OneFootball

Last updated

OneFootball GmbH
Industry
  • Football
  • Media Internet
  • Mobile broadcasting
Founded1 January 2008  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
FounderLucas von Cranach
HeadquartersGreifswalder Straße 212, Berlin, Germany
Key people
  • Patrick Fischer (CEO)
  • Maurits Schön (COO)
  • Renato Todorov (CTO)
Website onefootball.com/de/home (German version)
onefootball.com/en/home (English version)
OneFootball CEO and founder Lucas von Cranach at TechCrunch Disrupt Berlin in 2017 TechCrunch Disrupt Berlin 2017 (37949257505).jpg
OneFootball CEO and founder Lucas von Cranach at TechCrunch Disrupt Berlin in 2017

OneFootball is a German platform-based football media company. The OneFootball app features live-scores, statistics and news [1] from 200 leagues in 12 different languages covered by a newsroom located in Berlin. [2] In 2019, OneFootball partnered up with Eleven Sports to have the rights to stream directly on the app La Liga in UK [3] and with Sky to transmit 2. Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal matches in Germany. [4] In 2020, OneFootball bought club-founded video forum Dugout. Speaking of the deal to Bloomberg, OneFootball CEO Lucas von Cranach said that the move will "benefit the whole football ecosystem with clubs, federations and leagues able to increase audience reach and harness our powerful data insights to gain a deeper understanding of their fans' engagement as the rise of advertising means they need to know as much as possible". [5]

Contents

History

OneFootball is a football media platform based in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 2008 by Lucas von Cranach, the app provides extensive football coverage, including live scores, statistics, news, and video content. [6]

In 2009, von Cranach launched iLiga, [7] which merged under the OneFootball brand. [8]

The app was featured in the 2016 Apple keynote for watchOS 3. [9]

The management team expanded in 2018 with Franz Koch, former CEO of Puma, as COO and Patrick Fischer, former CEO of SPORT1MEDIA, as CBO. [10]

In 2019, OneFootball rebranded with a new logo.

In May 2022, OneFootball raised €300 million in a Series D financing round led by Liberty City Ventures, with participation from Animoca Brands, Dapper Labs, and others. [11]

Acquisition of Dugout

In 2020, OneFootball acquired Dugout, a digital media company, to enhance its video content offerings and bolster its position in the football media industry. Dugout brought its global video expertise, network, and distribution capabilities to OneFootball. [12]

This move also added Dugout’s founding clubs - Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid - as shareholders, enhancing OneFootball's reach to over 85 million monthly users globally. [13]

Web3 Investments

Seven months after raising more than $300 million in NFT funds, the company made three waves of layoffs. [14] This was due to OneFootball's overinvestment by signing various licensing Web3 deals, including the Italian Seria A and Bundesliga. When the contracts were finalized, the crypto winter set in, and the market was in ruins. This prompted OneFootball to restructure all the contracts and realign cost-cutting measures to survive financially. [15]

In total, the company will have reduced its workforce to 250 employees. This comes just 1year after an fund-raising of over 300 million dollars. [16] In June of 2024, CEO Patrick Fischer assured within the German media capital.de of the company's good health and that there would be no more layoffs. "We now have 240 employees, and over 250 employees have been laid off. It was one of the hardest times for me personally. But that's finished now." [17]

Strategic Moves and Challenges

In 2022, OneFootball ventured into the Web3 space with Aera, focusing on integrating blockchain technology and NFTs into the football ecosystem. CEO Lucas Von Cranach explained 1 year ago "We are creating an accessible experience for Serie A fans - by being a true platform - they can own digital video moments through us and take them wherever they want - or nowhere - they are theirs, in perpetuity. As members of the community, fans will enjoy even more benefits as we expand our Web3 offering and launch other products". The promised expansion did not last, as the platform has been shut down since June 2023. [18]

Despite the innovative approach, Aera faced external challenges and was shut down shortly after its launch in 2023. OneFootball stated it had not found a commercially viable route that satisfied the company and its partners while providing a comprehensive user offering. While some Aera NFT holders have expressed disappointment, OneFootball returned funds to NFT users who requested. Consequently, the Aera marketplace ceased operations in June 2023. [18]

Leadership Changes

In March 2023, Lucas von Cranach stepped down as CEO amid the company’s financial challenges. Maurits Schön, who joined OneFootball in 2022 and previously served as Vice President of Operations, was promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO). In his new role, Maurits will act as Managing Director alongside the newly appointed CEO, Patrick Fischer. [19] [20]

Financial Health and Future Prospects

The company has faced significant financial challenges, prompting a reevaluation of its business model and strategic direction. Reports indicate that OneFootball is undertaking measures to stabilize its operations and continue serving its user base with high-quality football content and services. Fischer stated: “We burned our fingers heavily one and half years ago, like any other company in the Web3 space, so our proposition going forward will be a global football marketplace for content products and services. [21]

OneFootball broadcasting rights

Football broadcasting rights to OneFootball
CompetitionCountryTerritorial Availability
Bundesliga Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Rights in Indian Subcontinent, Baltics, UK, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Netherlands, Malta and San Marino.
2. Bundesliga
DFL-Supercup
DFB-Pokal
Danish Superliga Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Rights outside of Denmark
Úrvalsdeild karla Flag of Iceland.svg Iceland Rights outside of Iceland
Kazakhstan Premier League Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan Rights outside of Kazakhstan
Latvian Higher League Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia Rights outside of Baltics
NIFL Premiership Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland Rights outside of UK
Eliteserien Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Rights outside of Norway
Ekstraklasa Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Rights outside of Poland (other selected territories are excluded)
Swiss Super League Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Rights in Switzerland, Italy, France, Germany and Austria
Slovak Fortuna Liga Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia Rights outside of Slovakia
Austrian Bundesliga Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Rights outside of Austria (excluding South Korea)
K League 1 Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea Rights outside of South Korea (excluding Japan)
AFC Champions League Elite Asia Rights in UK, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, MENA (excluding Israel), South Africa, Latin America (excluding Brazil), Netherlands, Malta and San Marino. [22]
AFC Champions League Two
AFC Challenge League
UEFA Champions League Europe Live and Highlights on the App and on the website by OneFootball in the outside of the Europe.
UEFA Europa League
UEFA Europa Conference League
CONMEBOL Libertadores South America Live and Highlights on the App and on the website by OneFootball in the outside of the Latin America (excluding Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Japan, and Brazil).
CONMEBOL Sudamericana
CONMEBOL Recopa
Serie A Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Live and Highlights on the App and on the website by OneFootball in the outside of the Italy.
Liga 1 Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia Rights outside of Indonesia (excluding Israel and Oceania)
AFC Asian Cup Asia Rights in UK, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Netherlands, Malta and San Marino.
Saudi Professional League Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia Rights outside of the Saudi Arabia
Indian Super League Flag of India.svg  India Rights outside of Indian Subcontinent

OneFootball partnerships

Football broadcasting rights available in OneFootball via partners
CompetitionCountryTerritorial Availability
La Liga Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Highlights in UK via Premier Sports
DFB-Pokal Flag of Germany.svg  Germany PPV rights in UK via Premier Sports [23]
Liga Portugal Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal PPV rights in UK via Premier Sports
Serie B Flag of Italy.svg  Italy PPV rights in Italy and US via Helbiz
Serie C PPV rights in selected international markets outside of Italy via Eleven Sports
Coppa Italia Serie C PPV rights in selected international markets outside of Italy via Eleven Sports
Campionato Primavera 1 Rights in Italy via Sportitalia
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil PPV rights in Brazil via Casimiro.
Highlights in Brazil via Grupo Globo
Rights in Italy via Sportitalia [24]
Campeonato Brasileiro Série C Group stage PPV rights in Brazil via NSports
Campeonato Paranaense PPV rights in Brazil via NSports
Campeonato Catarinense
Primera División de Argentina Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Rights in Italy via Sportitalia
Premier League Flag of England.svg  England Rights in Indonesia via Emtek

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