Overtime (sports network)

Overtime is a distributed sports network and brand.[1] Instead of offering content through a single channel, Overtime's programming is available across Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, on TV (through a partnership with regional sports network SportsNet New York[2]) and through Overtime itself. Overtime says that it has nearly 50 million followers across all of its social media channels and receives 1.7 billion views a month.[3]

Overtime's coverage helped introduce a number of young high school athletes to national audience, including Rex Cassady, Trae Young, Jordan McCabe and Shareef O'Neal.[4] In 2021, Overtime announced that it was forming a new professional basketball league called Overtime Elite that will pay 16, 17 and 18 year olds.[5]

Its short-form programming is provided by a network of paid contributors, who attend games and upload highlights in real-time from their mobile phones using a special app that makes it easy to capture and produce highlights.[6] Overtime's longer-form programming (like "Challenge",[7] "Overtime All Access",[8] and "The Book of Luther") is produced by an in-house team.

Overtime owns a line of apparel which the company says is a seven-figure business.[9]

History

Overtime was founded in late 2016 by Dan Porter, a serial entrepreneur[10] and Zack Weiner, who previously founded The Sports Quotient.[11] It raised $2.5 million in seed funding in early 2017.[12][13]

In the summer and fall of 2017, a series of Overtime videos brought additional attention to the company. The first of these was a video showing a massive block by Zion Williamson, the country's top-ranked high school player, in July 2017.[14][15] This video was mentioned in a Sports Illustrated cover story on Williamson in August 2017.[16]

In February 2018, Overtime announced it had raised $9.5 million in funding from Andreessen Horowitz, Greycroft, and a number of other investors.[17]

Basketball star Kevin Durant is an investor in Overtime via his investment firm, Durant Company.[18] Former NBA commissioner David Stern was also an investor and advisor in Overtime.[19]

In February 2019, Overtime announced it had raised $23 million Series B round from Spark Capital, Sapphire Ventures, MSG Networks and a number of other investors.[20]

In April 2021, Overtime announced it had raised $80 million Series C round from Jeff Bezos, Drake, Alexis Ohanian, and a number of other investors. Overtime plans on introducing its basketball league in September by the name of Overtime Elite. The company is now valued at around $250 million.[21][22][23][24]

Overtime Elite

In March 2021, Overtime announced the creation of Overtime Elite, a basketball league that would pay elite young basketball players a $100,000 salary and offer equity in the company. Players would have to forego playing traditional high school or college basketball.[25] The league will provide health and disability insurance, and set aside $100,000 in college scholarship money for each player if any decide not to pursue basketball professionally.[26] In addition to receiving a high school diploma, Overtime Elite's educational offerings will place an emphasis on developing life skills supplementing traditional courses with those focused on financial literacy, media training and social justice advocacy.[27]

Overtime Elite will be located in Atlanta, Georgia. The league is building a 103,000 square foot facility to be completed in time for the league's September launch. Overtime Elite's campus will add as many as 100 full-time jobs, ranging from teachers, nutritionists, strength and conditioning and administrative positions. Construction is expected to create 400 temporary jobs.[28]

Kevin Ollie was hired as head coach of Overtime Elite in April 2021.[29] The league signed 5-star rated players Matt and Ryan Bewley as the league's first signings[30] and NBA prospect Jean Montero from the Dominican Republic as its first international signing.[31] Overtime Elite signed 8 five-star recruits in its inaugural class of 24 players.[32][33]

Former NBA Executive Aaron Ryan serves as Overtime Elite Commissioner and President and Former NBA-Champion and Sacramento Kings executive Brandon Williams is the league's Head of Basketball Operations. Carmelo Anthony, Jay Williams, Dan Porter, Zack Weiner and Aaron Ryan are on OTE's board of directors with potentially others to be added.[34]

Team Elite
  • F Ryan Bewley –  United States
  • G Bryce Griggs –  United States
  • C Jahzare Jackson –  United States
  • F Jalen Lewis –  United States
  • G Davion Mace –  United States
  • G Emmanuel Maldonado –  Puerto Rico
  • G Jaylen Martin -  United States
  • G Ausar Thompson –  United States
  • G Bryson Warren –  United States

Team Overtime
  • F Dominick Barlow –  United States
  • F Malik Bowman –  United States
  • G Lewis Duarte –  Dominican Republic
  • G Jazian Gortman –  United States
  • F Nathan Missia-Dio –  Belgium
  • G Jean Montero –  Dominican Republic
  • F Alexandre Sarr –  France
  • F Jai Smith –  United States
  • G Tudor Somacescu –  Romania

Team OTE
  • F Izan Almansa -  Spain
  • F Matt Bewley –  United States
  • G TJ Clark –  United States
  • G De'Vontes Cobbs –  United States
  • G Francis Lopez –  Philippines
  • F Tyler Smith –  United States
  • G Amen Thompson –  United States
  • G Johned Walker –  Puerto Rico
  • F Kok Yat –  United States

Staff

References
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  4. Smith, Cam (January 10, 2018). "VIDEO: West Virginia hoops commit Jordan McCabe tossed an absolutely ridiculous assist". USA Today High School Sports. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
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  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buDFku3c6NE Overtime
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  16. Johnson, Chris (August 14, 2017). "He Tears Down Rims. He Texts Drake. He's the Most Famous Prep Star Since LeBron. Meet Zion Williamson". Sports Illustrated.
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  18. Rovell, Darren. "Kevin Durant's investment arm, the Durant Company, has taken an equity stake in high school highlight brand @overtime. @KDTrey5 will make videos "scouting" the nation's best talent on his YouTube channel". Twitter. ESPN. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
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