UK-based satellite television group British Sky Broadcasting has agreed its third corporate venturing deal with a US-based company in the past five weeks by investing $7m in sport streaming service Whistle Sports.
Since launching its network in January, US-based Whistle Sports has accumulated more than 8.3 million subscribers and 190 channel partners watching its 28,000 sports videos. The series B funding follows a reported $15m raised in previous funding, according to Forbes.
The company’s owners, investors and content partners include American sportsmen such as Derek Jeter and Peyton Manning, and partners including the NFL, PGA Tour, Major League Baseball, Nascar, Major League Lacrosse, AVP (pro volleyball), Major League Soccer and the Harlem Globetrotters.
Barney Francis, managing director of BskyB subsidiary Sky Sports, said: “We see lots of potential to harness Sky Sports’ content and relationships with major sports bodies and brands to work alongside Whistle Sports’ talent network.”
BSkyB has also recently invested $5m in a $10m round raised by native advertising company Sharethrough and $500,000 in online video platform Pluto.tv.
Sky has previously invested in a number of other US technology companies, including the internet protocol-streaming service provider Roku, virtual reality video firm Jaunt and video delivery firm 1 Mainstream, as well as $8m in US-based venture capital firm Luminari Capital.