ACUNMEDYA’s investment in Sport1 GmbH has been finalized: The transaction, in which ACUNMEDYA acquired 50 per cent of the shares in Sport1 GmbH, was concluded today.
Ismaning/Germany, August 2, 2024
Sport1 Medien AG, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Swiss-based media group Highlight Communications AG, and the international media and entertainment group ACUNMEDYA, based in Istanbul, had agreed on February 23 this year to acquire 50 percent of the shares in Sport1 GmbH as part of a comprehensive cooperation.
As part of the closing, the two partners have agreed that there will only be one Managing Director at Sport1 GmbH. Until now, Dr Matthias Kirschenhofer and Robin Seckler were Managing Directors of Sport1 GmbH in addition to their role as Co-CEOs of Sport1 Medien AG. As of today, August 2, Dr Matthias Kirschenhofer will become the sole Managing Director of Sport1 GmbH. Robin Seckler will continue to act as Co-CEO of Sport1 Medien AG together with Dr Matthias Kirschenhofer.
In addition to the investment, an extensive content partnership is also planned as part of the strategic alliance with ACUNMEDYA. Thus, internationally renowned and already very successful entertainment and sports entertainment formats from ACUNMEDYA are to be brought to German free-TV on SPORT1. The first step will be the broadcast of a German version of the globally successful sports reality format EXATLON, which will start in September this year.
Acun Ilıcalı, Founder and Owner of the ACUNMEDYA Group, is pleased to announce the completion of the partnership with Highlight Group and SPORT1: ”We are excited to start our partnership with Highlight Group and SPORT1, driven by a shared passion and vision for innovation. As we collaborate with the SPORT1 team, we see incredible opportunities to offer a wide range of sports and entertainment content for our German-speaking audience and create an inspiring success story with our partner.“
Bernhard Burgener, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Sport1 Medien AG: “We are very pleased with the successful closing: With ACUNMEDYA we have found an outstanding strategic investor and a great partner. Together with ACUNMEDYA, we will open a new chapter for SPORT1. The cooperation offers us excellent opportunities to further expand our offering so that we can deliver even more innovative sports and entertainment content that will inspire our viewers.”
About SPORT1 MEDIEN Group
Sport1 Medien AG is an internationally operating media company based in Ismaning near Munich. With its subsidiaries Sport1 GmbH, Magic Sports Media GmbH, Match IQ GmbH and PLAZAMEDIA GmbH, the SPORT1 MEDIEN Group covers the entire value chain in the sports sector: SPORT1 as the leading multi-channel sports platform in German-speaking countries with its TV, online, mobile, audio and social media channels, MAGIC SPORTS MEDIA as a marketing company in the areas of betting, poker and casino, the full-service sports event and consulting agency Match IQ as a partner of federations, leagues and clubs in internationalization, matchday management and the organization of friendly matches, tournaments, training camps and trips abroad, as well as PLAZAMEDIA as a leading content solutions provider in the sports and entertainment sector for all media channels. This market positioning offers unique opportunities for customers and partners, including advertising companies and agencies, media houses, platform providers, sports associations, leagues and clubs.
About ACUNMEDYA Group
ACUNMEDYA is a leading media and entertainment group empowered by the vision to deliver inspiring and creative content worldwide. ACUNMEDYA’s continuous and accelerating track is driven by its original formats and adaptations of world-renowned TV hit shows for its audiences around the world. ACUNMEDYA produces more than 5,000 hours of high-quality television programs every year and delivers it to more than 15 countries globally.
ACUNMEDYA Group, which has extensive experience in broadcasting through its own TV and streaming channels and global productions, also owns the world’s largest open air production hub in Dominican Republic hosting many reality shows globally.
Acun Ilıcalı, who is the Owner and Founder of ACUNMEDYA Group, has transformed TV8 into one of the leading television channels of Turkiye and created EXXEN, a premier streaming service. He is also the owner of Hull City Football Club in the UK, merging the excitement of soccer with the creativity of entertainment.
