LOS ANGELES — Canada’s Anthem Sports & Entertainment announced Monday a multi-year agreement with iHeartMedia Inc. to collaborate on the co-production of original programming and to promote Anthem’s properties across iHeartMedia’s multiplatform audio network, Stateside.
The iHeartMedia partnership comes at a time of expansion for Anthem, which acquired a majority interest in AXS TV in 2019, and recently announced it had become an investor and strategic partner in PlayersTV, a sports lifestyle digital network being launched in March by Players Media Group.
“We continue to build key strategic partnerships that expand our reach,” said Len Asper, Anthem CEO, in the news release. “Our new partnership with iHeartMedia gives us unprecedented access to its quarter of a billion monthly listeners, reaching 9 out of 10 Americans each month through its national network of local radio stations and its ubiquitous digital app, live events, podcasts and other properties. Joining forces with iHeartMedia provides an invaluable opportunity to extend the reach of our brands, and to create unique and original content that serves our passionate communities.”
Peter Volynsky, executive vice-president of corporate development and ventures for iHeartMedia, added: “It’s an exciting time for Anthem as they continue to expand their reach. We are looking forward to collaborating with the Anthem team, offering even more unique and compelling content to our audiences, while also helping them build further awareness and grow their brand through our massive scale and national reach across our powerful multiplatform assets.”
Anthem’s portfolio of properties includes: AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; Impact Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the United States.
