Yardbarker
{{Short description|American digital media property}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox dot-com company
| name = Yardbarker
| logo = Yardbarker (logo).png
| logo_size = 200px
| foundation = Emeryville, California, U.S.
(March, 2006)
| location = Burlingame, California, U.S.
| revenue =
| url = {{URL|yardbarker.com}}
| website_type = Sports news and information
| language = English
| launch_date = August 2006{{Cite web|url=http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2006/08/yardbarker_welc.html|title=Yardbarker: "Welcome to Sports 2.0!" | Compiler from Wired.com|accessdate=22 April 2023}}
| current_status = Active
}}
Yardbarker is a digital media property focused on the publishing of sports and entertainment news and information. Founded in 2006, the property distributes content on Yardbarker.com, social media platforms and via third party syndication partners. In addition, Yardbarker curates and distributes The Morning Bark and Quiz of the Day newsletters.
History
Yardbarker was founded in March 2006 by Jack and Jeff Kloster, Pete Vlastelica and Mark Johns as a site that enabled sports fans to write and discuss sports with other fans, bloggers, and professional athletes. Yardbarker.com used a system similar to Digg, however was more sports-oriented than Digg. Additionally Yardbarker provided access to more traditional sports information similar to ESPN or Yahoo such as real time sports scores, standings, and news.
The company was funded by several venture capitalists from in and around the San Francisco Bay Area including former NFL player for the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Raiders, Ronnie Lott.{{Cite web|url=https://mashable.com/archive/yardbarker|title=Yardbarker Launches Site Revamp; Gets Funding|first=Kristen|last=Nicole|date=16 April 2007|website=Mashable|accessdate=22 April 2023}}
The company provided a platform for bloggers and sports fans to gain additional exposure for their sites by joining the Yardbarker Network which provided targeted advertising and increased promotion. Yardbarker has existed on the web since August 2006 and has had over 70 professional athletes blogging on the site daily.{{when|date=November 2016}} The company and its site have been cited as the primary source of material on players in many sports-related stories in their history by sources such as ESPN.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3437177|title=Celts guard Rondo skips practice with ankle injury|date=11 June 2008|website=ESPN.com|accessdate=22 April 2023}}
The company had internet exclusivity agreements with many athletes and was used by those athletes to engage in public discourse on a number of issues via blogs run by Yardbarker. One of the more controversial such listings occurred on April 15, 2008. NBA star Carmelo Anthony was arrested and charged with DUI on Interstate 25.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3346621|title=Nuggets' Anthony arrested on suspicion of DUI|date=14 April 2008|website=ESPN.com|accessdate=22 April 2023}} The next day Anthony issued his first apology for the arrest through his Yardbarker blog expressing remorse to his teammates and his fans for his behavior.{{Cite web
|url=https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/teams/denver_nuggets/82|title=Denver Nuggets: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights|website=Yardbarker|access-date=22 April 2023}}
Another notable example would be in January 2008, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb used his blog on Yardbarker to lay out his vision for the coming season after the Eagles poor showing in the 2007 NFL season.{{Cite web
|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3187772|title=McNabb's blog points to Pats as example to follow|date=9 January 2008|website=ESPN.com
|access-date=22 April 2023}}
Atlanta Falcons FB Ovie Mughelli leveraged the Yardbarker community for his nickname via a contest in 2008.[http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/I_need_a_nickname/333828 Ovie Mughelli wants a new nickname contest]
Yardbarker's primary product was the Yardbarker Network. As of April 2011 over 900 blogs were part of the YBN, making it one of the largest sports blog networks on the web.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yardbarker.com/help/contact_us|title=Contact Us|website=www.yardbarker.com|accessdate=22 April 2023}} Yardbarker was the exclusive blogging website of many high-profile athletes including NBA stars Greg Oden and Baron Davis, MLB player Phil Hughes, former UFC star Frank Shamrock and NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb.[https://web.archive.org/web/20071109105743/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/chris_ballard/11/07/nba.image/index.html SI.com - Writers - Chris Ballard: Blogs empowering NBA players - Wednesday November 7, 2007 12:01PM] John Ryan of the San Jose Mercury News praised Yardbarker in November 2007 for its collection of blogs after reading a posting by Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch, as being one of the most extensive on the internet.{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.mercurynews.com/buzz/2007/11/26/marshawn-lynch-says-hello-to-his-professors-at-cal/|title=Marshawn Lynch says hello to his professors at Cal | Morning Buzz|accessdate=22 April 2023}}
In October 2008, Yardbarker announced a partnership with Widgetbox.Mashable Press Release http://mashable.com/2008/10/07/widgetbox-yardbarker/ to offer Yardbarker Network members widgets displaying dynamic content around the Yardbarker Network. To date{{when|date=November 2016}} over 600 installs of these widgets have occurred.Widgetbox YBN Page http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/yardbarker-network-widget
In October 2010, Yardbarker was acquired by Fox Sports Interactive.{{cite web | url=https://www.adweek.com/digital/fox-sports-acquires-sports-blog-network-yardbarker/ | title=FOX Sports Acquires Sports-Blog Network Yardbarker }} In July 2015, the Yardbarker Network was re-branded as the FOX Sports Engage Network. On January 27, 2016, the FOX Sports Engage Network began terminating affiliate and advertising agreements with written notices sent via UPS.{{cite web | url=http://www.bobsblitz.com/2016/01/dumped-by-yardbarker-and-need-new-ad.html | title=Dumped by Yardbarker and need a new ad company for your website? | access-date=January 28, 2016}}
In July 2017, Yardbarker was acquired by YB Media, LLC from FOX Sports Interactive.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}
In July 2021, Playmaker Capital Inc. acquired Yardbarker from YB Media, LLC.{{cite web | url=https://martechseries.com/bs-entertainment/playmaker-acquires-major-north-american-sports-media-destination-yardbarker-and-email-newsletter-the-morning-bark/ | title=Playmaker Acquires Sports Media Yardbarker and Email Newsletter | date=27 July 2021 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.yardbarker.com/}}
Category:American sport websites
Category:Mass media companies established in 2006
Category:Internet properties established in 2006
Category:2017 mergers and acquisitions