SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Ringier Sportal SRL has struck a deal with Intact Media Group to purchase its leading Romanian sports magazine Gazeta Sporturilor, including the publication’s print edition and website GSP.ro.
Ringier Sportal SRL, a joint venture between Ringier Romania SRL and Bulgaria’s Sportal Media Group, believes the transaction will turn Ringier Romania into the country’s digital media leader. It is expected to be completed by September 2018.
GSP.ro is the number one among all online sports portals in Romania with more than 3.5 million unique views per month, while the print edition of Gazeta has a daily circulation of 20,000 copies.
Mihnea Vasiliu, Managing Director of Ringier Romania, said: “The acquisition of Gazeta is a major milestone for us as a digital media company with a strong, journalistic DNA. Gazeta Sporturilor complements our portfolio and is another compelling offer for our readers.
“The greatest strength of the Gazeta brand lies in the high quality of the editorial content, which is the responsibility of a team of the country’s most renowned sports editors, most notably Catalin Tolontan, one of the country’s leading investigative journalists.
“Together with the Bulgarian Sportal Media Group, we are creating a perfect constellation based on know-how and potential. All three are in the starting blocks and are ready to build something big, qualitatively outstanding and innovative for the Romanian sports fans.”
Stilian Shishkov, CEO of Sportal Media Group, added: “The Gazeta is known for offering the best editorial sports content in Romania. I am very much looking forward to supporting the brand with the experience of our IT and development team. Together with Ringier Romania, we will invest in the technical infrastructure of GSP.ro to expand the range of high-quality content on the platform.
“At the same time, we want to offer intelligent advertising solutions that appeal to sports and betting fans in Romania, as well as to major international advertisers.”
Camelia Voiculescu, President of the Intact Media Group, said: “I am grateful that Gazeta Sporturilor has won the loyalty of a large sports audience and that we have been able to build a strong brand.
“As we will focus on our core business of broadcasting, radio and digital in the future, we have come to the conclusion that Ringier Romania is the best place to maintain, develop and integrate the quality of GSP. I am pleased with the agreement reached, which will benefit everyone involved.”
Robin Lingg, member of the Executive Committee Ringier AG, commented: “We will ensure that GSP.ro will continue to expand its leading position as the number 1 sports portal in Romania.
“We rely on the many synergies that our joint venture offers. Ringier’s publishing expertise, the digital expertise of the Sportal Media Group and the high-quality sports content of Gazeta will together set ground-breaking standards.”
