OT: Bleacher Report Sold For $200 Million

[closg00]

http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2012-0 ... roved.html

[TGW]

It's a terrible website...I don't know why any group would pay that kind of money for it.

[Higga]

It's a terrible website...I don't know why any group would pay that kind of money for it.

Was just about to say the same thing.

Whoever made that site and managed to sell it for that much is one damn good hustler.

[nate33]

This is without a doubt the most incredible news story I have seen all year.

If Bleacher Report is worth $200M, than RealGM should be worth a billion.

[closg00]

The basic concept of Bleacher Report is very solid, grass roots sports coverage. They do some things pretty-well ( pushing alerts to your phone etc). What they do is unique, now Time Warner can now give it the finishing professional touches and turn it into something big. Not bad for a start-up.

[queridiculo]

I never quite understood bleacher report... It always seemed as if the site primarily consist of picture galleries under the guise of articles, am I missing something?

[TGW]

I never quite understood bleacher report... It always seemed to as if the site primarily consist of picture galleries under the guise of articles, am I missing something?

That's basically what it is...their analysis on anything is rudimentary at best...and everything is a damn slideshow. So annoying.

[closg00]

Time Warner will clean it up. Bleacher Report will become the FaceBook of sports potentially.

[queridiculo]

Not sure how that would even make sense. b/r is a content provider, and the only thing they have going for themselves is traffic.

What would compel anybody to join b/r for yet another social networking presence?

[closg00]

Not sure how that would even make sense. b/r is a content provider, and the only thing they have going for themselves is traffic.

What would compel anybody to join b/r for yet another social networking presence?

I heard on the radio that they might develop some kind of sports social networking. Nothing concrete.

[verbal8]

Not sure how that would even make sense. b/r is a content provider, and the only thing they have going for themselves is traffic.

Apparently that is what matters. If they had traffic and better content it could end up being a good acquisition even if the price seems high.

Somehow in their current state they are generating $30 million/year, which is pretty impressive.

[Ruzious]

It kinda reminds me of when ESPN bought Chad Ford's website (I think it was called sportstalk.com?). I don't think he got $200 million for it, but they did give him the platform to make him into somewhat of a star - and probably a very wealthy one. At least his website seemed to have a purpose - it was the first well-known site to gather sports rumors. I used to go there regularly. And it helped ESPN, because they were able to take over a niche and charge for its "insider" stuff. Bleacher Report - I've gone there only on the odd occasion, and it's seemed very amateurish in its content. I just don't see it being a lucrative investment.

[nate33]

Time Warner will clean it up. Bleacher Report will become the FaceBook of sports potentially.

Again, if we're talking about social networks, I'd say RealGM is closer to the "Facebook of Sports" than Bleacher Report is.

[Its Orange Baby]

Never got into this website and only seen a few of there list, but I'm pretty sure when they decided to acquire the site that they had ideas in mind on what they can turn it into. So I'm kind of intrigue on exactly how this is going to end up.

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[Induveca]

If the guys who own RealGM were wise......they'd sell now. They're using extremely outdated technology.

There are also 10 million ways to monetize this customer base (without being offensive even). A nice 15% cut on ticket sales, tight integration with ticket master (or their own deal directly with teams) would quickly set them up for a 150 million dollar sale.

For their sake (and I've worked with one of the partners here years ago on some of these ideas) I hope they wake up and realize it's time to stop being sports fans and ensure they don't leave hundreds of millions on the table.

ESPN is rumored to be getting heavily into social/community. With a major marketing push and tight integration with live broadcasts, RealGM will look like a dinosaur.

Doesn't mean the site dies or I leave, but their value takes a major major hit as the userbase undergoes an exodus, and the site does not compare favorably to the competition.

[tontoz]

I don't know how well the b/r does with other sports but their NBA coverage completely sucks.

[jmrosenth]

The RealGM trade checker product (one that is much more advanced than what is available here) is sold to at least half of the NBA teams. And I'm sure they have several other revenue streams. They are doing fine. Probably not $200 million fine, but pretty good for a couple dudes (Ryan Hoak, Michael Benbow) from the ESPN message boards who had an awesome idea.

[closg00]

The RealGM trade checker product (one that is much more advanced than what is available here) is sold to at least half of the NBA teams. And I'm sure they have several other revenue streams. They are doing fine. Probably not $200 million fine, but pretty good for a couple dudes (Ryan Hoak, Michael Benbow) from the ESPN message boards who had an awesome idea.

You can't coast in business, RealGM could end- up like My Space.

[jmrosenth]

I think that goes w/out saying, but that's different than looking for an exit strategy. Taking your analogy, if MySpace had to do it over again, from a business standpoint, getting acquired by News Corp. was a horrific idea even if they cashed out. It's why Facebook resisted being bought out over the years. I think comparing RealGM to a social media site is a stretch, but the point is that I'm sure the powers that be have had their opportunity to "sell" and have chosen not to, and I respect that. And the site has only grown since launching over a decade ago w/ a gazillion forms of competition on the interwebs.

[Ruzious]

I'd agree with JRo's points, and I don't see the situation as RealGM likely losing any opportunities anytime soon. They have a niche that nobody's likely going to take over. ESPN copied the Trade Checker, and I doubt that's eroded RealGM's popularity in the slightest. If anything, ESPN might have opened themselves up to a potential lawsuit - for all we know. If RealGM wants to sell out at some point; they can bide their time and wait for a better offer to come, imo.