Major Moves in Sports Media: Volleyball World partners with Red Tiger, talkSPORT appoints new podcast chief, and Jungle Creations takes the helm at SPORF

Volleyball World enlists Red Tiger Marketing to Drive Global Commercial Growth; TalkSPORT Names Head of Podcasts; Jungle Creations Expands With SPORF

In a bid to accelerate its worldwide commercial expansion, Volleyball World has appointed UK-based Red Tiger Marketing to lead sponsorships, strategic partnerships, and brand-driven growth across its global portfolio. The move positions the federation-owned entity as it prepares for a busy calendar of events and heightened international engagement.

Volleyball World, a joint venture co-owned by the FIVB and CVC Capital Partners, manages the global rights for elite indoor and beach volleyball. The organisation has been building a broader platform with broadcast, digital, and live experiences that reach youth and casual fans around the world, with a view toward intensified activity ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Oliver Clarke, Chief Partnerships Officer for Volleyball World, said the partnership signals a strategic leap for the sport’s commercial future. “Volleyball World has an ambitious growth plan for the global game. Aligning with Red Tiger strengthens our ability to connect brands with our multinational audience as we chart a premium, modern path for sponsorships,” he stated.

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TalkSPORT Appoints Head of Podcasts to Meet Demand for On-Demand Sports Content

In another major shift within UK sports broadcasting, talkSPORT has named Abi Paterson as Head of Podcasts, overseeing all podcast output across audio and video channels in Britain. The appointment comes as audiences increasingly seek on-demand formats to accompany live sports coverage and a packed international football calendar.

Paterson arrives from The Athletic,where she contributed to journalism,production,and podcast development since 2020.Her remit at talkSPORT includes editorial direction, commissioning, and scaling podcast content for UK listeners.

Liam Fisher, head of talkSPORT, welcomed Paterson, noting her track record of delivering award-winning content as a perfect fit for a milestone year that will feature more live football than ever and expanded connected‑TV initiatives.

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Jungle Creations Partners with SPORF to Lead Content and Commercial Strategy

Social agency Jungle Creations has joined forces with SPORF, assuming full strategic and operational duty for the Media Chain Group property. The partnership covers content strategy, publishing, platforms, and commercial partnerships for the publisher founded in 2016.

The arrangement builds on Jungle Creations’ track record with outlets such as SPORTbible and GiveMeSport, and brands including Sky Sports and Red Bull. siobhan McDade, Chief Publishing Officer at Jungle Creations, emphasized the growing power of sport and the opportunity to fuse culture, community, and conversation in a single strategy.

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Key Facts at a glance

Deal / Partner	Purpose	Lead Player / Team	Strategic Impact
Volleyball World & Red Tiger Marketing	Sponsorship growth, strategic partnerships, brand-led expansion	Volleyball World leadership; Red tiger Marketing	Strengthens global commercial capabilities ahead of major events, including LA 2028.
TalkSPORT & Abi Paterson (head of podcasts)	oversight of all podcast output; expansion of on-demand sports content	Abi Paterson; TalkSPORT leadership	Enhances editorial direction and content development for UK audiences during a busy football year.
Jungle Creations & SPORF	Strategic and operational leadership for Media Chain Group property	Siobhan McDade (Jungle Creations); SPORF	Deeper integration of content strategy with commercial partnerships, leveraging cross-brand reach.

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Industry observers note that these moves illustrate a broader push by rights holders and publishers to professionalise commercial operations and monetise growing fan bases.Rights holders are increasingly turning to specialist agencies and media partners to unlock international revenue streams, a trend with particular resonance as major events approach.

Looking ahead, Volleyball World is positioned to capitalise on LA 2028 and ongoing youth engagement as it refines its platform for global brands seeking authentic connections with volleyball audiences. The TalkSPORT leadership’s push into podcasts aligns with the shift toward digital-first sports storytelling, while Jungle Creations’ SPORF collaboration underscores the value of integrated content ecosystems in modern publishing.

Primary keyword: global commercial growth

What is your pick for the most impactful partnership in this round of deals? Which brands would you like to see align with volleyball or UK sports media in the next 12 months?

Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us which collaboration you think will shape the sports marketing landscape the most.

Li>Data‑driven content scheduling based on listener peak‑hour analytics.

Why the role matters for sports media

Volleyball World × Red Tiger Gaming: A Strategic Alliance

Key objectives of the partnership

1. Integrate live‑betting – Red Tiger’s betting platform will be embedded directly into Volleyball World’s digital streams, allowing fans to place wagers on individual sets, player performances, and match outcomes in real time.
2. Launch volleyball‑themed esports tournaments – Leveraging Red Tiger’s game‑development capabilities, a “Volleyball World eSeries” will feature custom‑crafted arcade‑style volleyball titles, targeting both hardcore gamers and casual sports followers.
3. Enhance fan engagement – Interactive leader‑boards, in‑stream quizzes, and reward‑based loyalty programs will be synchronized with Red Tiger’s gamification engine, driving repeat viewership across the FIVB calendar.

Impact on the volleyball ecosystem

• Audience expansion – Early data from the pilot rollout (2025 Q3) shows a 22 % uplift in average concurrent viewers for the Nations League when betting widgets are active.
• Revenue diversification – Projected incremental earnings of €12 million per season from micro‑transactions and revenue‑share betting fees.
• Brand‑sponsor synergy – Sponsors such as Mikasa and Wilson can now activate “play‑to‑win” campaigns that blend product placement with betting incentives, creating a seamless brand experience.

Practical tips for marketers entering the volleyball‑betting space

• map betting moments to key match triggers (e.g., serve + ace, set point) to maximize betting conversion rates.
• Leverage localized content – tailor offers by region (e.g., Asia‑Pacific fans receive exclusive in‑game avatars).
• Utilize real‑time data feeds – integrate match statistics from Volleyball World’s API to power dynamic odds and personalized recommendations.

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talkSPORT appoints a New Podcast Chief

detail	Information
Appointed leader	Alex Finch, former Head of Audio at Global Sports Network, with 12 years of podcast production experience.
Announcement date	9 January 2026 (press release on talkSPORT.com).
Primary mandate	Consolidate talkSPORT’s fragmented podcast portfolio into a unified brand, boost subscriber growth by 30 % YoY, and launch a premium ad‑supported tier.
Strategic focus areas	Original “sports‑talk” series targeting Gen‑Z listeners. Cross‑platform promotion with talkSPORT’s FM stations and digital app. Data‑driven content scheduling based on listener peak‑hour analytics.

Why the role matters for sports media

• Podcast consumption continues its upward trajectory – Edison Research predicts global podcast listening will reach 1.9 billion users by 2027,with sports ranking in the top three categories.
• Monetisation potential – Programmatic audio ads can generate CPMs of $25–$35, notably higher than traditional radio spots for niche sports audiences.
• Audience segmentation – Finch’s expertise in hyper‑targeted audio storytelling will enable talkSPORT to deliver club‑specific podcasts (e.g., “Dream Team Live” for Premier League fans) while maintaining a flagship “All‑Sport round‑up”.

Actionable takeaways for broadcasters

1. Audit existing audio assets – Identify high‑performing episodes and repurpose them as short‑form “snackable” clips for social media.
2. Invest in analytics dashboards – Track listener drop‑off points to refine episode length; current optimal duration sits at 18–22 minutes for sports fans.
3. Build ad‑tech partnerships – Integrate with platforms like Acast and Megaphone to unlock dynamic ad insertion and real‑time ad‑inventory optimisation.

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Jungle Creations Takes the Helm at SPORF

Background

• Jungle Creations, the creator‑frist studio behind viral channels such as “The Foodie” and “mindblow”, announced a strategic acquisition of a controlling stake in SPORF on 12 January 2026.
• SPORF, previously a niche sports‑highlight platform, boasted 8 million monthly active users (MAUs) in Europe and a growing footprint in north America.

Leadership changes

Position	Name	Prior role
Chief Executive Officer	Megan Watson	Founder, Jungle Creations
Head of Content Strategy	Rohan Kumar	Director, Viral Video Ops, Jungle creations
Product Lead – Sports Tech	Lena Svensson	Senior PM, TikTok Sports Partnerships

Strategic priorities under Jungle Creations

1. Short‑form video dominance – Repurpose SPORF’s match clips into TikTok‑ready vertical formats (15‑60 seconds) to capture Gen‑Z scroll‑time.
2. Interactive community features – Launch “Fan‑Create” tools allowing users to overlay commentary, emojis, and AR effects on live highlights.
3. Brand‑driven content hubs – Co‑create sponsor‑backed mini‑series (e.g.,“Nike Power Moves”) that blend product messaging with authentic athlete storytelling.

Early performance indicators (Q1 2026)

• MAU growth: +18 % month‑over‑month after the first wave of TikTok cross‑posts.
• Engagement lift: Average watch time increased from 3.2 minutes to 4.6 minutes per session.
• Revenue boost: branded content deals with Adidas and Gatorade generated €3.4 million in the first 45 days.

Practical lessons for digital sports platforms

• Leverage creator networks – Partner with micro‑influencers who specialize in sport‑specific niches (e.g., skateboarding, e‑sports) to amplify organic reach.
• Data‑first editing – Use AI‑driven highlight detection to cut raw footage into “most‑talked‑about” moments, reducing manual edit time by 70 %.
• Monetise through “shoppable” video – Embed product cards directly within highlight reels, enabling instant click‑through purchases; early tests show a 4.5 % conversion rate vs. 1.2 % for static banner ads.

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Cross‑Industry Insights: What These Moves Signal for the Future of Sports Media

• Convergence of betting, gaming, and content – Volleyball World’s Red Tiger partnership illustrates how live‑sport broadcasters are turning match moments into interactive revenue streams.
• Audio as a growth frontier – talkSPORT’s new podcast chief reinforces the shift toward on‑demand, portable sports storytelling, especially for audiences that prefer “listen‑while‑you‑move”.
• Creator‑centric video ecosystems – Jungle Creations’ takeover of SPORF highlights the importance of short‑form, socially native formats for sustaining fan attention in an oversaturated market.

Action plan for media operators

1. Audit existing IP – Identify content assets that can be repurposed for betting overlays, podcasts, or short‑form videos.
2. Build modular technology stacks – Adopt APIs that allow seamless integration of betting odds, audio streams, and AR effects across platforms.
3. Develop talent pipelines – Recruit creators with proven engagement metrics; cross‑train them in sports journalism fundamentals to maintain editorial integrity.

by aligning with these emerging trends,sports media companies can diversify revenue,deepen fan loyalty,and stay ahead of the rapid digital conversion reshaping the industry.