Liberty Global’s media investment arm has taken a 14% stake in Big Balls Media, the London-based firm behind online football channel Copa90.
The YouTube channel has been in the news having been selected by YouTube for a high-profile advertising campaign. You Stand For Football runs until the end of October. Copa90’s mix of football comment and in-depth features has proved a hit with the 16-24 audience and has attracted the attention of sponsors including Hyundai, Adidas and New Balance.
The Financial Times reported Monday that Liberty Global had invested £7 million in the firm.
However, at the same time Big Balls Media is still working in old media – its Sky One comedy drama You, Me and the Apocalypse debuted last Wednesday with 1.34 million consolidated viewers.
Since selling its Chellomedia channel venture to AMC Networks, Liberty has refocused its media investments, taking its share in ITV to close to 10% and acquiring the Irish terrestrial channel TV3.
Its ventures division already has a stake in online sports community Whistle Sports.
