Balls.ie
Balls.ie is a sport website based in Ireland. It is run by Balls Media.
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Type of site | Sport website |
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Available in | English |
Owner | Balls Media |
URL | balls |
According to The Irish Times in 2015, 1.2 million unique visitors experienced Balls.ie every month.[1] This had risen to 1.7 million by 2016.[2]
Balls.ie was founded in 2010.[3][4]
According to Balls Media's Brian Reynolds, it refused two full takeover attempts in 2015.[1]
Enterprise Ireland and the National Digital Research Centre provided it with funds of €75,000 in 2014, with a return of around 15 per cent equity at a value of around €500,000.[1] Key Capital, majority owner of The Sunday Business Post, became involved in 2015, first investing over €100,000 to secure minority ownership, but with expectations of later growth in this investment total.[1] At this time it had ten staff.[1] Enterprise Ireland's involvement was remarked upon as it does not tend to become involved with other media (i.e. print, radio, screen); it offered a further €150,000 in 2016, having earlier offered €25,000 in 2013 at three times less per share than in 2016.[2]
Basketball Ireland have had Balls.ie as a "digital content partner", with this being the website's first such partnership.[3][5]
References
- Paul, Mark (24 July 2015). "One More Thing: Key Capital ponies up to fund growing Balls - Balls Media score fresh capital as it eyes further digital expansion, perhaps including sports for the 'Sunday Business Post'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- "Sports Website Gets €150,000 From Taxpayer: Sunday Business Post owner also in the frame at Balls.ie". 8 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
- "Basketball Ireland announces digital partnership with Balls.ie". Basketball Ireland. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
- Sexton, Colette (20 November 2016). "Balls Media out for online television growth plan: Digital publisher Balls Media plans to produce online-only TV without the overheads of traditional broadcast operations". Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- "Basketball Signs Up With Balls.ie". Basketball Ireland. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.