Underdog’s Media Network Expands, But Remains a Distant Contender in Sports Media
“Underdog built us a platform and more importantly created a real partnership to share our unfiltered takes with fans. We’re building a one-of-a-kind basketball network here, and this is just the beginning – we have big plans for the future,” said Gilbert Arenas, host of Gil’s Arena, as Underdog announced multi-year contract extensions for the show’s entire cast.
Underdog, a fast-growing sports gaming and media company, has secured the future of its digital basketball show Gil’s Arena with contract extensions for its star-studded cast. The show, which airs live daily on YouTube, features three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, host Josiah Johnson, and a lineup of basketball legends including Rashad McCants, Nick Young, Kenyon Martin, Sheryl Swoopes, Brandon Jennings, and Lexie Brown.
While Gil’s Arena has gained traction as a digital basketball show, its reach remains modest compared to industry leaders like ESPN’s First Take. According to publicly available data, ESPN’s YouTube channel boasts 13.3 million subscribers and over 16 billion views, dwarfing Gil’s Arena‘s 1.3 million YouTube subscribers and 500 million views. Gil’s Arena currently averages 275,000 viewers per episode, a fraction of First Take‘s 496,000 average linear TV viewers per episode. Underdog’s claim that Gil’s Arena aims to surpass First Take in viewership by the end of 2025 appears ambitious, given the significant gap in audience size and resources.
The partnership between Underdog and Arenas dates back to 2018, when they launched the No Chill podcast, a pioneer in the athlete-centered podcast format. “We teamed up with Gil to build a wholly authentic show for the basketball community,” said Tim Livingston, Underdog’s VP of Content. “The success is a testament to the hard work of Gilbert, Josiah, and the entire cast and crew.”
Underdog’s media network has seen growth, recently surpassing 1.3 million YouTube subscribers. The network features a diverse lineup of shows, including 89 hosted by NFL All-Pro Steve Smith, Clean Pocket with Jay Gruden and Colt McCoy, and Baseball is Dead with Jared Carrabis and Dallas Braden. However, its overall reach remains limited compared to established sports media giants like ESPN.
“This partnership is at the center of our media network expansion,” said Liz Marro, Underdog’s Chief Marketing Officer. “We are going to continue to elevate our sports content and build the best sports entertainment experience for our customers.
While Underdog’s Gil’s Arena has carved out a niche in the digital sports media landscape, its claims of rivaling ESPN’s First Take in viewership by 2025 seem overstated. The show’s growth is notable, but it remains a smaller player in a highly competitive industry dominated by established giants. Underdog’s focus on authentic, unfiltered content may resonate with a specific audience, but its ambitions will require significant scaling to challenge the industry’s leaders.
Join the conversation and share your thoughts on Underdog’s growth and its challenges in competing with ESPN @coolbruthas. Remember to always Stay Fresh, Stay True.
