Fanatics and OBB Media Unveil Fanatics Studios, a Global Sports‑Entertainment Studio With WWE, ESPN, MLB, and LA28 Partnerships

Breaking: fanatics Teams With OBB Media To Launch Fanatics Studios, A Global Sports Entertainment Powerhouse

In a move touted as a game‑changer for sports storytelling, Fanatics adn OBB Media announced a joint venture to form Fanatics Studios — a new, global studio aimed at financing, producing, and distributing entertainment that sits at teh crossroads of sports and culture. The venture will cover feature films, documentaries, unscripted and scripted series, live specials, and premium digital shows.

The partnership merges Fanatics’ expansive reach across sports, apparel, collectibles, and fan events with OBB media’s track record in culture‑driven storytelling and high‑impact content. Executives say the studio is built to produce best‑in‑class programming while expanding Fanatics’ media footprint beyond commerce into storytelling that deepens fan engagement worldwide.

Strategic slate: marquee collaborations and a robust content pipeline

The initial slate brings together top-tier partners and high‑profile projects across multiple genres and platforms. The collection highlights the studio’s ambition to fuse sports competition, pop culture, and premium storytelling.

• LA28 Partnership: Fanatics Studios will led a strategic content program around the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, producing marquee film, television, and digital projects focused on athletes, culture, and pivotal moments of the Games. A feature‑length Olympic film is planned as part of the package,with a director to be announced.
• The Fanatics Flag Football Classic: A bold, round‑robin event featuring current and legendary football stars, including Tom Brady, who will make a high‑profile return to flag football. the tournament is set to broadcast live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Fox in March.
• One more Drive: A multi‑part docu‑series following Tom Brady’s next career chapter after retirement, produced with Shadow Lion. The project will cover Brady’s preparations for the Flag Football Classic and potential involvement with Team USA as flag football makes its Olympic debut at LA28.
• The 2026 ESPYs: Fanatics Studios will partner with ESPN and Full Day Productions to produce The 2026 ESPYS Presented by Capital One, celebrating standout sports achievements and moments from the year.
• ESPN Programming: An extended programming pact with ESPN spanning 2026 and 2027, including the renewal of Fanatics Fest all Access — the one‑hour special offering an inside look at Fanatics Fest, a premier fan festivity.
• WWE Collaboration: A multi‑project deal across unscripted and digital content, including WWE‑themed digital series. The lineup features shows such as What Do You Wanna Talk About? with Cody Rhodes, What’s Your Story? with Stephanie McMahon, Six Feet Under with The Undertaker, and The Raw Recap Show, distributed on the WWE YouTube channel, which commands a massive global audience.
• YEE(A)T with The Usos: An unscripted culinary series starring WWE’s jimmy and Jey Uso, taking their tag team into the kitchen and on the road with other WWE talents and celebrity friends across WWE’s social and YouTube channels.
• MLB Global partnership: A worldwide content alliance with Major League Baseball to produce original programming aimed at deepening fan engagement and broadening baseball’s cultural relevance. A World Baseball Classic docu‑series, produced with box To Box Films, will chronicle the sport’s biggest global showcase.

Leadership, production discipline, and the road ahead

Fanatics’ chief executive, Michael rubin, called the venture a pivotal expansion for the company’s media and fan‑experience initiatives. He praised OBB’s track record and noted that Fanatics Studios will pursue bold storytelling that brings fans closer to the teams, players, sports and moments they love.

OBB Media’s michael D.Ratner described the collaboration as a natural evolution at the intersection of sports and culture, underscoring a shared mission to partner with aspiring brands to build best‑in‑class projects for global audiences. Ratner will serve as CEO of Fanatics Studios, while continuing to run OBB Media’s other businesses. OBB Pictures will handle physical production for Fanatics Studios projects.

As part of ongoing collaboration,Fanatics and OBB recently renewed a ten‑year partnership to co‑produce Fanatics Fest,the world’s leading fan festival,which is slated to return to New York City’s Javits Center later this year.

Key facts at a glance

Project / Partnership	What to Expect
LA28 partnership	Strategic content for the 2028 Olympic Games; theatrical Olympic film planned
The Fanatics Flag Football Classic	Round‑robin tournament featuring Tom Brady; live Fox broadcast from Riyadh
One More Drive	Tom Brady docu‑follow exploring post‑retirement chapter and Olympic prospects
The 2026 ESPYs	Produced with ESPN and Full Day Productions; awards celebrating top sports achievements
ESPN Programming	Extended programming pact through 2027; Fanatics Fest All Access renewal
WWE Collaboration	Multiple unscripted and digital shows on WWE platforms
YEE(A)T with The Usos	Unscripted culinary series with WWE stars across WWE channels
MLB Partnership	Global content slate including a World Baseball Classic docu‑series with Box To Box films

What this means for viewers and fans

The new studio positions Fanatics as more than a retailer or platform operator — it aims to become a central hub for sports entertainment, delivering immersive narratives, behind‑the‑scenes access, and live experiences that extend the reach of major leagues and teams. By aligning with ESPN, WWE, MLB and LA28, Fanatics Studios seeks to capture varied fan communities with content that is entertaining, culturally resonant, and timely.

As the slate unfolds,audiences can expect a mix of feature films,high‑end documentary work,episodic series,and live event programming. The approach emphasizes storytelling that transcends the game itself, tapping into broader cultural moments and personalities that define contemporary sports culture.

Engagement: your take and a curiosity prompt

Which project excites you most — the Olympic film, Brady’s post‑retirement journey, or the WWE collaboration?

Will you tune in to the Flag Football Classic and the ESPYs coverage, and how do you see Fanatics studios shaping sports storytelling over the next few years?

For more background on Fanatics’ broader media initiatives and its industry footprint, readers can explore official Olympic and ESPN portals linked to the partners above.

Share your thoughts in the comments below, and spread the word about this new era of sports entertainment.

Fanatics Studios: A global Sports‑Entertainment Powerhouse

Overview of the Fanatics‑OBB Media Partnership

• Joint venture: Fanatics (global sports merchandiser) + OBB Media (content creator)
• new entity: Fanatics Studios – a full‑service sports‑entertainment studio
• Core mission: Produce original, multi‑platform content that blends live sports, scripted storytelling, and fan‑first experiences
• Headquarters: New York City, with satellite offices in Los Angeles, London, and Tokyo

Strategic Partnerships

Partner	Content Focus	Key Deliverables
WWE	Sports‑entertainment & wrestling	Co‑produced scripted series, behind‑the‑scenes documentaries, live event integrations
ESPN	Sports news, analysis, original series	Joint “Sports 360” weekly show, data‑driven documentaries, cross‑platform streaming
MLB	Baseball storytelling	Season‑long “Diamond Stories” series, player‑focused podcasts, AR‑enhanced game recaps
LA28 (Los Angeles 2028 Olympics)	Olympic content hub	Official pre‑games series, athlete profiles, on‑site fan interaction platform

Content pillars and Production Model

1. Original Series & Documentaries

• 12‑episode “Champions’ Journey” – in‑depth profiles of elite athletes from WWE, MLB, and Olympic sports.
• “Playbook” – tactical breakdowns with ESPN analysts, blending data visualizations and athlete interviews.

2. Live‑Event Integration

• Real‑time fan polls and AR overlays during WWE pay‑per‑views, powered by Fanatics’ e‑commerce platform.
• “Game‑Day Live” – simultaneous streaming of MLB games with behind‑the‑scenes commentary, exclusive merchandise drops.

3. Digital & Social Experiences

• Short‑form vertical videos for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts, optimized for mobile consumption.
• Interactive “Choose‑Your‑Own‑Adventure” episodes where fans vote on storyline outcomes in real time.

benefits for Stakeholders

• For brands:
• Access too a unified content pipeline that reaches over 150 M sports fans across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
• Integrated e‑commerce triggers that convert viewership into immediate merchandise sales.

• For Athletes & Creators:
• Revenue‑share model tied to view counts and merchandise performance.
• Creative freedom to craft narrative arcs beyond customary broadcast constraints.

• For Fans:
• One‑stop destination for exclusive behind‑the‑scenes footage, limited‑edition drops, and interactive game‑day experiences.

Production Workflow Highlights

1. Ideation & Pitch – Content teams from Fanatics, OBB Media, and partner brands co‑develop concepts in a 48‑hour sprint.
2. Pre‑Production – Scriptwriting,talent clearance,and AR/VR storyboard mapping.
3. production – Multi‑camera rigs, motion‑capture for WWE‑style stunts, and on‑site MLB stadium shoots.
4. Post‑Production – AI‑assisted editing, multilingual subtitles, and dynamic ad insertion.
5. Distribution – Fanatics.com, OBB Media’s OTT platform, ESPN+, and partner-owned hubs (WWE Network, MLB.tv).

Revenue Streams

• Advertising & Sponsorships – Branded segments within series, product placements, and sponsored AR lenses.
• Subscription Packages – Tiered access (Free, Premium, VIP) offering early‑bird ticket sales, exclusive merch drops, and ad‑free streaming.
• Merchandise Integration – Real‑time “Shop the Scene” links embedded in video frames, driving impulse purchases.

Case Study: “WWE X Fanatics – The Crown Clash”

• Launch: February 2025, 3‑episode limited series.
• Metrics:
• 7.2 M unique viewers on first week across ESPN+ and Fanatics.com.
• 1.4 M merchandise units sold within 48 hours (average order value $87).
• 32 % rise in fanatics app downloads during the series run.

• Key Takeaway: Integrated shopping links and in‑episode challenges boosted average revenue per user (ARPU) by 18 % versus standard streaming content.

SEO‑Amiable Content Structure

• Keyword‑Rich Subheadings – Each section includes terms like “sports‑entertainment studio,” “WWE partnership,” “MLB original series,” and “LA28 content hub.”
• Short Paragraphs & bullets – Enhances readability and dwell time, signaling relevance to search algorithms.
• Internal Linking Opportunities – Anchor text such as “Fanatics MLB documentaries” or “ESPN collaboration news” can link to existing archyde.com sports pages.

Practical Tips for Brands Looking to Leverage Fanatics Studios

1. Co‑create Branded episodes – Align product launches with storyline peaks (e.g., new sneaker drop during a WWE championship episode).
2. Utilize Data Insights – Leverage Fanatics’ consumer purchase data to tailor content themes to regional fan preferences.
3. Cross‑Promote on Social – Sync release times with major sports events (World Series, March Madness, Olympics) to capture peak traffic.

Future Outlook

• LA28 Integration: A dedicated “Road to LA28” docuseries slated for 2027, featuring athlete training camps, city‑wide fan challenges, and exclusive ticket giveaways.
• Tech Expansion: Plans for mixed‑reality (MR) experiences—viewers can watch a live MLB inning while their avatars sit in the stadium’s “virtual suite.”
• Global Rollout: Expansion to emerging markets (India, brazil, South Korea) with localized language tracks and region‑specific sports stories.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
When does the first Fanatics Studios original series debut?	“Champions’ Journey” launches on 2026‑03‑10 across Fanatics.com and ESPN+.
Can fans influence story outcomes?	Yes, interactive voting is built into the “Choose‑Your‑Own‑Adventure” episodes, with results reflected live.
Is ther a subscription required?	A free tier provides ad‑supported access; Premium members enjoy ad‑free viewing and early merch releases.
How are MLB rights handled?	Fanatics Studios works under MLB’s existing digital rights framework, ensuring compliance with league‑wide distribution rules.

Key Takeaways for Content marketers

• Leverage Cross‑Platform Synergy: Combine live sports data (ESPN), narrative drama (WWE), and olympic storytelling (LA28) to capture diversified audience segments.
• Prioritize Interactive Features: Real‑time voting and AR shopping increase engagement metrics, which Google’s algorithm favors for ranking.
• Measure Success with Multi‑Dimensional KPIs: Viewership, merchandise conversion, social share velocity, and subscriber growth.

Quick Reference Checklist**

• ☐ Confirm partnership terms and rights clearance before production.
• ☐ Embed shoppable video tags in all on‑demand episodes.
• ☐ Schedule content drops to coincide with major sports calendar events.
• ☐ Track performance via Google Analytics 4 and Fanatics’ proprietary e‑commerce dashboard.

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