Fantasy Sports Ventures (FSV), the parent company of the FantasyPlayers.com Network, has acquired the premier independent baseball content site, BaseballHQ.com, and its parent company, Shandler Enterprises, it was announced today by FSV CEO Chris Russo.
BaseballHQ.com was launched in 1996 by founder Ron Shandler, one of the most well-respected and successful fantasy analysts on the Web. Shandler was the first to develop sabermetric applications for fantasy play, and his team of more than 50 professional analysts provide the most in-depth and valuable information to avid fantasy baseball players each season. The site is a must-read for major league general managers and several BaseballHQ staffers have consulted for MLB clubs. The site is the only three-time winner of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association’s “Best Fantasy Baseball Content” award.
Shandler Enterprises also includes a book line anchored by the successful Baseball Forecaster series (first published in 1986) and nationwide conference events, all targeted to hard core fantasy baseball players and baseball fans.
BaseballHQ.com is a key addition to FantasyPlayers.com’s robust baseball channel which also includes sites such as Baseball-Reference.com, KFFL.com, BaseballCube.com, BaseballMusings.com, MVN.com and other leading independent baseball sites. In addition to baseball, the FantasyPlayers.com Network offers deep channels of sports-specific content in pro & college football, basketball, auto racing, hockey and several other sports.
“BaseballHQ.com provides readers the best analysis and richest fantasy content on the Web,” said Russo (who was formerly the Senior VP of New Media at the NFL). “We will continue to add unique voices like Ron’s to FantasyPlayers.com’s baseball channel and our other dedicated sports channels.”
“Joining the FantasyPlayers.com Network ensures we can grow BaseballHQ.com while continuing to deliver our loyal readers the best fantasy baseball analysis and forecasting available,” said Shandler, who will continue to oversee the website, book series, and conferences. “We’re excited for the additional resources and promotional power that being part of the Network provides.”
The FantasyPlayers.com Network includes more than 125 fantasy sports and related web sites, delivering 5.5 million unique users in April 2008 (Nielsen//NetRatings). These owned and affiliated sites provide high-quality fantasy news, information, analysis and game products across all major sports. As a part of the Network, affiliates receive a range of benefits, such as research, content, promotion, and monetization services. The primary goal of the Network is to provide affiliate sites with new revenue opportunities while enabling advertisers to reach the avid fantasy user through high impact marketing programs.
About Fantasy Sports Ventures:
Fantasy Sports Ventures is an integrated marketing and media company with two key business units: the FantasyPlayers.com Network, a dynamic fantasy sports portal featuring 125+ leading fantasy websites and FSV Advisors, the firm’s consulting practice leveraging the principals’ decades of collective experience in professional sports, new media and technology. www.fantasysportsventures.com
About BaseballHQ.com
Baseball HQ has been the #1 source for fantasy baseball information since 1996. Thousands of fantasy baseball leaguers have relied on Baseball HQ to help them win every type of fantasy baseball game format. BaseballHQ.com and Baseball Forecaster provide vital intelligence, cutting-edge analysis and revolutionary strategies to thousands of fantasy players each season.
Contacts:
Rick McCabe, 914-525-0899
rick.mccabe@edelman.com
