Tech & Media Companies Combine with Ambitious Plans for Growth

Leeds-based digital media technology business YorMedia Solutions has joined forces with sports publisher Planet Sport Publishing to create a single sports media and technology company: Planet Sport Limited.

The two companies have forged a close and successful working relationship over the past 2 years, with YorMedia supplying digital strategy, technology and revenue products that have complemented Planet Sport Publishing’s growing digital sports content output.

Setting Ambitious Targets

The new, enlarged company now plans to rapidly grow its business fivefold in the next three years by living up to its clear mission to entertain and engage sports fans. In that time, the business expects to more than double its global audience to over 30 million. Planet Sport currently employs over 120 people and expects to immediately expand headcount by an additional 30 in all areas of the business to meet its ambitious targets.

Easy Decision to Combine Forces

Barrie Jarrett, former CEO of YorMedia Solutions who now takes on the role of CEO of Planet Sport, said: "Both Planet Sport Publishing and YorMedia have a lot in common and shared experience in harnessing digital media. The two businesses have genuinely thrived in our time working together so formalising our longstanding partnership and creating a larger, exciting new entity was an easy decision.

Planning for Audience Growth

“Despite the bumpy early period of the Covid-19 Pandemic - we have enjoyed fantastic recent audience levels, to reach over 14 million people per month, with significant increases in UK and US markets. We are in great financial and organisational shape to now deliver on our exciting plans for further growth in these key territories.

“Through the creation of Planet Sport we bring together a range of sought-after capabilities in content, publishing, digital commercialisation, and technology to take our business to the next level in both direct-to-consumer and business-to-business markets.”

New Site Launches

The company recently preceded the news of the creation of the new Group by launching multi-sports content brand PlanetSport.com, unveiling new consumer branding that is now extended to the new corporate brand. 

The website you are on at group.planetsport.com tells the story of the Group, its titles and provides case studies of its work with commercial and content partners.