DraftKings inks partnership with former ESPN personality Dan Le Batard

On Monday, DraftKings announced a new agreement with Dan Le Batard, former ESPN personality. With the aim of distributing his radio show and podcast, promoting the sports betting company’s ambitions as a media company.

According to The Washington Post, DraftKings purchased the rights to distribute “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz” as well as the network of podcasts. As part of the deal, Le Batard’s show will feature DraftKings odds and sportsbook information, and Meadowlark, a content company that plans to sell podcasts, documentaries, and other shows to streaming platforms co-founded with former ESPN president John Skipper, will develop other gambling content for DraftKings.

DraftKings will have the rights to distribute Le Batard’s show across audio, TV, and digital channels, also air the show on its new channel devoted to betting that just launched on Sling TV, according to the announcement.

In accordance with Axios, DraftKings spent $475 million on sales and marketing last year and appears ready to expand its presence in sports media. The company recently hired a chief media officer, Brian Angiolet, to oversee an expected media expansion, and it recently acquired Vegas Sports & Information Network, a sports betting media company.

Le Batard said in the release: “DraftKings believed in us, our principles, and our mission enough to give us freedom no scared corporation or traditional media partner ever could or ever would. To our fans, know that DraftKings is the reason you aren’t behind a paywall, and I’m promising you the money won’t change the show or corrupt us in any way.”