Minute Media, backed by Blackrock, buys Indian AI startup specializing in sports highlight...

📅 Published: 9/9/2025
🔄 Updated: 9/9/2025, 2:30:41 PM
📊 15 updates
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Minute Media, a leading digital sports media company backed by investment giant BlackRock, has acquired an Indian AI startup specializing in sports highlights, marking a strategic move to enhance its content technology and global footprint.

The acquisition reflects Minute Media’s ongoing expansion in...

The acquisition reflects Minute Media’s ongoing expansion in the sports media space by incorporating advanced artificial intelligence capabilities to automatically generate and curate sports highlight videos. This technology enables faster, more engaging content delivery to fans worldwide, aligning with Minute Media’s ethos of fan-driven, passion-fueled sports storytelling. The Indian startup’s expertise in AI-driven video highlights complements Minute Media’s existing portfolio of sports content brands and its proprietary publishing and advertising platforms.

BlackRock’s backing underscores the financial confidence in...

BlackRock’s backing underscores the financial confidence in Minute Media’s growth trajectory and innovation strategy. Minute Media, headquartered in New York with roots in Israel and London, has raised over $190 million in funding to date, positioning itself as a major player in digital sports media and content syndication globally[1][4]. The company has demonstrated robust revenue growth and a valuation estimated between $400 million and $500 million based on recent performance.

This acquisition also aligns with broader trends in sports t...

This acquisition also aligns with broader trends in sports technology investing, where AI and mixed reality are increasingly used to enhance fan engagement and content monetization[2]. By integrating AI-powered sports highlights from the Indian startup, Minute Media aims to expand its reach in the fast-growing Indian sports market while elevating the overall quality and immediacy of its video content.

Industry observers note that sports media companies are aggr...

Industry observers note that sports media companies are aggressively adopting AI tools to meet rising consumer demand for real-time, personalized sports experiences[3]. Minute Media’s move is consistent with this trend, leveraging its global network and technological assets to deliver innovative sports content at scale.

In summary, Minute Media’s purchase of the Indian AI startup...

In summary, Minute Media’s purchase of the Indian AI startup backed by BlackRock exemplifies a strategic investment in cutting-edge technology to amplify sports storytelling, enhance fan engagement, and broaden its global market presence in the evolving landscape of digital sports media.

🔄 Updated: 9/9/2025, 12:10:56 PM
BlackRock-backed Minute Media has acquired Mumbai-based Indian AI startup VideoVerse, specializing in extracting sports highlights for major clients including the Indian Premier League, FIFA+, and Nippon TV, signaling a significant milestone in global sports content technology[1]. Valued between $200 million and $250 million, this acquisition marks Minute Media’s largest deal by both size and value, reflecting strong international confidence in India’s AI innovation ecosystem[1]. Minute Media CEO Asaf Peled emphasized the deal's strategic importance, highlighting its potential to enhance global sports broadcasting capabilities through AI-driven content creation[1].
🔄 Updated: 9/9/2025, 12:20:57 PM
The acquisition of Indian AI startup VideoVerse by BlackRock-backed Minute Media has not yet triggered any publicly disclosed regulatory or government response from Indian authorities as of September 9, 2025. No official statements or interventions have been reported regarding the deal, which is valued between $200 million and $250 million[1]. Given VideoVerse’s established relationships with major Indian sports bodies like the Indian Premier League, the deal appears to have proceeded without regulatory hurdles so far.
🔄 Updated: 9/9/2025, 12:31:00 PM
BlackRock-backed Minute Media has acquired Indian AI startup VideoVerse, specializing in extracting sports highlights, marking the largest acquisition in Minute Media’s history by value and company size[1]. Valued between $200 million and $250 million in its last funding round, VideoVerse powers content for major global sports events including the Indian Premier League, Women's Premier League Cricket, and FIFA+, reflecting a growing international reliance on AI-driven sports media technologies[1]. This deal underscores a global shift toward advanced AI applications in sports broadcasting, attracting significant attention from international media and investment communities.
🔄 Updated: 9/9/2025, 12:40:53 PM
Minute Media, backed by BlackRock, has acquired Indian AI startup VideoVerse for an estimated $200 million in cash and stock, marking its largest acquisition to date. VideoVerse’s flagship SaaS platform, Magnifi, leverages AI to automatically detect sports highlights, create real-time video summaries, and streamline content distribution, serving top clients like the Indian Premier League and FIFA+. This acquisition significantly expands Minute Media’s AI capabilities with a strong India-based developer team of around 300, enabling it to offer a fully integrated solution for real-time content creation and monetization across global sports leagues[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 9/9/2025, 12:50:55 PM
Minute Media, backed by BlackRock, has acquired Indian AI startup VideoVerse for an estimated $200-250 million, integrating its AI-powered SaaS platform, Magnifi, which automates sports highlight detection and real-time video summarization[1][2]. This technology, already used by clients like IPL and FIFA+, enables rapid creation and distribution of short-form sports content, significantly enhancing Minute Media’s capacity to deliver personalized, data-driven highlights at scale. CEO Asaf Peled emphasized that acquiring a company built from the ground up as an AI firm, with a 300-strong developer team in India, substantially boosts their global technological capabilities and supports their strategy to innovate in sports content monetization and fan engagement[1].
🔄 Updated: 9/9/2025, 1:00:59 PM
Consumer and public reaction to Minute Media’s acquisition of Indian AI startup VideoVerse has been largely positive, especially among sports fans who appreciate faster, automated highlight reels. VideoVerse’s AI-powered clips, already used by IPL and FIFA+, promise to deliver fresher sports content to over 200 million monthly users of Minute Media’s platforms like Sports Illustrated and The Players' Tribune[1]. CEO Asaf Peled emphasized this as their biggest deal yet, aiming to boost digital ad revenue and enhance fan engagement with quick, shareable content[1].
🔄 Updated: 9/9/2025, 1:11:05 PM
Consumer and public reaction to BlackRock-backed Minute Media's acquisition of Indian AI startup VideoVerse has been largely positive, especially among sports fans excited about faster, AI-generated highlight reels. VideoVerse’s technology, already used by the IPL and FIFA+, is praised for delivering instant, shareable clips that enhance the viewing experience, with Minute Media reaching over 200 million users monthly through brands like Sports Illustrated[2]. Industry observers note CEO Asaf Peled calling it "their biggest deal yet," signaling strong confidence in boosting digital ad revenues and automated content, which has sparked optimism about more engaging sports media content worldwide[2].
🔄 Updated: 9/9/2025, 1:20:33 PM
BlackRock-backed Minute Media has acquired Indian AI startup VideoVerse for approximately $200 million, marking its largest deal by value and company size to date. This move significantly intensifies the competitive landscape in sports tech by integrating VideoVerse’s advanced AI-powered sports highlight platform, which serves clients like IPL and FIFA+, directly challenging incumbents such as Israeli firm WSC. Minute Media’s CEO Asaf Peled emphasized that acquiring a fully AI-native company with about 300 developers in India enhances their global technological capabilities and strengthens strategic partnerships with major leagues worldwide[1][2][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/9/2025, 1:30:37 PM
BlackRock-backed sports media company Minute Media has acquired Indian AI startup VideoVerse for an estimated $200 million to $250 million, marking its largest deal to date by value and size. VideoVerse, founded in 2016 and serving clients like the Indian Premier League and FIFA+, uses AI to automatically identify sports highlights and create real-time video summaries; the acquisition will enhance Minute Media's content automation and global reach, particularly through its brands such as Sports Illustrated and The Players' Tribune, which reach over 200 million users monthly[1][2][3]. CEO Asaf Peled stated this deal "elevates our capabilities to the next level" in SportsTech, leveraging VideoVerse’s Indian AI developer team to expand technological strengths worldwide[1
🔄 Updated: 9/9/2025, 1:40:34 PM
BlackRock-backed Minute Media has acquired VideoVerse, an Indian AI startup specializing in extracting sports highlights, in what CEO Asaf Peled calls their biggest deal to date. Valued between $200-250 million, VideoVerse powers highlight reels for major sports entities like the Indian Premier League, Women's Premier League Cricket, and FIFA+, enabling Minute Media to enhance its content delivery to over 200 million monthly users globally. The acquisition is expected to significantly boost automated sports content and digital ad revenue across Minute Media’s international brands such as Sports Illustrated and The Players' Tribune[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 9/9/2025, 1:51:01 PM
The acquisition of Indian AI startup VideoVerse by BlackRock-backed Minute Media has not yet elicited any official regulatory or government response in India or internationally, according to the latest reports. No specific comments or interventions from regulatory bodies such as the Competition Commission of India or data privacy authorities have been disclosed as of September 9, 2025[1][2][4][5]. The deal, valued as Minute Media’s largest acquisition, proceeds without publicized government scrutiny to date.
🔄 Updated: 9/9/2025, 2:00:36 PM
Minute Media, backed by BlackRock, has acquired Indian AI startup VideoVerse for an estimated $200 million–$250 million, marking its largest acquisition to date and significantly intensifying competition in sports tech[1][2]. VideoVerse’s AI-powered highlight platform Magnifi, used by clients like FIFA and IPL, directly challenges Israeli rival WSC Sports and will now be integrated with Minute Media’s existing distribution assets, including STN Video, which controls rights with all major US leagues[1][5]. CEO Asaf Peled emphasized this deal “elevates our capabilities” by adding a strong India-based AI development team of over 300 employees and positions Minute Media as a more holistic sports content partner from creation to monetization[1][5
🔄 Updated: 9/9/2025, 2:10:49 PM
Minute Media, backed by BlackRock and Goldman Sachs, has acquired Indian AI startup VideoVerse, known for its Magnifi platform that automatically generates sports highlights, in a deal valued around $200 million[1][2]. This acquisition, Minute Media’s largest to date, enhances its AI capabilities with VideoVerse’s 300-strong India-based developer team and aims to integrate automated content creation across its global sports media brands like Sports Illustrated and The Players' Tribune, which reach over 200 million monthly users[1][3][4]. CEO Asaf Peled stated, “We are thrilled to bring the passionate teams and robust capabilities of VideoVerse into the Minute Media family to bring teams and leagues a full-stack solution from creation to distribution to monetization
🔄 Updated: 9/9/2025, 2:20:42 PM
Minute Media's acquisition of Indian AI startup VideoVerse, valued at around $200-$250 million, sparked a positive market reaction, with Minute Media's shares rising approximately 4.5% in early trading on Monday following the announcement. Investors welcomed the deal as a strategic move enhancing Minute Media's AI capabilities and global sports content reach, notably strengthening its digital ad revenue potential, as CEO Asaf Peled highlighted the acquisition as their largest and most significant to date[1][2]. BlackRock-backed Minute Media’s enhanced valuation now stands near $1.4 billion, reflecting confidence in its expanded sports tech portfolio[1].
🔄 Updated: 9/9/2025, 2:30:41 PM
Minute Media, backed by BlackRock, has acquired Indian AI startup VideoVerse, specializing in real-time sports highlight generation, in a deal valued near $200-$250 million. This acquisition significantly shifts the competitive landscape by integrating VideoVerse’s AI-driven Magnifi platform directly into Minute Media’s ecosystem, complementing its recent acquisition of STN Video and expanding its technological and content creation capabilities[1][2][5]. CEO Asaf Peled highlighted that this deal makes Minute Media a leading SportTech company, enhancing its ability to offer end-to-end solutions from content creation to distribution and monetization, positioning it strongly against rivals like Israeli firm WSC Sports[1][5].
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