The Players' Tribune
A new media company that provides athletes with a platform to connect directly with their fans, in their own words.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
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| - | investor | €0.0 | round |
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$40.0m | Series C | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
The Players' Tribune is a media platform established to provide athletes with a direct channel to communicate with their fans. It was founded in October 2014 by former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, shortly after his retirement from baseball. Jeter's vision, conceived with co-founder Jaymee Messler, was to create a space where athletes could share their stories and perspectives without the filter of traditional media. This was born from Jeter's own experience with the media and his desire for athletes to control their own narratives.
The platform publishes first-person stories from professional athletes in various formats, including written articles, video series, and podcasts. The content, which is developed collaboratively between the athlete and an editorial team, often covers personal topics like mental health, social justice, and career milestones, such as Kobe Bryant's famous "Dear Basketball" retirement announcement that was later adapted into an Academy Award-winning short film. The business serves a dual clientele: the athletes who contribute content and the fans who consume it, as well as corporate brands seeking authentic marketing channels. The primary revenue stream is derived from branded and sponsored content, where The Players' Tribune partners with companies like Porsche, Toyota, and American Family Insurance to create customized campaigns featuring athletes. This model allows brands to align with compelling stories that resonate with consumers.
After raising a total of $58 million in venture funding from investors including New Enterprise Associates and Alphabet's GV, The Players' Tribune was acquired by Minute Media in November 2019. This acquisition was a strategic move to accelerate global growth by leveraging Minute Media's technology and international reach. Derek Jeter remains involved with the company, having joined Minute Media's board of directors following the acquisition. Under Minute Media, The Players' Tribune continues to operate as a standalone brand and is exploring new revenue streams, including content licensing for film and television and print publishing.
Keywords: athlete storytelling, sports media, first-person narratives, branded content, digital media, content platform, Derek Jeter, athlete empowerment, sports marketing, video production