NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Major League Baseball has agreed on a strategic partnership with Jomboy Media and will acquire a stake in the company. The two sides announced the deal on Tuesday.
Jomboy Media will be used across MLB's digital channels. MLB will also help grow Jomboy Media's other shows, including 鈥淭alkin鈥� Baseball,鈥� 鈥淭alkin鈥� Yanks,鈥� and 鈥淭he Warehouse Games.鈥�
Both sides are also expected to collaborate on IP growth and ad opportunities around MLB's key events, including the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby.
According to the release, Jomboy Media set revenue and profitability records last year, and had more than 93 million engagements on social media. Jomboy Media was founded by Jimmy 鈥淛omboy鈥� O鈥橞rien and Jake Storiale in 2017.
鈥淲e have long admired the passionate fandom of Jimmy O鈥橞rien and his unique ability to connect with baseball fans,鈥� Noah Garden, MLB deputy commissioner, business and media, said in a statement. 鈥淭his partnership will ensure that Jomboy Media will have the resources and access to MLB intellectual property necessary to help it continue to grow. We are looking forward to bringing baseball fans more entertaining content to help further expand baseball鈥檚 online presence and deeper the connection between our sport and its fans.鈥�
Jomboy Media's key property is 鈥淭he Warehouse Games,鈥� a league modeled after classic backyard games. The series has nearly 400 million all-time views.
鈥淚 continue to be amazed by what our community enables us to do through their endless support. When we started talking about baseball on the internet, it was just a fun hobby. Our community is the reason we鈥檝e been able to turn this from 鈥榡ust a hobby,鈥� into something bigger than we ever could鈥檝e imagined," O鈥橞rien said in a statement. "Partnering with MLB marks a huge moment for Jomboy Media, and through this partnership, we鈥檒l be able to give back to our community with storytelling that鈥檚 deeper than ever before.鈥�
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The Associated Press
