Abercrombie to bring custom styling for NFL athletes, player-designed apparel and on-site event activations to the NFL Abercrombie & Fitch Partners with NFL Christian McCaffrey, Amon-Ra St. Brown, CeeDee Lamb and Tee Higgins for Abercrombie & Fitch. Abercrombie & Fitch Partners with NFL Christian McCaffrey, Amon-Ra St. Brown, CeeDee Lamb and Tee Higgins for Abercrombie & Fitch. NEW YORK and NEW ALBANY, Ohio, Aug. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Football League and Abercrombie & Fitch announ ...

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- VIP Play, Inc. (OTCQB: VIPZ) — VIP Play, Inc., a leader in AI-driven sports entertainment, today announced a strategic partnership with KaGen AI and RDU Labs, to accelerate the development of predictive, immersive, and AI-native fan experiences. Kagen AI is an AI engineering company backed by over a decade of experience in building digital products and enterprise applications. We specialize in accelerating AI adoption across industries, leveraging industry-specific e ...

Core Insights - VIP Play, Inc. has announced a partnership with Vokol to enhance fan engagement through AI-driven, hyper-personalized audio experiences in sports entertainment [1][2][3] Company Overview - VIP Play, Inc. is a leader in mobile sports wagering, operating in Tennessee and holding an interim iGaming and mobile sports-betting license in West Virginia. The company focuses on delivering a modern sportsbook with unique wager offerings and social features [4] - Vokol, formerly known as Staked AI, is an AI audio platform designed specifically for the sports industry, enabling rapid creation of high-quality audio content [5] Partnership Details - The collaboration between VIP Play and Vokol aims to combine cutting-edge technology with storytelling to redefine fan experiences [2][3] - Vokol's platform utilizes automation and AI to produce personalized audio content quickly, enhancing the way sports content is created and delivered [2][5] Strategic Goals - Both companies are committed to innovation and personalization, setting a new standard for sports content delivery and fan engagement [3]

In the fast-paced world of trading, where momentum fuels fortunes, a sudden surge can signal a brewing storm. TKO Group Holdings, Inc. TKO continues to climb on Tuesday, after Monday's rally of more than 10%. The move was driven by news that the company secured a seven-year, $7.7 billion deal for exclusive UFC media rights in the U.S. TKO is in positive territory. See the full story here. The stock is at a critical price level. There has been resistance around $180. Some analysts believe that it will revers ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated revenue of $1,308 million, an increase of 10% compared to the previous year [17] - Adjusted EBITDA was $526 million, reflecting a significant increase of 75%, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 40%, up from 25% in the prior year [17] - UFC segment revenue increased by 5% to $416 million, while adjusted EBITDA rose by 6% to $245 million, maintaining a 59% adjusted EBITDA margin [18] - WWE segment revenue increased by 22% to $556 million, with adjusted EBITDA growing by 31% to $330 million, resulting in a 59% adjusted EBITDA margin, up from 55% [21] - IMG segment revenue decreased by 4% to $37 million, but adjusted EBITDA improved significantly to $29 million from a negative $120 million, achieving a 9% adjusted EBITDA margin [25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - UFC's live events and global partnerships contributed to robust double-digit growth, with significant partnerships established with Meta and Monster Energy [9] - WWE's live events saw a 29% increase in revenue to $186 million, driven by higher ticket sales and site fee revenue from major events [21] - IMG's production capabilities were highlighted, with significant events covered across multiple continents, although revenue declined due to the loss of FA Cup rights [25][26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported strong performance in international markets, with WWE's premium live events consistently ranking in the top 10 in 37 countries [11] - UFC's site fee strategy is gaining traction, with new partnerships and events being hosted in emerging markets like Azerbaijan and Qatar [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on capitalizing on sustained demand for premium content and live events, raising its full-year guidance for revenue and adjusted EBITDA [6][29] - The recent ESPN media rights deal for WWE's premium live events is expected to secure a pivotal recurring revenue stream, enhancing the company's strategic positioning [6][35] - The integration of IMG On Location and PBR is progressing well, with anticipated savings and revenue growth from these segments [30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to maintain strong performance, citing the successful execution of live events and partnerships [16][36] - The outlook for the remainder of 2025 remains positive, with expectations of continued growth driven by UFC and WWE [29] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a balance between capital returns to shareholders and organic investments [28] Other Important Information - The company generated $375 million in free cash flow during the quarter, with a free cash flow conversion rate of 71% [27] - The company ended the quarter with $2.769 billion in debt and $535 million in cash and cash equivalents [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Discussion on the WWE deal and its impact - Management emphasized the importance of not putting all assets with one partner, highlighting the value of having multiple distribution channels for content [41] - The ESPN deal is expected to enhance audience reach and provide a stable revenue stream with annual escalators [44][46] Question: Timing of the WWE and UFC deals - Management clarified that the timing of the deals was not indicative of challenges with UFC, and they are in the final stages of negotiations [61][63] Question: Incremental margins and profitability - Management discussed the strong performance in the first half of the year and the expected continuation of growth in high-margin areas [100][101] Question: Sponsorship opportunities - Management highlighted the significant potential for increasing sponsorship revenue, particularly with the shift to ESPN's direct-to-consumer model [91][92]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated revenue of $1,308 million, an increase of 10% compared to the previous year [16] - Adjusted EBITDA was $526 million, reflecting a significant increase of 75%, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 40%, up from 25% in the prior year [16] - The UFC segment reported revenue of $416 million, a 5% increase, while adjusted EBITDA was $245 million, a 6% increase [16][17] - The WWE segment generated revenue of $556 million, a 22% increase, with adjusted EBITDA of $330 million, a 31% increase [20] - The IMG segment saw a revenue decrease of 4% to $307 million, but adjusted EBITDA improved significantly to $29 million from a negative margin in the prior year [23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - UFC's partnerships and marketing revenue increased by 39% to $86 million, driven by new partnerships and renewals [17] - WWE's live events and hospitality revenue increased by 29% to $186 million, attributed to higher ticket sales and site fee revenue [20] - IMG's revenue decline was primarily due to the loss of FA Cup rights, partially offset by new production agreements [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company set 36 individual market records for ticket sales in WWE, selling out 16 events during the quarter [9] - WWE's partnership with Netflix has shown robust growth, with over 280 million view hours since its launch [10] - The company anticipates strong performance in upcoming events, including the Canelo versus Crawford fight and the FIFA World Cup [14][30] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on capitalizing on sustained demand for premium content and live events, raising its full-year guidance for revenue and adjusted EBITDA [5][29] - The strategy includes leveraging partnerships across multiple TKO properties, enhancing brand partnerships, and integrating IMG On Location and PBR [18][30] - The recent ESPN deal for WWE's premium live events is expected to create a high-margin revenue stream with attractive visibility and stability [35] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the continued momentum across UFC and WWE, highlighting strong operating performance and the potential for further growth [15][29] - The company is optimistic about the impact of the new ESPN deal and the integration of IMG, expecting to achieve significant savings and revenue growth [30] - Management noted that while there are challenges in the upcoming quarters, the overall outlook remains positive with strong demand for premium content [34] Other Important Information - The company generated $375 million in free cash flow, with a conversion rate of 71% [27] - The company ended the quarter with $2.769 billion in debt and $535 million in cash [27] - A share repurchase program of $2 billion is expected to commence in 2025, subject to market conditions [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the implications of the new WWE deal with ESPN? - Management emphasized the importance of not putting all rights on one platform, highlighting the benefits of having multiple partners to maximize monetization and reach [42][44] Question: Why was the WWE PLE deal announced before the UFC deal? - Management clarified that the timing was due to simultaneous negotiations for multiple properties and confirmed that the UFC deal is progressing well [60][62] Question: What are the growth opportunities beyond the UFC media rights renewal? - Management highlighted the potential for increased profitability through partnerships, sponsorships, and the expansion of live events, indicating a strong growth trajectory [96][100]

Group 1 - TKO Group Holdings reported a 10% increase in total revenue for Q2, reaching $1.3 billion, surpassing analysts' expectations of $1.27 billion [1] - Diluted earnings per share rose to $1.17, up from 72 cents in the same quarter last year, exceeding the analyst target of $1.09 [1] - WWE revenue increased by $99.4 million to $556.2 million, while UFC revenue grew by $21.5 million to $415.9 million [2] Group 2 - The WWE's Wrestlemania event in April set multiple records for global viewership, contributing significantly to revenue growth [2] - TKO announced a new rights deal with ESPN for 10 annual "premium live events," generating $1.6 billion, a substantial increase from the $900 million deal with NBCUniversal in 2020 [4] - TKO is increasing its 2025 revenue guidance to a range of $4.63 billion to $4.69 billion, with adjusted EBITDA projected between $1.54 billion and $1.56 billion [5]

Group 1: WWE and ESPN Partnership - WWE has secured a deal with ESPN worth an average of $325 million per year for five years, starting in 2026, covering major live events like WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and SummerSlam [2][3] - Previously, NBCUniversal's Peacock paid $180 million per year for a similar package over five years [3] - All 10 of WWE's premium live events will be available on ESPN's new $29.99-per-month direct-to-consumer platform, with select events simulcast on ESPN's linear networks [3] Group 2: Strategic Alignment and Audience Expansion - TKO Group President Mark Shapiro emphasized the strategic alignment between WWE and ESPN, stating that partnering with ESPN is essential for expanding WWE's audience on a national scale [4][5] - ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro noted that the addition of WWE events will help reduce churn and expand ESPN's audience beyond traditional sports, appealing to a younger, more diverse demographic [5][6] - WWE President Nick Khan highlighted that 38% of WWE's audience are women and that about 50% of attendees at live events come with children, indicating a multigenerational appeal [6][7] Group 3: Additional Streaming Agreements - In 2024, WWE signed a 10-year, $5 billion deal with Netflix to stream "Raw" every Monday night, starting this year [7] - "SmackDown," airing on USA Network, will continue to stream on Peacock until its deal expires in 2029 [7]

Entertainment-Optimized AI Innovation with Unlimited Potential. This collaboration is unlocking transformative capabilities: VIP Play: Pioneering the Future of Responsible AI VIP Play isn't just adopting AI - they're pioneering the future of agentic AI in sports entertainment. Through our partnership, VIP Play is: "We're not just deploying AI—we're defining how the industry will responsibly evolve with AI over the next decade," said Les Ottolenghi, CEO of VIP Play. "Decentral AI provides the flexibility, co ...

Group 1 - Lingerie Fighting Championships, Inc. (LFC) has successfully up-listed to the newly created OTCID market, meeting all necessary criteria including being fully SEC reporting and in good standing with regulators [1] - CEO Shaun Donnelly emphasized the importance of transparency to shareholders, indicating that the up-listing process was lengthy but worthwhile [2] - LFC recently held its first events in the UK, with LFC43: Sindependence Day 2 in London and LFC44: Underground Knockouts in Cardiff, generating significant excitement among fans [2][3] Group 2 - The LFC43 event in London was broadcast live on PPV in both the UK and the US, earning more revenue than any previous LFC event [3] - The Team USA vs Team UK format attracted new fans, creating an immediate connection based on nationality [3] - Donnelly expressed enthusiasm for future international events, indicating that the league is eager to explore opportunities in other countries following the success in the UK [4] Group 3 - Lingerie Fighting Championships Inc. focuses on producing unique mixed martial arts events featuring female fighters for live audiences and television viewers [4]