In less than two years, it took over operation of Sports Illustrated, bought an AI sports-video company in a deal worth around $200 million, and quietly assembled one of the most powerful behind-the-scenes platforms in sports media. By April 2026, Minute Media sits at roughly $1.4 billion valuation, positioned as a B2B infrastructure provider for sports and entertainment publishers rather than a direct competitor to traditional media.
Cyborg Score Rationale
Minute Media's acquisition of VideoVerse gives its 200 million monthly users access to AI that can automatically extract highlights from sports footage, representing a significant competitive moat. The company has strategic backing from tier-one institutional investors and controls multiple revenue streams through both D2C brands and B2B licensing.
Top Insights
Minute Media is BlackRock and Goldman Sachs-backed and acquired Mumbai-based AI startup VideoVerse for around $250 million (September 2025)
As of May 31, 2026, Minute Media had 391 employees
Minute Media announced the layoffs of 60 employees, reflecting about 12% of its workforce
The company reaches over 200 million monthly users through properties like Sports Illustrated, The Players' Tribune, and 90 Minutes, plus operates a B2B platform used by nearly 500 publishers
Named Competitors
The Athletic — Digital sports subscription and content platform
FloSports — Streaming services for live sports events
Barstool Sports — Sports media and entertainment brand
Taboola — Content discovery and native advertising platform
Recent Developments
(June 2026) Workforce reduction of 60 employees (~12% of headcount)
(April 2026) Company valuation reached $1.4 billion
(September 2025) Acquired VideoVerse, an AI sports-highlight startup, for approximately $250 million
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