Madison365 has teamed up with three local sports-focused content creators to launch the Madison365 Sports Network, bringing local sports news to fans and shining a spotlight on local athletes, across multiple platforms.
Madison365 will augment its existing sports coverage through partnerships with Xtra Time Talent, The Youth Basketball Conference and 608 Soccer.
Xtra Time Talent, founded by Madison College assistant soccer coach Alex Alvarado, focuses on upper-level youth, high school and college soccer talent across Wisconsin. In addition to highlighting youth club players through video highlights and profiles, XTT publishes a weekly “Best X11” feature, highlighting the best players in high school soccer during the fall boys’ and spring girls’ seasons.
The Youth Basketball Conference, founded by youth basketball coach Melvin Gates, highlights rising stars in AAU basketball across the state. In addition to hosting youth basketball camps and tournaments, TYBC uses an impressive social media presence to expose Wisconsin’s best young ballers to nationwide attention.
“I’m excited to partner with Madison365 for the sports network because the work we have done for youth boys and girls basketball has Wisconsin competing with other states in terms of getting exposure for players,” Gates said. “We quickly became the top platform together in that aspect for the Midwest. Now that we are becoming a network, the opportunities will be endless for all levels, youth and professional, in multiple sports, to keep growing Wisconsin’s profile nationally.”
Launched in 2021 as Talkin’ Flock, 608 Soccer produces a podcast and newsletter focused on the Forward Madison professional men’s soccer team, Rally Madison pre-professional women’s soccer team, and soccer more broadly across Dane County.
The addition of the sports network brings Madison365’s total audience above 8,000,000 people monthly.
“I see tremendous growth opportunities in sports media,” said Madison365 publisher and CEO Henry Sanders. “We’ll deepen our engagement with our current audience and reach new audiences. For example, our current readership is more than 60 percent women; we know sports media consumers are more than 60 percent men. That balance gives us new and unique opportunities to reach more people and provide more value for our sponsors.
“And let’s be honest, as important as collaborations like these are for the sustainability of media businesses, they’re crucial to our mission as well,” Sanders added. “Nothing brings people together like shared love of sports, pride in local athletes, and the community we build around our favorite teams. I’m grateful to our new partners and excited to find more opportunities to collaborate.”
Sanders said Madison365 will continue to forge new partnerships and expand its offerings to deepen coverage of additional sports like volleyball, baseball, and more.
Find Madison365 Sports Network content:
- At Madison365.org/sports
- On Instgagram @Madison365sports
- On Instagram @xtt_608
- On Instagram @TYBCShowcase
- On Instagram @608Soccer
- At Youtube.com/@608soccer
- In the 608 Soccer newsletter
- At 608 Soccer on your favorite podcast app
Sponsorships are available. Email [email protected] to inquire.
