes, nearly six years into his tenure. The company’s market cap hit $1.3 billion, a dramatic comeback for a business that, just over two years ago, […]
Catapult’s stock surged to new peaks on Wednesday, signalling a return to form for the once-hyped sports tech company — and marking a high point for chief executive Will Lopes, nearly six years into his tenure.
The company’s market cap hit $1.3 billion, a dramatic comeback for a business that, just over two years ago, was valued at a sixth of that. It’s a notable win for Lopes, who stepped into the top job in 2019 when Catapult was in the doldrums.
“When I got here, to be honest, the company was in a bit of disarray,” Lopes said to Capital Brief.
“They had no CEO for almost nine months, they had a rotating door of CFOs for almost three years. It was a pretty chaotic environment, and yet the retention of the product was actually still pretty strong.”
Arcis Golf and iFIT Announce Exclusive Content Partnership
Arcis Golf and iFIT Announce Exclusive Content Partnership Industry leaders combine complementary expertise to produce personalized golf-fitness workouts Arcis Golf—a premier operator of 70 private, resort, and public golf facilities in the United States—and iFIT Inc., a global leader in connected fitness, have formed a first-of-its-kind partnership to create golf-fitness content. This press release features […]
Arcis Golf and iFIT Announce Exclusive Content Partnership
Industry leaders combine complementary expertise to produce personalized golf-fitness workouts
Arcis Golf—a premier operator of 70 private, resort, and public golf facilities in the United States—and iFIT Inc., a global leader in connected fitness, have formed a first-of-its-kind partnership to create golf-fitness content.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250521971973/en/
iFIT
iFIT is making its debut in golf programming through an exclusive partnership with Arcis Golf, known for its premier portfolio of world-class courses and facilities. The new content will be available on the iFIT platform, which runs on mobile devices as well as iFIT-enabled machines (NordicTrack, ProForm, and Freemotion). Drawing on its global network of master trainers and fitness experts, iFIT will create golf-focused programming to integrate into its industry-leading immersive content—enabling users to train anytime, anywhere.
iFIT will introduce Arcis-branded golf fitness to its network of over 6 million users. Known for delivering personalized workouts from stunning global locations, iFIT will now feature content set at Arcis’s premier golf courses and fitness facilities equipped with Freemotion product.
“This global partnership aligns perfectly with the health-and-wellness goals that are so important to our membership,” said Blake Walker, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Arcis Golf. “The collaboration with iFIT will expand our brand awareness to new audiences as we lead in golf fitness, best-in-class instruction, and technology. We look forward to seeing the positive impact it will bring.”
Emphasizing that “the magic will be in the quality of the content,” Walker said the collaboration will combine Arcis’ golf expertise with iFIT’s content platform to create high-impact golf-fitness programming. Together, they will develop golf workouts, performance training, and on-course strategy sessions—produced at Arcis Golf clubs—while also refining iFIT’s marketing to better target golf-focused audiences.
“This partnership positions us to make an immediate and meaningful impact in the fast-growing golf fitness space by partnering with a premier golf and lifestyle brand like Arcis Golf,” said Mark Watterson, CEO of iFIT Commercial. “Their exceptional portfolio of beautiful golf courses, top-tier facilities, equipped with Freemotion equipment, and industry leadership give us a powerful foundation for long-term success.”
For additional information on Arcis Golf, access the website at www.arcisgolf.com and for iFIT, www.ifit.com.
About Arcis Golf
Arcis Golf is a premier owner and operator of 70 private, resort, and daily fee clubs in the United States. An industry leader, Arcis Golf continues to transform its portfolio of clubs into inclusive, lifestyle hubs with dynamic programming and unrivaled amenities. Golf and country clubs are elevated to levels of excellence designed to exceed the needs and expectations of families, friends, members, and guests of all ages. The company is also known for innovative management, with a best-in-class leadership team that is committed to enhancing service levels and to reinventing the modern club experience. Headquarters: 8343 Douglas Avenue, Ste. 200, Dallas, TX 75225. Phone: (214) 722-6000. Website: arcisgolf.com.
About iFIT Inc.
iFIT Inc. is a global leader in fitness technology, pioneering connected fitness to help people live longer, healthier lives. With a community of more than 6 million athletes around the world, iFIT delivers immersive, personalized workout experiences at-home, on the go, and in the gym. Powered by a comprehensive ecosystem of proprietary software, innovative hardware, and engaging content, the iFIT platform brings fitness to life through its portfolio of brands: NordicTrack, ProForm, Freemotion, and the iFIT app. From cardio and strength training to recovery, iFIT empowers athletes at every stage of their fitness journey. For more information, visit iFIT.com.
Media Contact
Karen Moraghan
Hunter Public Relations
kmoraghan@hunter-pr.com
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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250521971973/en/
Organizations and companies are partnering to introduce Black students in Detroit to golf
By COREY WILLIAMS DETROIT (AP) — As a fan, Shaun Horne is all about Detroit’s professional sports teams. But when it comes to playing, the high school junior has his eyes on one game. “I only play golf,” Horne said after taking his turn on a simulator inside a gym on Detroit’s westside. Embracing golf […]
DETROIT (AP) — As a fan, Shaun Horne is all about Detroit’s professional sports teams. But when it comes to playing, the high school junior has his eyes on one game.
But Hawkins said his experience as a coach suggests Black high schoolers aren’t among that audience.
“You don’t hear kids talking about the latest golf shoes or the cool golf apparel,” Hawkins said. “You’re not necessarily going to get a badge of honor walking into your high school and you’ve got the newest golf shirt.”
Lack of money is a barrier
Golf and equipment can be pricey, sometimes too pricey for families struggling just to make ends meet.
Detroit, which is just under 80% Black, had a median income of about $39,500 in 2023 compared to $69,100 statewide, according to the census. The city’s poverty level was about 32%. Statewide, that figure was about 13.5%.
A set of good golf clubs can cost a few hundred dollars or more. It’s $28 for juniors to play 18 holes and use a cart weekdays at the two public golf courses in Detroit.
The PGA brought its first event to Detroit in 2019, and city native Dan Gilbert’s Rocket Companies has been its sponsor. The company works with partners to bring the game to Detroit’s youth and cover some of the costs, said Trina Scott, vice president of Civic and Community Affairs at Detroit-based Rock, which is Gilbert’s family office.
“How do we attract Black and brown youth into seeing (golf) as a possibility?” said Scott. “One way of doing that is by making it accessible (and) also eliminating the barriers — being able to have the right clothing to go on a golf course, being able to have the clubs that you need, being able to have the skillset to be confident on the course.”
From the gridiron to the golf course
Mike Schuchard has about a dozen players on his Detroit Cass Tech golf team. That’s about double the number from last season, but only two are considered “varsity level.”
That’s not enough to compete against some suburban schools with strong golf programs.
The first-year golf coach says he’s trying to recruit students who are already interested in others sports.
“These schools are loaded with great athletes, but they just haven’t been introduced to this game, yet,” Schuchard said.
Ahmari Flowers, the senior captain on Cass Tech’s golf team, agrees. He started playing the sport after his freshman year.
“I’m an athletic guy and golf like came easy to me,” said Flowers, 17. “For an athletic person, it’s still a sport, a lot of body movement and all you got to do is control that athleticism and use it to your advantage.”
Latest Strava Updates Use AI to Recommend Routes, Level Leaderboards, and More
Support us! GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More The weekend comes, and there’s an urge to shake up your routine. It’s time to take a long run or ride to new places. That often takes tinkering on a map and can eat into riding time if you […]
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The weekend comes, and there’s an urge to shake up your routine. It’s time to take a long run or ride to new places. That often takes tinkering on a map and can eat into riding time if you haven’t planned ahead.
Then comes the urge to just wing it, which can be fun — unless you end up riding down sketchy road shoulders, cursing yourself with every passing car.
Strava’s latest suite of updates includes route suggestions based on paths worn by its users. In effect, you can crowdsource new route suggestions — complete with a café stop at the halfway mark. If you’re still in the mood to trailblaze, more power to you. Maybe you’ll end up creating a new segment and become its leader.
Strava continues to use artificial intelligence to bolster its existing features. The biggest updates come to the app’s Routes. Here, AI leans on the data created by its more than 150 million athlete users in over 185 countries.
How does AI know what route you might like? It finds routes popular among other users based on activity type. It’s not unlike song recommendations on music apps.
As you’ll see, these improved Routes have a trickle-down effect, informing other features that will roll out this summer.
Strava’s new Routes lets AI use community-created data for suggestions; (photo/Strava)
2025 Strava Updates: Crowdsourced Wayfinding
AI-Powered Routes
As mentioned above, Strava has updated its Routes experience with help from AI. Under the Maps tab, Routes generates suggestions based on its community-backed routes. It uses the app’s Global Heatmap to share or find new places to run, ride, or walk from their current location.
We can see where the machine could eventually weigh its recommendations based on users with similar performance data. However, that is wholly speculative on our part.
Tappable Points of Interest
Riding out to the nearest scenic overlook is cool, but Strava’s Points of Interest includes some more practical locations. After all, cycling and cafés are practically synonymous. And every athlete has felt the sudden urge to find the nearest restroom.
In June, subscribers can tap to find this information and have Strava generate a direct or scenic route there. These routes will include details like elevation, distance, and estimated time to arrival. The app’s Maps tab will also include community-provided photos.
Screenshots of the latest Strava features; (photo illustration/Strava)
Point-to-Point Routing
Strava combines its new Routes engine with info from its Global Heatmap to create the most efficient, activity-specific route to get from one spot to the next. Come July, users can simply drop a pin and go with point-to-point routing on mobile.
Fair PRs & Leaderboards
People cheat at board games, so it should never be a surprise that people will cheat to get atop Strava’s local leaderboard. Personal records and Leaderboards are a big part of the app’s experience for some athletes. Thus, the company has taken several measures to maintain their integrity.
In February, Strava began using its machine-learning models to flag suspicious activities that were incorrectly tagged. For instance, a ride that was recorded as a run, or any activity that involved a vehicle. In many cases, users forget to stop recording an effort and start to drive home. Strava detects such bad data (not cheating) and has users trim their activity.
New updates continue its efforts for accurate PRs and leaderboards.
Strava continues to update its activity monitoring to flag suspicious efforts; (screenshot/Strava)
Fair Leaderboards
As part of Strava’s ongoing efforts to uphold fair and legitimate leaderboards, the company is continuing to advance the application of its machine-learning model to police its top 10 spots on ride and run leaderboards.
Strava reports that this effort “has removed 4.45 million activities with the wrong sport type or recorded in vehicles so far, helping to rightfully restore KOMs and QOMs to reflect true performances.”
Building off these efforts, Strava is making more updates to increase confidence in its leaderboards. It’s also expanding oversight across even more live segments. Subscribers can discover and compete on these new live segments with new features like extra screens with comparison metrics.
2024 Strava Updates Now Active
If you haven’t caught up on Strava’s features recently, know that you may be sleeping on quite a few recent updates.
New Route suggestions based on your location and activities; (photo illustration/Strava)
Last year, we reported on several soft-launched features released during Camp Strava. Among those were the much-requested Dark Mode to kill the screen brightness at night, and the AI-based coaching feature dubbed Athlete Intelligence that provides feedback after a recorded ride, run, or effort. Athlete Intelligence has since made it out of beta after positive feedback from users.
Night Heat Maps created a database of popular routes after dark. While day maps often lead to parks or water-side routes, that changes at night when safety and visibility are a higher concern. This feature can be accessed as a layer in the Maps tab.
