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FloSports

{{short description|Sports streaming website}}

{{Infobox website

| name = FloSports

| logo = FloSports_Logo.svg

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| key_people = {{unbulleted list |CEO - Mark Floreani |COO - Jayar Donlan |CFO - Pat Noonan}}

| url = {{URL|flosports.tv}}

| commercial = Yes

| headquarters = Austin, Texas

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| employees = 300

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| language = English

| subsidiaries = {{flatlist|

  • MileSplit
  • DirtonDirt.com
  • TrackWrestling

}}

| products = {{flatlist|

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| launch_date = 2006

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FloSports is an over-the-top subscription sports broadcaster and streaming service. The company is based in Austin, Texas, United States, and was founded in 2006. FloSports streams live sporting events to audiences around the world.{{Cite web|title=FloSports Becomes Exclusive Live Streaming Home of 2021 Penn Relays|url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2021/04/07/flosports-becomes-exclusive-live-streaming-home-of-2021-penn-relays/|access-date=2021-07-15|website=Sports Video Group|date=7 April 2021 |language=en}}

History

= Launch =

FloSports was founded in 2006{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Nascar Roots Live Racing Events Moving to FloSports, as NBC Sports Gold Winds Down (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/nascar-grassroots-live-flosports-exclusive-1235123049/ |work=Variety |date=December 2, 2021}} by Martin Floreani, Mark Floreani (collegiate athletes) and Madhu Venkatesan based in Austin, Texas. Martin designed the website's prototype with the aim of covering collegiate sports with the same detail that ESPN gives to the NFL and NBA. The brothers raised U.S. $10,000 in seed money from John Rainbolt and started covering wrestling and track events. Co-founder Mark captured the service's first original broadcast, Ryan Hall's U.S half-marathon record, from the back of a pickup truck using a handheld camera. Lo-fi footage, engine noise digital interference and fog impacted the quality of the broadcast. However, having the only footage of Hall's record-breaking run caused a surge in the website's popularity. By 2017 the company had 256 employees and 25 Web video channels. They changed their business model to a subscription-based service in 2012 and doubled their revenue over the following two years.{{cite news|last=Foster|first=Tom|date=October 2017|title=They Started With $10,000. Now They're Taking on ESPN|work=Inc.|url=https://www.inc.com/magazine/201710/tom-foster/flosports.html|access-date=October 4, 2019}}

= Fundraising =

The company raised $8 million in Series A and a further $21 million in Series B financing in 2016 led by DCM Ventures and Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments.{{cite news|last=Geron|first=Tomio|date=August 15, 2016|title=FloSports Nets $21.2M for Live-Streaming Alternative Sports|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/flosports-nets-21-2m-for-live-streaming-alternative-sports-1471260610|access-date=October 4, 2019}} By 2019, the company had grown to 250 employees and raised a further $47 million in series C.{{cite news|last=Wistrom|first=Brent|date=June 4, 2019|title=FloSports gets $47M from heavy hitters for more live sports rights|work=Austin Business Journal|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2019/06/04/flosports-gets-47m-from-heavy-hitters-for-more.html|access-date=October 4, 2019}}

= Acquisitions =

The company acquired DirtonDirt.com, a grassroots racing streaming and content platform, in September 2019.{{Cite web|date=2019-09-10|title=FloSports Acquires DirtOnDirt.com|url=https://www.speedsport.com/more/lifestyle/flosports-acquires-dirtondirtcom/|access-date=2021-07-27|website=SPEED SPORT|language=en-US}} In June 2020, FloSports purchased Speed Shift TV and acquired 400 races, with a focus on grassroots racing.{{cite web|date=16 June 2020|title=Could Kyle Larson win a World of Outlaws title this year? - NBC Sports|url=https://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2020/06/15/kyle-larson-brad-sweet-donny-schatz-logan-schuchart-steve-kinser-world-of-outlaws-sprint-cars-dirt-racing/|access-date=July 20, 2020|website=NBC Sports}}

FloSports acquired TrackWrestling in early 2021, a deal that increased the number of wrestling events that will be streamed on its FloWrestling service and brought wrestling analytics to the platform.{{Cite web|title=FloSports Swells Wrestling Presence, Acquiring Trackwrestling|url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Closing-Bell/2021/02/11/FLoSports.aspx|access-date=2021-10-21|website=www.sportsbusinessjournal.com|date=11 February 2021 |language=en}} In October 2021, it was announced that FloSports had acquired HockeyTech, an ice hockey streaming platform and sports data provider.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-05|title=FloSports enhances ice hockey offering with HockeyTech purchase|url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/flosports-hockeytech-hockeytv-acquisition-ice-hockey-streaming/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=SportsPro|language=en-GB}}

= Streaming partnerships =

FloSports announced a partnership with WWNLive in 2016 to run a streaming service dedicated to wrestling.{{cite news|last=Currier|first=Joseph|date=September 22, 2017|title=WWN events pulled from FloSlam schedule|work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/indies/wwn-events-pulled-floslam-schedule-243271|access-date=October 4, 2019}} In December 2018, FloRacing signed a broadcast agreement with the United States Auto Club for its midget and sprint car series. In May 2019, the Colonial Athletic Association selected FloSports as its lead media partner becoming the first college conference to pick a streaming OTT, direct-to-consumer company as their primary distribution platform.{{Cite web|title=Colonial Athletic Association Selects FloSports as Primary Media Partner|url=https://stonybrookathletics.com/news/2019/5/5/football-colonial-athletic-association-selects-flosports-as-primary-media-partner.aspx|access-date=2021-07-27|website=Stony Brook University Athletics|date=6 May 2019 |language=en}}

FloSports became the local broadcaster for two Major League Soccer teams for the 2019 season: D.C. United and FC Cincinnati, an expansion team.{{cite news|last=Bils|first=Chris|date=March 11, 2019|title=Austin-based FloSports will be local broadcast partner of MLS's FC Cincinnati|work=Austin Statesman|url=https://www.statesman.com/sports/20190311/austin-based-flosports-will-be-local-broadcast-partner-of-mlss-fc-cincinnati|access-date=October 4, 2019}} The company faced technical issues during early broadcasts due to inaccurate geofencing restrictions. The organization pledged a full refund, and offered the club's season ticket holders a discount on its annual subscription fees.{{cite news|last=Allen|first=Scott|date=March 12, 2019|title=FloSports offers full refunds after rough debut, vows to win back D.C. United fans' trust|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/03/12/flosports-offers-full-refunds-after-rough-debut-vows-win-back-dc-united-fans-trust/?tid=lk_inline_manual_18|access-date=October 4, 2019}} FloSports promised additional soccer broadcasts and shoulder programming to justify its subscription fee that largely never materialized. D.C. United and Flosports ended their four-year contract prematurely in October 2019. D.C. United opted to stream its final regular season match on its website for free.{{cite news|last=Goff|first=Steven|date=October 3, 2019|title=D.C. United severs ties with streaming partner FloSports|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/10/03/dc-united-severs-ties-with-broadcast-partner-flosports/|access-date=October 4, 2019}} FC Cincinnati announced its matches would no longer be available through FloSports in June 2020.{{cite news|last=Brennan|first=Pat|date=June 19, 2020|title=FC Cincinnati ends Flosports deal|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2020/06/18/mls-2020-schedule-fc-cincinnati-games-free-streaming-team-site/3213089001/|access-date=June 19, 2020}}

In January 2020, NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee and motorsports legend, Tony Stewart, awarded streaming rights to the Eldora Speedway and All Star Circuit of Champions to FloSports.{{Cite web|date=2020-01-30|title=All Stars & Eldora Reach Deal With FloSports|url=https://www.speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/other-sprint-cars/all-stars-eldora-to-be-streamed-by-flosports/|access-date=2021-07-28|website=SPEED SPORT|language=en-US}} In the Spring 2020, FloSports launched FloBaseball.{{Cite web|date=2020-02-11|title=FloSports Introduces FloBaseball for Collegiate and Youth Baseball|url=https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/flosports-introduces-flobaseball-for-collegiate-and-youth-baseball/|access-date=2021-07-28|website=Cord Cutters News|language=en-US}} Later in 2020, the company signed a multi-year partnership with ECHL to broadcast professional hockey starting with the 2021 season.{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=S. V. G.|title=FloSports Becomes New Provider of ECHL.TV for 2020-21 Season|url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2020/10/02/flosports-becomes-new-provider-of-echl-tv-for-2020-21-season/|access-date=2021-07-28|website=Sports Video Group|date=2 October 2020 |language=en}}

FloSports expanded its wrestling offering through a partnership with United World Wrestling, the global governing body for the sport, in late 2020.{{Cite web|date=18 November 2020|title=United World Wrestling announces streaming partnership with FloSports|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1100911/united-world-wrestling-flosports|access-date=2021-10-21|website=www.insidethegames.biz}}

In 2021, USA Cycling signed a 3 year broadcast partnership with FloSports. FloSports will also be the NGB's (national governing body's) official sponsor.{{Cite web|title=USA Cycling signs FloSports as broadcast partner|url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com:443/Daily/Morning%20Buzz/2021/06/04/USA%20Cycling.aspx|access-date=2021-06-18|website=www.sportsbusinessjournal.com|language=en}} The Unbound Gravel race, a cycling race covering various distances, has never been broadcast before due to remote locations and rough terrain. FloSports became the first to broadcast the race in June 2021 and will stream the race again in 2022.{{Cite web|date=2021-05-28|title=Unbound Gravel to be broadcast live|url=https://www.velonews.com/news/gravel/unbound-gravel-to-be-broadcast-live/|access-date=2021-06-18|website=VeloNews.com}} FloSports signed a multi-year streaming deal with USA Gymnastics, the national governing body for gymnastics, in 2021.{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=S. V. G.|title=FloSports, USA Gymnastics Pen Multi-Year Digital Streaming Deal|url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2021/01/29/flosports-usa-gymnastics-pen-multi-year-digital-streaming-deal/|access-date=2021-10-08|website=Sports Video Group|date=29 January 2021 |language=en}}

In late 2021, NASCAR announced a partnership to stream its grassroots racing series on FloRacing starting in 2022.{{cite web |title=NASCAR, FloSports announce landmark streaming partnership |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2021/12/02/nascar-flosports-announce-landmark-streaming-partnership/ |publisher=NASCAR |access-date=December 7, 2021 |date=2 December 2021}} Series that will be broadcast on FloRacing includes the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series West, ARCA Menards Series East, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, and NASCAR Pinty's Series and NASCAR Weekly Series. Several tracks on the Modified and Weekly Series had been broadcasting on the service prior to the announcement (Eldora, Oswego, Stafford). Over 280 NASCAR grassroots events were anticipated to be broadcast in 2022 (out of a total of approximately 2000 total events broadcast on the service).

In March 2023, the IBJJF announced that the Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu would be included in their offering of events streaming on FloGrappling from 2023 onwards.{{cite web |last1=Lindsey |first1=Alex |title=IBJJF Brazilian National Championship To Stream On FloGrappling In 2023 |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/ibjjf-brazilian-national-championship-to-stream-on-flograppling-in-2023/ |website=Jitsmagazine |date=9 March 2023 |access-date=29 September 2023}} In July 2023, AIGA Champions League announced that all their future events would stream exclusively on FloGrappling.{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Phil |title=AIGA Champions League Joins FloGrappling |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/aiga-champions-league-joins-flograppling/ |website=Jitsmagazine |date=14 July 2023 |access-date=29 September 2023}} In September 2023, Quintet announced that all of their future events would be streaming on FloGrappling, starting with Quintet 4 on September 10, 2023.{{cite web |last1=Blackett |first1=Todd |title=Quintet Announce Exclusive Streaming Deal With FloGrappling |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/quintet-announce-exclusive-streaming-deal-with-flograppling/ |website=Jitsmagazine |date=2 September 2023 |access-date=29 September 2023}}

=Broadcasting deals=

In early 2023, Brazilian channel Combate announced a broadcasting deal with FloGrappling starting on May 22, 2023 to show both their grappling content and original documentaries.{{cite web |last1=Burne |first1=Kathrine |title=FloGrappling Announces New Broadcasting Deal With Combate |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/flograppling-announces-new-broadcasting-deal-with-combate/ |website=Jitsmagazine |date=20 May 2023 |access-date=20 May 2023}}

= Technology =

In 2019, the company introduced apps for Android and smart TV apps.{{Cite web|last=Ogus|first=Simon|title=FloSports Launches New App On Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonogus/2019/06/18/flosports-launches-new-app-on-apple-tv-amazon-fire-tv-roku/?sh=75360ade3652|website=Forbes}} In October 2019, FloSports rebranded, and expanded its distribution with the release of an Android app.{{Cite web|date=2019-10-04|title=FloSports launches new Android app as part of rebrand|url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/flosports-rebrand-android-app-logo-ott-streaming-platform/|access-date=2021-10-14|website=SportsPro|language=en-GB}}

In 2020, FloSports began working on a Watch Party feature for their apps that would allow fans to watch events together, virtually.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-11|title=FloSports is Testing A New Watch Party Feature for Live Sports Events|url=https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/flosports-is-testing-a-new-watch-party-feature-for-live-sports-events/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Cord Cutters News|language=en-US}}

Programming

{{more citations needed|section|date=July 2020}}

FloSports streams live and on-demand events for over 25 different sports categories.{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=S. V. G.|title=FloSports Becomes Exclusive Live Streaming Home of 2021 Penn Relays|url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2021/04/07/flosports-becomes-exclusive-live-streaming-home-of-2021-penn-relays/|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Sports Video Group|date=7 April 2021 |language=en}}{{Div col|colwidth=10cm}}

= Baseball =

  • Big Ten
  • Coastal Athletic Association
  • Future Star Series Nationals 17s{{Cite web|url=https://futurestarsseries.com/flosports-announces-partnership-expansion-with-program-15-to-live-stream-new-balance-baseball-future-stars-series/|title=FloSports Announces Partnership Expansion with PROGRAM 15 to Live Stream New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series|date=2018-10-16|access-date=2021-05-19|website=Future Stars Series|last=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116033403/https://futurestarsseries.com/flosports-announces-partnership-expansion-with-program-15-to-live-stream-new-balance-baseball-future-stars-series/|archive-date=2021-01-16}}
  • Future Star Series Nationals 16s
  • Future Star Series Nationals 15s
  • NB Future Stars Series
  • College Baseball Classic

= Basketball =

= Bowling =

= Competitive Fitness =

= Cycling =

= Football =

= Grappling =

  • ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship{{cite web |last1=Phillips |first1=Sabrina |title=ADCC Returns To FloGrappling Exclusively |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/adcc-returns-to-flograppling-exclusively/ |website=Jitsmagazine |date=27 April 2023 |access-date=29 September 2023}}
  • IBJJF

==== Who's Number One (WNO) ====

Who's Number One also known as FloGrappling WNO Championship is a grappling event series streamed on FloSports and organised since 2019 by its subdivision FloGrappling.{{cite web | title=Who's Number One News | website=Jitsmagazine.com | date=2023-06-23 | url=https://jitsmagazine.com/tag/whos-number-one/ }} It presents elite grapplers from around the world competing across different weight divisions and rule sets. The events encompass both gi and no-gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu matches.{{cite web | last=Rocket | first=Olga | title=WNO BJJ: Who is the best Jiu Jitsu fighter? | website=BJJaccessories | date=2022-03-27 | url=https://bjjaccessories.com/wno-bjj-who-is-the-best-jiu-jitsu-fighter}}

= Gymnastics =

= Ice Hockey =

= Lacrosse =

  • Big Ten
  • Snowbird Baseball
  • Frisco Classic
  • Future Star Series

= Marching =

= Motorsports =

= Rodeo =

= Rugby =

= Softball =

  • Big Ten
  • PGF
  • Judi Garman Classic
  • Puerto Vallerta College Challenge
  • Candrea Classic
  • Mark Campbell Collegiate Classic

= Soccer =

= Swimming =

= Track =

= Volleyball =

= Wrestling =

{{div col end}}

Controversy

FloSports's contract with USA Gymnastics was canceled one year into a five-year agreement after backlash from organizers. The website had previously linked to nude photos of McKayla Maroney that were taken when she was still a minor.{{cite web | url=https://www.gymnastics-now.com/usa-gymnastics-faces-mounting-backlash-over-flosports-streaming-deal/ | title=USA Gymnastics faces mounting backlash over FloSports streaming deal - Gymnastics Now | date=27 January 2021 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.gymnastics-now.com/usa-gymnastics-and-flosports-part-ways-just-one-year-after-signing-five-year-partnership/ | title=USA Gymnastics and FloSports part ways just one year after signing five year partnership - Gymnastics Now | date=February 2022 }}

In 2017, less than a year after partnering with WWNLive, they sued the latter company claiming they were misled about Pay-Per-View revenue.{{cite web | url=https://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2017/11/29/what-the-hell-was-flosports-doing-wwn-floslam-lawsuit/ | title=What the Hell Was FloSports Doing? New Details on WWN/FloSlam Battle | date=29 November 2017 }} The suit was dismissed after the contract was made public, and it was revealed that FloSports was upset with WWNLive's use of funds.{{cite web | url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/flosports-lawsuit-against-wwn-dismissed-after-confidential-agreement-resolve-their-dispute | title=FloSports' Lawsuit Against WWN Dismissed After Confidential Agreement 'to Resolve Their Dispute' | Fightful News }}

In 2016, the US Olympic Committee revoked Flosports media credentials after they repeatedly published footage that NBC held exclusive rights to.{{cite web | url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2016/06/30/Media/FloSports.aspx | title=USOC Revokes Media Credentials for FloSports After Violating Video Rules | date=30 June 2016 }}

For several years their subscription model has emphasized the per-month price, while the actual subscription was billed annually.{{cite web | url=https://truthinadvertising.org/articles/flosports-flowrestling/ | title=FloSports, FloWrestling | date=2019 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.roadbikereview.com/threads/flobikes-scam.374659/ | title=Flobikes scam | date=16 June 2023 }} As a consequence, in 2022 a class action lawsuit was filed against FloSports in New York federal court due to their business practices. The suit claimed that FloSports 'misleads customers into believing they are only being charged a monthly fee — rather than the full annual fee — when they first sign up for the sports streaming service.'{{cite web |last1=Burne |first1=Kathrine |title=Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against FloSports |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/class-action-lawsuit-filed-against-flosports/ |website=JitsMagazine |date=9 February 2023 |access-date=9 February 2023}} FloSports later settled this case out of court in November 2023.{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Jackson |title=FloSports Settles Class Action Lawsuit And Subscribers Are Entitled To Payment |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/flosports-settles-class-action-lawsuit-and-subscribers-are-entitled-to-payment/ |website=Jitsmagazine |date=17 November 2023 |access-date=21 November 2023}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{official website|flosports.tv}}

{{VOD services}}

Category:Internet television channels

Category:Sports television in the United States

Category:Sports television networks in the United States

Category:Subscription video streaming services

Category:Internet properties established in 2006

Category:Internet technology companies of the United States