Merchandising giant Fanatics is expanding into the audiovisual market through a strategic alliance with OBB Media to launch Fanatics Studios.
The new entity will focus on creating, producing, and distributing a wide range of sports-related content, including films, documentaries, scripted and unscripted series, and live events. Michael Ratner, founder and CEO of OBB Media, will lead the new venture as CEO of Fanatics Studios.
Financial Outlook and Projects:
- Revenue Targets: The studio is projected to generate over $100 million in revenue during its first year of operation.
- Parent Company Growth: Fanatics expects its total group turnover to reach $13 billion by the end of 2026.
- Initial Portfolio: The production house already has several high-profile projects in the pipeline, including:
- Content partnership for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
- A documentary featuring NFL legend Tom Brady.
- A flag football tournament hosted in Saudi Arabia.
- Collaborations with major sports entities such as ESPN, WWE, and MLB.
Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin highlighted that the move adds a critical media and content business to the company’s existing sports platform.